Category: Well-Being

By Bill Wirtz – As children get older they become increasingly interested in the candy aisle, and often reach for things they are not supposed to have. Chewing gum is one of those items for which many parents are unsure what exactly the rules should be.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children be at least 5 years old before they start chewing gum.  This is because children under 5 may not have the necessary fine motor skills to chew gum safely and could swallow it, which can lead to choking or other problems.

After the age of five is when kids embark on the journey of the school system, where they’re asked to behave and focus on their work. It is probably demanded by the individual teachers for students not to chew gum during their lessons, but if you thought that she should not chew gum while doing their homework, think again.

Numerous studies have shown that the act of chewing sugar-free gum improves focus and memory retention. It might seem counterintuitive that what is mostly considered a sweet treat would actually have positive impacts on your cognitive ability. Chewing sugar-free gum is not merely helpful for memory retention; it is also associated with higher focus and productivity overall.

Chewing sugar-free gum increases saliva flow which helps to wash away bacteria, viruses and toxins in the mouth, nasopharynx and upper gastrointestinal tract. Contrary to many uppers used in the workplace and by students, such as energy-drinks or coffee, sugar-free gum has mood boosting qualities without the downsides of sugar or caffeine dependence.

A study conducted in 2017 discovered that chewing gum had a positive impact on productivity and cognitive performance at work. It was also found to increase alertness, improve productivity, and reduce cognitive issues. In 2002, researchers conducted experiments using control groups to examine the effects of chewing gum on memory retention. The results showed that it enhanced the ability of participants to recall words immediately and after a delay.

Furthermore, a study in 2009 revealed that chewing gum not only improved alertness and reduced anxiety and stress levels but also had a positive effect on mood during stressful situations. Moreover, chewing gum can act as a distraction-free alternative to fidgeting, aiding individuals in maintaining focus on their tasks.

The question is not just whether it is safe for youth to chew gum, but also why it isn’t more incentivised. With news stories increasingly covering the technological distractions that keep youth distracted in class, shouldn’t we take a closer look at those things that might help them focus more?

Bill Wirtz is the Senior Policy Analyst at the Consumer Choice Center.

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You’ve just finished cleaning your home. But within a few minutes, blocks are scattered everywhere, food spilt on the floor, clothes strewn haphazardly – everything is messy. Couple this with fights among siblings, disrespect for parents, and unnecessary tantrums, and you can only wish that your little kids behave responsibly.

There’s hope. You can certainly veer away from punishing and controlling your kids all the time. Cultivating kindness, resilience, and responsibility in young minds is of the essence. It takes the right approach to achieve positive results.

Above all, shower love on your child in the love language they understand.  Every child is different and not every child responds to affirmation in the same way.

1. Building a foundation for growth

When it comes to nurturing positive behaviour in kids, know that a solid foundation has long-term positive effects.

• Understand the roots

Children naturally behave differently at different stages of development. Knowing these growth phases helps you understand why kids act in a certain way. For instance, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) usually starts before they hit eight years, but no later than about 12 years. It makes kids aggressive, angry, and defiant around adults.

With this knowledge, you won’t castigate them for the seemingly silly things they do. Instead, you’ll understand the unseen forces influencing them and find prudent ways to positively direct their energies and emotions.

Emotions are a significant determinant of conduct. Thus, training young ones to master their emotional intelligence is crucial. Not just for everyday behaviour but also for academic prowess. Studies reveal that kids with higher emotional intelligence tend to get higher grades than those who’ve not mastered their emotions.

Encourage them to express their feelings without throwing tantrums. Teach them how to solve problems whenever they arise. Strengthen their empathy through role-playing and stories. And likewise, listen to their concerns empathetically.

• Create a fertile ground

A supportive environment helps shape your kid’s behavior. Strive to cultivate trust in their hearts. They shouldn’t view you as an inconsiderate person who’s hard to please. Celebrate the little achievements they make. A simple verbal praise could go a long way to building confidence. Your kid stays motivated and realizes the significance of their actions beyond mere compliance.

