Returning to school in the fall can be a tricky task for children who suffer from anxiety, autism, developmental disabilities or special needs.
Dr. Ann Griepp, M.D., a psychiatrist and medical director of behavioral health at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, offers the following tips for parents who want to lessen the stress this school year.
Helping kids with anxiety return to school
Dr. Griepp had a child who suffered from anxiety. What helped? A sparkly, pink backpack.
Watch the following video to learn more about the backpack and other tips, including the importance of discussing last year’s successes with your child.
Back-to-school routine for kids with special needs
The more you rehearse your back-to-school routine, the better the first days are likely to go for kids with autism, developmental disabilities and special needs.
My 2 ½ year old welds his mouth shut whenever I try to brush his teeth.
But there he was on a recent morning, jumping into a dentist chair, opening his mouth super wide and obeying the dentist’s every order.
I, at first, contemplated the merits of hiring strangers to rear my children, since my kids clearly obey them more than me. I then realized the rare opportunity to sit in a chair, unburdened, for several minutes. I relaxed while the dentist examined my suddenly obedient child.
Yup, my son’s first trip to the dentist went better than expected. But turns out this visit was 1 ½ years too late.
Do 2-year-olds get cavities?
Dental experts recommend that your little bundle of joy visits the dentist by his or her first birthday.
I was tardy with that first visit! But I’m not alone. Most families bring their child to the dentist when they’re older than 2 years old, according to a survey.
Why trek to the dentist at such a young age? The dentist needs to start checking for problems, such as tooth decay (cavities). You might not think it’s a big deal if those baby teeth suffer from decay, since your child will lose them eventually.
Since my little guy fights the daily brushing, I was grateful that he was cavity free. In fact, I was shocked to hear that about one in five children ages two to five years old has a cavity!
At the visit, you’ll get tips to help your child maintain healthy teeth. You’ll learn about brushing and the importance of fluoride (one of the secrets to a cavity-free mouth!).
You’ll likely get answers to other questions, such as how to handle things like thumb sucking.
Plus, getting your child used to the dentist chair when they’re young will hopefully set them up for lots of future stress-free visits.
Tips for the first dental visit
If the dentist doesn’t trigger a weird obedience reflex in your kids, that first visit can be a daunting experience. Here are tips for easing into that first visit:
Schedule an appointment early in the morning when they’re more likely to be calm and willing to listen.
Ask the dentist’s office what they’ll be doing at the visit so you can explain it to your child. At this age, they may not have tons of words, but we know they understand us!
Explain that they’re going to a tooth doctor – and we need our teeth to be as healthy as our bodies
Ask the dentist’s office if your child can sit on your lap. But also let your son or daughter take a ride on the dentist chair (her son loved that!).
If your dentist doesn’t have a prize bin, consider packing something small as a reward for being a great patient. Nothing big really – a sticker, a race car, a rubber bracelet.
There’s one more big tip that may have also contributed to my son’s successful visit.
My little guy idolizes his big brother. Who did he watch get his teeth cleaned before he jumped into the dentist chair? His big brother.
If your youngster looks up to a sibling, cousin or friend, you might want to consider bringing him or her along on that older child’s next trip to the dentist.
Jaime Anderson is a seasoned “mom of an asthmatic.” She’s dealt with many back-to-school moments since her now 11-year-old son, Adison, was diagnosed with asthma as a 3-year-old.
Before school starts, Jaime schedules Adison a visit with his doctor to review his medications and update his asthma action plan. Jaime begins every new school year educating staff about her son’s disease.
“It’s hard,” Jaime said. “School staff can’t know everything. It’s up to the parents to make sure they do.”
Jaime, who is also executive director of the American Lung Association in Western New York, has learned a lot about helping her son safely start the new school year.
She has a slew of back-to-school advice for parents. Her first tip, however, begins with a video game, a mucus mob, and the fictional city of Lungtropolis.
Lungtropolis: Attack of the Mucus Mob
“Your child should know exactly what they’re dealing with,” said Jaime, who lives in the Rochester, N.Y., area. “They need to understand their triggers, recognize that they’re about to have an asthma attack and not be afraid or embarrassed to alert a teacher.”
