Vaccinations for Children

A recent measles outbreak has been confirmed on Oahu, stemming from a child who traveled to the Philippines without a vaccination and brought back the highly contagious disease-- measles-- that we have had a vaccination for since 1963. 

In 1962, the year before the measles vaccine was introduced, almost 500,000 cases of measles were reported in the U.S. Ten years after this there were about 32,000 cases, and ten years after that there were fewer than 2,000. In 1998 and 1999, only about 100 measles cases were reported each year, but in 2013 there was a spike in measles, with 175 confirmed cases and 20 hospitalizations according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 98% of measles patients were unvaccinated, indicating the outbreak was not a failure of a vaccine but rather failure to vaccinate. 

It's not just your child you are protecting from disease with vaccinations-- as in the case of the unvaccinated child bringing the disease back, an unvaccinated child can become highly contagious, spreading disease like wildfire to anyone who is not vaccinated or immune to the disease. 

Protect your child, and other's children by getting the proper vaccinations. Go to the Center for Disease and Prevention Control to find out more. 

New Year's Resolutions for Kids

With 2014 upon us, now is a great time to set goals with your children for the new year. The American Academy of Pediatrics has some great goal ideas for children, broken up by age-group. What are your resolutions this year? 

Preschoolers

• I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.

•  I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating. 

• I won’t tease dogs or other pets – even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

• I will talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I need help or am scared.

Kids, 5  to 12 years old

• I will drink reduced-fat milk and water every day, and drink soda and fruit drinks only at special times.

• I will put on  sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright, sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.

• I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!

• I will always wear a helmet when riding a bike .

• I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt. 

• I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends or who may have a hard time making friends – like someone who is shy, or is new to my school.

• I’ll never give out private  information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without asking my parent if it is okay .

• I will try to talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I have a problem or feel stressed.

Kids, 13 years old and older

• I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day, and I will drink sodas only at special times .

• I will take care of my body through physical activity and eating the right types and amounts of foods .

• I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities.

• I will help out in my community – through giving some of my time to help others , working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.

• When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find helpful  ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or talking about  my problem with a parent or friend. 

• When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.

• When I notice my friends are struggling or making  risky choices , I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.

• I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without forcing them to do something  or using violence. I will expect to be treated the same way  in return. 

• I will resist peer pressure to try tobaccoe-cigarettes, drugs or alcohol.

• I agree not to use a cellphone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

Traveling with Children

Now that we are in the midst of the Holiday Season, chances are you'll be traveling with your kids to visit family! Whether across the Island, inter-island, or in a big jet-plane, here are some handy tips to keep the kids (and those traveling with you!) happy and occupied during the journey!

Plan Outfits Carefully

Everyone knows what a hassle security can be to go through, but it doesn’t have to be the nightmare before Christmas! Comfortable clothes and slip-on shoes will do wonders for speeding up the security process. Layered outfits are also recommended while travelling, as airplanes tend to be totally unpredictable when it comes to temperature. Some are hot, some are cold, but if the kids are wearing a t-shirt but have a jacket as well, they will be comfortable either way. And don’t forget socks for cold toesies!

Ziplock Bags and Wet Wipes

These are probably few things as essential to bring while traveling as ziplock bags and wet wipes. The possibilities are endless-- put all your small items from pockets in while going through security, pack changes of baby clothes and diapers, sippy cups, snacks to name a few. And same with wet-wipes-- you’ll never know when a spill or accident may occur, so having wet wipes on hand is a quick and easy fix. Plus, wet-wipes are perfect for freshening up on long travel stints.

Toys and Games
Keep the kids occupied during long trips by packing their favorite toy or game, or even throwing in something exciting and new! Word games for older children, crayons for younger kids, maybe even a DVD or two will work wonders to keep your children occupied on long journeys!

Food Allergies: Knowledge is Power

It is very important to know the common symptoms of food allergies, not just for the safety of your own children, but for their friends as well--if little Johnny is allergic to peanuts and grabs a cookie off your counter, that could mean a surprise trip to the hospital, something better avoided by simple knowledge.

Some of the most common foods that cause allergies are peanuts, fish, wheat, soy, milk, and shellfish, Learning to recognize an allergic reaction will allow you to help your child get the proper medical care in a timely manner should a reaction occur.

