In today’s fast-paced world, where children are increasingly glued to screens and structured routines, finding a healthy and enjoyable activity is more crucial than ever. Enter laughter yoga—a delightful combination of deep exercise and humor, playful stretches, and of course, hearty laugh that can benefit kids. This practice is gaining traction as a fun, holistic way to improve children’s mental and physical health.
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Thumb sucking is a natural reflex.
And infants and young children may use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects to make them feel secure, comforted or happy since thumb sucking is relaxing, it may also induce sleep.
However thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and tooth alignment. How intensely a child sucks on fingers or thumbs will determine whether or not dental problems may result. Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs.
Ideally children should cease thumb sucking by the time their permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Typically, children stop between the ages of two and four as peer pressure causes many school-aged children to stop.
Pacifiers can affect the teeth essentially the same way as sucking fingers and thumbs. Typically, use of the pacifier can be controlled and modified more easily than the thumb or finger habit. If you have concerns about thumb sucking or use of a pacifier, consult your dentist.
Your dentist can assist you, as needed, to encourage your child to stop sucking and explain what could happen to their teeth if they continue.
Guest Post From: Eye Optics Optometry Center
Eye Strain from Distance Learning – Because of the current distance learning model in many school districts, a huge portion of our young people is often spending 4 or more hours per day in front of a computer screen. Needless to say, this is taxing on their visual system.
For many, it is causing eye fatigue, strain, blurring, trouble keeping things in focus, and even headaches, which can all affect a student’s grade performance and overall ability to learn. The following small changes in environment and awareness can help reduce this visual stress.
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COVID-19 and autism – how children and teens with autism continue to struggle with emotional impact in the midst of the pandemic.
Children and teens with autism are, without a doubt, continuing to struggle with the indefinite shut-down of their schools and programs during the COVID-19 outbreak.
It has been almost two months since the shelter-in-place order, and now, it’s not just about lack of routine or distance learning. People everywhere are feeling the emotional impact of being socially distanced, and most keenly among them are children and teens with autism.
Concerns over kids and COVID-19 turn parents to become overly worried. Where did the novel coronavirus originate? How is it being transmitted? Is the disease threatening? How does it affect young children? When does the COVID-19 outbreak end? What guide for parents is available to take precautions where possible.
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How to prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus? What are the recommended and preventive measures implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19?
The novel coronavirus named SARS-Cov-2 has spread rapidly worldwide causing human suffering and economic slowdown in many countries. Viruses are ubiquitous causing many illnesses and the coronavirus is the latest virus to infect humans. The first case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, Hubei province of China in December of 2019.
We still do not know the complete clinical picture of the COVID-19. Reports from China suggest that 16% of cases are serious while most cases are mild. Adults and children with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes are at increased risk of serious illness.
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We do know that SARS-CoV-2 is spread in respiratory droplets from person-to-person. This means the infected droplets are passed on when someone coughs or sneezes and the droplets reach another person. One can also become infected by touching an infected surface and then touching ones’ face with contaminated hands.
On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic as 118,322 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported worldwide with 4,292 deaths. China has 80,955 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 with 3,162 deaths while the United States of America has 1215 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 with 36 deaths as of March 12, 2020. California has 177 cases with three deaths according to the California Department of Public Health.
The federal government as well as state governments have responded to the spread of COVID-19 and how to prevent transmission of coronavirus. Most recently President Trump signed an 8.3 billion dollar law passed by congress to combat the spread of and find a treatment or vaccine for the SARS-Cov-2.
Since January 7, 2020, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) initiated a response to COVID-19 making recommended measures to avoid travel to certain countries or in cruise ships, and suspended entry of foreign nationals from China, Iran, many Europeans nations. Also, the CDC have subjected US citizens, residents and their relatives to health monitoring and possible quarantine for up to 14 days.
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The CDC website on COVID-19 reports that children are not more susceptible to the novel coronavirus than adults. Children may present with mild symptoms such as cough, runny nose and fever but children with underlying medical conditions may be at increased risk for severe infections. The most severe cases of COVID-19 have occurred in adults, especially in the elderly.
It is important to take preventive measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Below are the measures recommended to prevent transmission of coronavirus:
For further information on prevention, please refer to the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html
Infectious disease experts predict many more cases of COVID-19 to be reported in the USA as person-to-person transmission continues and more people are tested for the virus. So it is important to adhere to the preventive measures mentioned above to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Currently, there are no medications approved to treat or vaccines to protect against COVID-19. Prevention is the most effective form available today of limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Manuel A. Arevalo, MD
Medical Director
San Lucas Pediatric Clinic
Dr. Manuel A. Arevalo opened San Lucas Pediatric Clinic in 2007 to serve the needs of children in the Sacramento area. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in Economics and then he obtained his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Since completing his pediatric residency from LA Childrens Hospital and U.C. Davis, Dr. Arevalo has been serving the children of Sacramento for over 19 years. He has admitting privileges at Sutter Memorial Hospital, Mercy General Hospital and Methodist Hospital. He also speaks English and Spanish. He is married with two children and he enjoys running half-marathons, traveling and spending time with his family.
Learn more on how to prevent transmission of coronavirus by checking out other blog post in our Health Category.
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