That’s where the video game, “Lungtropolis: Attack of the Mucus Mob” comes in. It’s a free online game that the American Lung Association developed; players watch videos and get asthma-control tips.
“My son thought it was so cool, being able to play a video game,” she said. “But, he was also learning what he needed to know to feel comfortable talking to his teachers about his asthma.”
Parents shouldn’t assume that school staff – including the school nurse – understands how asthma works. Each kid is unique, with different triggers and warning signs that an attack is imminent.
Jaime recalled the time when school staff sent her son’s inhaler – but not his spacer – with Adison on a field trip. (Spacers help the medication from the inhaler reach the lungs.) Fortunately, Jaime also attended the field trip and had a backup spacer.
After the trip, Jaime educated school staff about the importance of spacers.
Back-To-School Prep
Sure, parents can talk to school staff and visit with the doctor. But moms and dads don’t have a lot of control over the back-to-school risk factors that can trigger asthma attacks:
Kids are back together and spreading cold germs.
There’s a “new” room and possibly a “new” building with indoor allergens, such as dust and mold.
There’s the stress of starting a new school year.
“Students are also changing from a relaxed summer schedule to the structure of the school day and that can impact medication schedules,” added Kwan Chan-House, M.D., a Utica, N.Y., pediatrician and medical director for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “Late summer and early fall also are peak times of the year for ragweed pollen, molds and dust mites, which can impact children living with asthma.
“It’s not a surprise that a spike in asthma symptoms and flare ups among children with asthma typically occur beginning in late August and continue throughout September,” she added.
“I didn’t think of that”
Adison, meanwhile, is starting middle school in the fall and will be moving to a building that’s new to him.
“I don’t know how he’s going to react to the new environment,” Jaime said.
Jaime with her son.
When Jaime took Adison to his doctor this summer, they were surprised by how much the youngster had shot up and the weight he had gained.
Adison’s doctor tweaked his medication to ensure it would still work.
“He gained so much weight, we had to up his dosage,” she said. “I didn’t know weight gain would affect his mediation. I didn’t think of that.”
And lastly . . .
Jaime has a few more tips for parents:
Don’t talk to only the school nurse and teacher. The gym teacher should be on your “must talk to” list.
In addition to the trip to the pediatrician, visit with your child’s allergist or pulmonary doctor.
Take a look around the classroom. Do you spot any of your kid’s “triggers” in the room, things like: stuffed animals? You can ask the teacher to remove them.
Make sure the teacher is aware of your kid’s “sign” that they’re about to have an attack.
What’s your school’s “emergency plan” in case your child needs to be rushed to the hospital?
“Games or other educational tools do more than educate your child about asthma. They can also be empowering,” she added. “It’s so important that your son or daughter feel comfortable talking to the adults in their life about their asthma, especially as they start a new school year.”
Click HERE to download a free poster, “Breathe Easy: 6 Steps for Controlling Your Child’s Asthma.”
I love (LOVE) school supplies. Walking into Office Depot or a Staples store is like a day at the spa. There’s nothing more thrilling than walking down rows of colored file folders, matching highlighters and Post-it Notes. My favorite of them all? Agenda planners!
Unfortunately, school supplies can cost a pretty penny. Being a broke, starving college student forces me to decide if I want to spend money on a new electric pencil sharpener, or if I want to eat for the week…decisions, decisions.
If you’re like me, or if you need to purchase supplies for your kids, there are ways to reuse the things you already have. You can even make investments now to help you save money during the next back-to-school season.
Re-use, Renew, Recycle…
Save Those Binders!
Unless they’re broken beyond repair, don’t toss old binders in the trash. I’ve seen large binders priced at up to $12! If you need binders for five different subjects, you’re already racking up those dollar signs.
Grab some colored duct tape and have fun recovering the binders. There are hundreds of colors and patterns out there. The binders will look like new when you’re done with them. Do the same thing with folders, too!
2. Locker/Desk Clean Out
Cleaning out my locker or desk was a favorite end of the year tradition! I always went in with a grocery bag to retrieve unopened glue sticks, boxes of loose leaf paper, and other leftovers. Before you hit the nearest Target for a box of number 2 pencils, see what you might have left over from last year.