Allergic food reactions will vary depending on the person, and can vary dramatically, ranging from a mild case of hives to so severe it causes problems breathing.

Food allergy reactions can affect any of the four following areas of the body, with skin reactions being the most common:

• Skin: often you will see itchy, red bumps. These hives typically can be treated by a simple cream. Eczema, redness and swelling or itching are often common.
• Gastrointestinal Tract: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are all common.
• Respiratory track: Runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
• Cardiovascular system: this is by far the most dangerous, and can cause lightheadedness or fainting or worse

Once diagnosed with a food allergy, your child will need to avoid certain foods, and keep medication on hand in case of a breakout. You should teach your child to always ask about ingredients when trying new foods or going out to eat, especially for more severe allergic cases.

Additionally, create a food allergy emergency plan to give to their school, and any childcare providers or extracurricular activities.

Fall into Fun

Sometimes it is hard to remember that most of the world has quite dramatic seasons with our perennial good weather, but yesterday, September 22, marked the beginning of fall. In honor of the season, here are a few fun craft ideas to get into the fall spirit! 

Edible Fall Foliage

Do your kids love to play with their food? This will give them a creative reason to do so! 

Start by gathering pretzels and various kinds of cherry tomatoes. Have your child arrange them in different ways to resemble a tree with it's foliage changing colors. Fun for the kids, and at the end they will have a healthy snack to feast on! 

Carrots, peppers, and asparagus also work well for this craft! 

These Craft-Stick Scarecrows were borrowed from LittleFamilyFun.com--- they are not only easy to make, but super cute! Here's what you will need:

• craft sticks
• felt
• googly eyes
• tacky glue
• cardstock
• marker

To make them, cut out the hat, hair, and nose from the felt in different colors for a nice contrast. 

Cut a square out from the cardstock to glue the sticks onto. 

This will keep them sturdy and locked together. 

Glue the hair on first, and then the hat. Lastly, glue on the googly eyes and nose, and draw a mouth on with the marker. 

Paper Bag Fall Tree

Borrowed from pikadillycharm.blogspot.com, this festive tree will add a hint of fall to any room. 

You will need: 

-brown paper bags

-scissors

-glue

-paper (in fall colors)

To make the tree, cut the bag into half inch strips. Start at the opening and cut halfway down the bag. Open the bag and stand it up.

Hold the base of the bag with one hand and twist the middle of the bag to create the trunk of the tree.

Twist two of the bag strips together to create branches. 

Rip strips of colored paper into tiny pieces and glue them all over the branches of the tree. Enjoy your new tree! 

Should your child have a cell phone?

Now that school is back in session, if your child doesn't already have a cell-phone, he is probably asking for one. Everyone else may have one, but does that mean your child should as well? Possibly.

Here are three reasons your child should have a cell-phone:

Emergencies: If there is an emergency and your child needs to get a hold of you, or you need to get a hold of your child, having a cell phone on hand is the easiest way to ensure you are able to contact each other when needed. Be sure to have emergency numbers on speed dial on your child's phone, and talk to them about when the appropriate times to use these numbers are.

Communication: Chances are you aren't able to spend as much time with your child as you might like to, with work and school being what it is. Cell phones allow your child to communicate with you throughout the day and also provide an easy way to inform each other of changed plans or other things that come up. Whether informative or a simple I love you, being able to communicate with your child on a regular basis will bring your family closer together.

GPS: GPS tracking features are a great way to keep tabs on your child's whereabouts for their safety. The majority of cell phone providers have family locator options on their plans, allowing you to always know your child's GPS location.

Does this mean you should just give your child a phone? Not necessarily. Talk to them about your expectations for them in having a cell phone, such as tying an allowance to it, and restrictions such as how many texts they are allowed to send. You want the cell phone to be a tool for communication, not the only means they use to communicate. 

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!

Keiki Sitters is thrilled to announce that its sister company, Aloha Sitters, has received the prestigious 2013 Best of Honolulu Award in the Child Care Services classification. Aloha Sitters caters to hotel guests on the island of Oahu, offering visitors to the Island quality childcare services without the hassle of conducting their own interviews. Well trained sitters with extensive experience are available 24 hours a day to ensure visitors to Oahu get the most out of their vacation! 

Interested in our services, or know someone who is? Call 808-861-7294 to place a reservation. Aloha!