Avoid punishing them excessively. In most countries, more than 67% of children are subjected to violent discipline by caregivers. This is a violation of children’s rights. It’s hurtful to kids and they may not understand why they’re being beaten physically or psychologically tortured.

• Nourish from within

Ensure your kids have essential life skills, which help establish desirable traits. A kid with problem-solving and conflict resolution skills can handle challenges constructively and calmly without heated emotions. Self-awareness helps kids master their emotions, leading to rational exchanges and self-control.

Moreover, engage them in confidence building activities like drama classes, public speaking, and team sports. This helps them overcome fears and believe in themselves. Positive self-talk can also help. Encourage them to make affirmations like, ‘I’m more than able to do this.’

In essence, understanding the root of kids’ behaviours helps you embrace your kids’ shortcomings and shape their character.

2. Cultivate specific values

Be objective when it comes to teaching kids. Know the specific traits you want them to have.

• Kindness and compassion

Teach your kids how to treat others with kindness. For instance, they can help their friends with homework, share toys when playing, or write thank you notes to their teachers. Furthermore, nurture a sense of belonging in your family and neighborhood. Feeling as an integral member of a supportive community helps inculcate empathy in their young minds.

• Responsibility and integrity

Kids should be taught to be accountable. Assign them tasks matching their age. The younger ones can pack toys and tidy up their playroom or water plants. School goers can set the table or feed pets. And teens should be able to do laundry and shop for groceries. Hold them accountable for their actions. But don’t focus too much on punishment. Prioritize guidance. The integrity skills they acquire at this tender age will stick for the rest of their lives.

• Resilience and growth

While growing, kids will make a multitude of mistakes and face myriad challenges. But this shouldn’t deter them from pressing on. Show them how to bounce back from such pitfalls and forge ahead. Instill the never-give-up attitude in them. And let them know that quitting isn’t an option.

These values are fundamental to positive behaviour in children. Kids who master them thrive not just in their childhood but also in their teenage and adult life.

Conclusion

Nurturing good behaviour in young minds starts with an out-and-out understanding of what shapes their behaviour at different developmental stages. Knowing their emotions and desires lets you gently deal with the bad habits while inculcating essential life skills.

You may want to integrate technology to promote acquisition of positive practices. Expose them to educational apps and digital citizenship lessons. Just make sure to guard their innocence while online.

Also, don’t do it alone. Engage the wider community. Teachers and childcare providers can help you towards this goal as they spend a significant amount of time with the children. The healthy traits kids acquire at a tender age stick with them for decades.

Kids of all ages love to read. When they get together to read and talk about books, they encourage one another’s love for reading and learning. If your students need help connecting with other kids who love to read the same books and authors as they do, they should consider starting their own book club online or in person.

Online book clubs offer a chance to connect with more people than in-person versions. However, kids must be safe when engaging with and creating online communities. Keep reading to learn how kids can start their own safe online book club.

Choose the Contact Style Together

Kids as young as seven years old may want to participate in a club about their favorite books and authors. However, it isn’t safe to give children free rein on the internet to connect with strangers. The best way to protect them, help them learn internet safety, and allow them to talk about their favorite books with other fans is to choose the contact style together.

Sit down with a device together and discuss how your child wants to talk about what they’re reading. They may prefer to write down their thoughts in an online forum, chat with other fans on social media, or schedule video call meetings.

Once you know how your child wants to meet others, figure out how to do so safely. For example, if your child wants to write down their thoughts online, you can encourage them to start a website dedicated to their favorite books and authors. There are many web design apps and websites for students that they can use. After their website is running, you can monitor it to ensure that the content is safe and appropriate.

Let Them Find Their Niche

Joining book clubs and online communities comes from a desire for belonging. Reading and enjoying niche media, such as a specific book or author, can feel isolating if no one else in your child’s school or community knows about that media.

While you may feel tempted to swap out your child’s reading materials for something more popular, you should let them find their niche safely. Allow them to read any appropriate book and share about it on their website, on a monitored social media account, or in video calls with people you’ve met. They’ll connect with other people about these niche topics and form a positive community.