3. Pencils And Pens
Much to my dismay, I’m always buying new pens, even though I have dozens of them in my purse. Dig through old backpacks, check behind your couch or under the cushions and in the drawers of your desk. If you use mechanical pencils, instead of buying new, just get a few tubes of lead, and new erasers. Although it’s a bad habit I’m trying to break, it’s not a necessary item when you’re doing your back-to-school shopping.
4. Stickers To Cover Stains, Rips And Tears
The internet is a beautiful thing. Luckily, we can find almost everything under the sun on there. Consider finding a site to buy stickers that can mend an old binder or folder. This is especially helpful if your kids want folders featuring favorite TV Show characters! Although it’s trendy, the “character folders” tend to be more expensive than the regular red colored ones. I’ve used sites like Redbubble or CafePress to order stickers that can peel off at the end of the year.
5. Don’t Lose The Loose Leaf
All those half-used spiral notebooks can come in handy when you need loose leaf paper. Instead of paying $7 for a package, rip out unused pages and put them in a folder!
Invest in…
6. A Good, Sturdy Backpack!
When I was younger, I was drawn to backpacks with glitter and fringe. Unfortunately, those backpacks tend to be built for fashion, not durability. My wimpy backpacks took a beating, so I’d need a new one every year. When I got to college, I finally got a backpack that was built to last, and I still use it. It costs a bit more money for a quality pack, but it’s worth it. I’ve gotten three years out of this bag, and I never have to worry about it tearing.
7. Label Maker
Everyone makes fun of me for my electric label maker. I got it at a garage sale. It was broken, out of tape, and covered in dust. But, with some technical help and a deep cleaning, it works like a charm. I label everything. Notebooks, binders, dishes in my kitchen, the list goes on. This is a great investment, and I wish I had one in high school!
Instead of writing my name and class subject on my binders, I can now print a label and peel it off at the end of the year. Now my $14 five-inch binder won’t say Mass Communication Theories forever.
I can’t stand the heat. I’ll take brushing snow off my car over 90+ degree weather any day.
I disliked the heat even more as a child, partially because I had some health issues that were affected by the heat. For families with heat-related health issues, or who simply can’t stand the high temps or rainy summer days, it can be difficult to find things to do during a season that’s designed for outdoor activity.
Can’t stand the heat? Get out of the kitchen … and find something fun to do! Check out these indoor activities during the dog days of summer!
Movie Days
Movie theaters are notoriously cold. Forget your sweatshirt, and you may find yourself shivering in the middle of July. Take the whole family out for less than $10 this summer by taking advantage of $1 movie days. Various movie theaters show family films throughout the summer, allowing your family to have fun at the movies without breaking the bank. Regal Cinemas is one of many theaters offering $1 movie days this year.
Museums
Looking for something more interactive and, dare I say, more educational for you and the kiddos? Museums throughout Upstate NY are hosting family-themed events all summer, and are a great alternative to getting your sunburn on.
Expand your kids’ minds at a variety of museums, including The Strong museum,Rochester Museum & Science Center, Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) and the Utica Children’s Museum during hot, or even rainy days. Don’t stop there, either. Upstate NY is full of great museums fit for the family. You may enjoy this post by our blogger, who took her kids to the Corning Museum of Glass.
Indoor Sport Facilities
Sports complexes seem to be more common than ever. Some sport facilities offer indoor sport leagues for kids, and may offer free-time for pick-up games. Stay active, yet stay somewhat cool by staying out of the sun. Indoor spots, such as Sky Zone Trampoline Park and Glow Golf, are other great alternatives that keep the family active while indoors.
Bowling Alleys
Since we’re talking about keeping families active, why not bowl? Some lanes offer “kids bowl free” opportunities and bumper bowling (no more gutterballs!).
Antique Malls
They aren’t for everyone, but they can make for great scenery and an excuse to take a leisurely walk. They’re also full of things that your kids have probably never seen before!
Telephones that hung on walls? You mean the whole family shared one phone? Movies you had to rewind? What does that mean?
It can be fun to explain to kids about these ancient relics. You may even find things that need to be explained to YOU as well!
Retail Malls
No, you don’t have to drag the little ones on a shopping spree. But a lot of malls offer family fun throughout the summer, including outings at Dave & Busters, bounce houses, carousel rides or go-kart racing. Check with your favorite local mall for details.
Conservatories
Much like museums, conservatories can be a very relaxing yet educational way to spend the day indoors. Take a tropical escape with your kids, and you may even make a new animal friend! Read about our blogger’s experience visiting the Lamberton Conservatory in Rochester.
Libraries
Last but not least, your local library may serve as a treasure trove of summer (indoor) fun! You may be surprised by some of the events offered by the libraries, including small acoustic concerts, STEM activities, improv theatre, book signings and more. Don’t forget the books! Why not sign your kid up for your local library’s summer reading program? You’ll have an excuse to stop at the library whenever possible!
Indoor activities may not be what you think of when “summer” comes to mind. But they can be a nice break from the heat, or rainy summer weather, and can be a life saver to those who have medical conditions that are affected by the heat.
Did we miss a favorite indoor summer activity of yours? Let us know in the comments section below!
Have you ever stopped at a fresh produce stand and found the perfect healthy recipe to feed your very picky kid(s)? While by chance I did! Just 25 minutes east of Rochester, off Route 104, the LaMora Farms Garden Gazebo is an enchanting hut that offers a wide variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables at very affordable prices.
Ava LaMora’s Tasty Zucchini Pizza Bites
My sons and I discovered the gazebo last year when we were in need of corn. We stopped by the stand and were greeted by the friendly farm staff and quickly discovered what many locals already knew: This is a great place to get local fresh fruits and hardy vegetables.
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The produce is grown at LaMora Farms, a 90-acre farm in Ontario, Wayne County. The Gazebo also offers recipes.
My oldest son, 7, found a recipe card for Ava LaMora’s Tasty Zucchini Pizza Bites (see recipe below) and insisted that we buy the biggest zucchini I had ever seen. (Did I mention the prices are extremely affordable? My local grocery store offers zucchini at half the size for double the price!)
Not only did we easily make the zucchini pizza that night, but my son has continued to request the meal on a weekly basis. (Eating every last slice!) Check out their website for weekly recipes using your favorite fruits and vegetables: http://www.lamorafarms.com/recipes.html .
The perfect family apple
Zucchini is one of our family favorites. We discovered another favorite last year when we tasted the farm-grown Honeycrisp apples. This is the only type of apple that met both the sweet and tart tastes of my entire family.
In full disclosure, my youngest son and his kindergarten class also enjoyed sampling them, as the LaMora’s kindly shared some of their harvest as an opportunity for the children to learn about healthy eating.
The owners, Lindsay and Earl LaMora, focus on sharing easy and healthy farm fresh food. Lindsay is always looking for healthy ways to incorporate fruits and vegetables into snacks and meals. Daughter Ava, 10, the namesake of the beloved zucchini recipe, and her son Chase, 5, also help mom and dad on the farm.
This year, the first-generation farmers opened the doors to their farm for U-Pick opportunities, starting with strawberries, apples and pumpkins. (Check out their website, www.LaMoraFarms.com, for the schedule.) They are also sharing their lives as farmers in their blog, Out on a Limb (http://blog.lamorafarms.com/growwithus/). And that beloved gazebo? This year there will be two gazebos to accommodate more fruits and vegetables.
While the late spring and summer are great times to visit the garden gazebo, my favorite time to visit is the fall. The gazebo is always lovingly decorated. But the fall is when the true pumpkin lover, Lindsay, shows off her craft skills. She hand decorates many pumpkins that are available for purchase.
As a born and bred New Englander, I’m definitely an “ocean beach” snob. Give me waves and salty air over, well, a sometimes questionable lake beach experience. I thought my first trek to a Rochester-area lake had traumatized me for life. I don’t know if it was the green lake sludge or putrid lake smell that scarred me the most, but it was bad.
No – it’s right at the north tip of Canandaigua Lake, near the bustling heart of the City of Canandaigua.
Then, what’s the “secret”?
I didn’t realize how relaxing a beach trip can be! It was just my boys, ages 2 and 5, and me. Usually, with ocean beaches, I’m constantly following my kiddos into the water, making sure they stay safe. I don’t want fierce ocean waves dragging my extremely lightweight 2-year-old out to sea!
I love playing with my boys in the water. But – WOW! How nice it was to lounge on a beach towel, watching them splash and swim! The water was super calm (no waves!) as they played in a roped-off swimming area under a lifeguard’s watchful eyes. The water was also clean—no scary green lake sludge!
Favorite Parts
We went right as the beach opened at 10 a.m. on a Monday; for the first 30 to 45 minutes, we had the beach practically to ourselves. There’s even a grassy area if you don’t like getting too sandy.
You can buy food–ice cream, pretzels, nachos, etc. The surrounding park includes walking paths around the lake, a playground and picnic tables.
The views were breathtaking. Puffy white clouds dotted the clear blue skies. Powerboats, sailboats and paddle boarders bobbed about in the area outside the roped-off swimming area. Lake homes and the rolling hills of nearby towns hugged the shoreline
The Details
Season: May 27, 2017 to Sept. 4, 2017
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (hours are different in June)
Price: Resident tags are $1 per person. For non-residents, it’s $5 for an adult and $2 for a child (ages 6-18), and free for kids 5 and under.
Gelato! This summer, we discovered a small gelato shop that is now my family’s favorite go-to destination when we’re craving a sweet summer treat. We plan to celebrate national ice cream month this July by indulging in a cup of creamy gelato. With which frozen treat will you celebrate? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
THE SCOOP ON FROZEN DESSERTS
You can indulge in many choices when it comes to frozen desserts. Here are a few ideas to get you dreaming about your next trip to the creamery:
Ice cream Made out of milk and cream, you can scoop hard ice cream from a container or get soft ice cream from a machine.
Frozen custard Egg yolk is one of its secret ingredients, giving custard its smoother, creamier texture. (Beware if you have an egg allergy). Custard is a Rochester tradition since 1926.
Gelato Contains more milk than cream and is lower in fat compared to ice cream. This, along with adding less air when mixing, gives gelato a more dense texture and intense flavor. Sherbet If you like fruit flavor (or the taste of a rainbow) try this milk-based.
Sorbet: Contains frozen juice or fruit and ice. This is usually a great non-dairy option for those who are lactose intolerant.
Frozen yogurt This may be a lower-fat option depending on the fat content of the yogurt. Check the label before you buy. Greek frozen yogurt is now available if you prefer the taste.
Mochi These are sticky rice cakes filled with ice cream. Flavors like green tea and red bean are a great end to a meal at a Japanese restaurant.
Kulfi An Indian frozen dessert that typically contains condensed milk (or milk that’s been boiled for hours) and other ingredients like pistachios and/or the spice cardamom. Kulfi can be similar in consistency to custard.
The flavor
American’s favorite flavor has been and continues to be vanilla. There are so many crazy flavors out there. I liked the taste of salted caramel that I tried at a local “Artisan” ice cream shop, but was not a fan of caramel bacon. Ask the shop for a taste before you buy. Most places have small spoons just for this purpose.
Toppings!
My family is partial to rainbow sprinkles. We tend to pass on the whipped cream, but wouldn’t say no to hot fudge. I found this fun article in Delish magazine that says my topping choice means I’m playful and traditional.
Don’t forget the cone. Waffle, sugar, plain: it’s a hard decision. We prefer my kids get ice cream in a dish so it won’t spill, but they always ask for the cone on top so they don’t miss out on the crunchy extra.
My family enjoys the experience of going to an ice cream shop as much as the ice cream itself. We can walk or ride our bikes, and even bring our dog along. Quick tip: If the store is too far from your home, try driving part way and walking the rest.
Moderation is the key. When you bring a tub of ice cream home, it’s tempting to go back for more and overeat. Try to stick to one serving. When at the ice cream shop, try a kid’s size or baby size serving. You can always swap out ice cream for sherbet if you want a healthier treat.
At Home
Ice cream is relatively easy to make at home. You can purchase an ice cream maker at any household retailer. At home you have control over the ingredients and can experiment with new textures and flavors.
Beyond ice cream, if you freeze overripe bananas and add other frozen fruit you can create a healthy, refreshing treat in your blender or food processer. And don’t forget what’s most important: Enjoy!
Have you ever wondered whether the owls in Harry Potter could actually carry a Nimbus 2000? Or maybe you just want to see some birds of prey up close?
Why You Should Go
Wild Wings is a charming non-profit raptor rehabilitation center located about 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. Nestled in Mendon Ponds Park, the facility is home to bald eagles, hawks, owls (big-and-super small), and other birds-of-prey who’ve been injured and rehabilitated and can’t be released back into the wild.
Be sure to note the hours. Wild Wings is only open Fridays through Tuesdays.
Meet ‘Barf’
They have a friendly, welcoming staff who are more than happy to give you the inside scoop on the different birds—‘Barf’ the Turkey Vulture, for instance, got his name because of a particularly unusual (and gross) defense mechanism. The facility is totally family friendly (even the gift shop!) any time of year. During the spring and summer, they have beautiful gardens and in the colder months they offer hot cocoa to warm up your adventure.
My son insisted on taking home a stuffed Turkey Vulture from the gift shop. I was afraid what would happen if he squeezed it.
What to do
There’s a lot to see in a small space. Ask the trainers if they’ll be taking any of the birds out for socialization or educational programs. The times we’ve gone, my kids have been lucky to see many of the animals out of their cages.
The owls at Wild Wings are always a big hit.
Don’t Miss
You’ll probably only spend 20 minutes or so exploring the facility (especially if you’re with little ones), so be prepared to make a day of it in the surrounding Mendon Ponds Park. Pack some bird seed—but not for the Wild Wings birds (once you’ve seen a Bald Eagle’s talons up close, you’ll understand why). Right outside the bird sanctuary is the Bird Song Trail, where you can hand feed chickadees, nuthatches, and other tiny, wild birds. Just be careful of the squirrels. I had one run up my leg and into my kid’s diaper bag to get at my bounty of bird seed.
The Songbird Trail, located just a few yards from the sanctuary, is a great place to get up-and-personal with some feathered friends.
The Details
Location: Mendon Ponds Park, 27 Pond Road, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 Hours: Open year-round; Friday – Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (If the weather is really bad they may put some of the birds inside.) Suggested donation: Admission is Free, but they recommend a $5 per family donation For more: Go to http://www.wildwingsinc.com
You want to pack a lunch that you and your kids will actually eat. It might seem tough. But with a little help, you can become a wiz at creating packable meals that are healthy, yet tasty.
The Basics
Try planning ahead to ease a lot of the stress. When making dinner, remember that leftovers can make a great lunch the next day and the freezer can be your friend.
Make sure you have the right supplies. Your containers should be insulated and have enough space for an ice pack or a thermos container. Packing reusable napkins or silverware is also environmentally and financially friendly.
What’s Sweet
Fruit is a quick and easy snack that can be eaten individually or paired with another food.
For your kid – Fresh fruit (alone or with yogurt)
For you – Cottage cheese with fresh fruit
Create homemade trail mix to make sure family members can enjoy their favorite ingredients. Mix dried fruit with nuts, raisins, pretzels, and even chocolate chips.
What’s Crunchy
Cut up vegetables — such as carrots, cucumbers, or celery — to make a crunchy snack that people of any age can enjoy.
For your kid – Vegetables with dip
For you – Vegetables with hummus or tzatziki sauce
Try peanut butter (or almond butter) with rice cakes, bananas, apples or pretzels. You could make the childhood favorite, “ants on a log,” by pairing celery with peanut butter and raisins.
Try adding vegetables to the top of your pizzas and consider using pita bread as your pizza “dough.”
Not your usual sandwich
Mix up your sandwich bread by using whole wheat bread, tortilla wraps, or pita bread. Since sandwich meats contain a lot of sodium, try alternatives such as salads; peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; or chicken, tuna, or egg salad sandwiches.