Educate Them on Internet Safety

The more comfortable your child gets in their online book club, the more they’ll view the internet as a positive place. We want our children to feel confident when using technology, but that doesn’t mean we can stop educating them.

Important Reminders

As your child continues to update their website, post on social media, or talk in video meetings, continue to educate them. Remind them never to share personal information online, such as their last name or where they go to school. If strangers request access to their book club, explain that you will speak with the new person and verify who they are before potentially admitting them to the group. They should never try to meet someone in person that they’ve connected with online, even if you’ve verified who they are.

Kids can start their own safe online book club in various ways. As long as you help them pick a safe contact style, appropriate reading material, and who they interact with, they can enjoy their virtual connections.

Anxiety, especially in children, can be as bewildering as a maze with invisible walls. The puzzling world of a child’s mind is completely different from what you know as an adult. So, let’s uncover the signs and signals of anxiety that hide behind the facade of normal childhood fears.

From stomach aches with no clear cause to sudden shyness in once bubbly kids, understanding these markers is the first step in painting a clearer picture and plotting the course for support and care.

What is Anxiety, and How Does it Manifest in Kids?

In simpler terms, anxiety is like an alarm that goes off inside us when we’re worried about something that might happen. It’s a normal feeling, but sometimes it can get really loud, especially for kids.

Even more, kids don’t usually have the words to explain how they feel. Instead, they act out or choose a different way to show they’re anxious.

Some children will show an overwhelming amount of worry about their family or school. Others may say their tummy or head hurts a lot, even though there’s no clear reason for it. Kids who are usually independent might suddenly not want to leave your side or may not want to go to school at all.

Since worry doesn’t take a break just because it’s dark and time for sleep, bedtime can become increasingly more difficult. Plus, it will affect the quality of sleep because anxiety is the enemy of nice dreams and good rest.

Another sign that your child may be suffering from anxiety is when they freeze up in public situations, but they are usually outgoing and extroverted. They may also have difficulties making friends or hanging out with others.

If your chatty kid becomes quiet and keeps to themselves more, this is a sign you should be paying attention to. Once you know something is the matter, you can start looking for ways to help them handle these tough feelings in ways that work specifically for them.

How to Seek Treatment

When your child is struggling with anxiety, it’s easy to feel helpless as a parent. However, the only way to help them get better and continue to have a happy childhood is to find the treatment that best suits their needs.

Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician. They are already familiar with your family history and are aware of any health issues your child may have. Bring up your concerns, and don’t leave out any details – every little observation could be crucial.

The paediatrician may recommend seeing a specialist in children’s mental health, such as a teen & children’s psychologist. Consider these professionals as experts who speak ‘child language’ fluently and unravel the mysteries of anxious thoughts.

Getting Therapy for Anxiety

Depending on the level of seriousness, the pediatrician may recommend a psychologist or a psychiatrist specializing in working with children. While these are both professionals who diagnose and treat mental illnesses, it’s a good idea to learn the differences between what a psychiatrist does and what a psychologist does.

For instance, only a psychiatrist can prescribe medication should they deem it necessary. Both professionals are licensed to provide therapy for their patients, and both can make recommendations regarding treatment.

Helping Your Child at Home

If your child’s pediatrician considers the anxiety can be managed at home, they will teach you a few calming strategies and methods.

Here are a few examples of such methods:

• Practice the art of conversation – make room for daily moments for open talks where your child can unload their fears without judgment.

• Encourage problem-solving – it’s like giving your child a superhero cape to face their battles. When they come to you with worries, resist the urge to swoop in and fix it all. Instead, ask guiding questions: “What can we do together when that worry pops up?” This method puts power back into their hands.

• Introduce them to deep breathing techniques – it’s akin to teaching them how to steady a rocking boat amidst stormy seas. Make it fun by pretending you’re blowing up balloons or cooling down hot soup with each breath.

• Visualization is key – ask them to picture their happy place, be it imagining sunshine in a favorite park or thinking about cuddling with a pet. It’s like creating an internal escape hatch from anxious thoughts.

Wrap Up

Navigating your child’s anxiety is far from a straightforward journey, but with the right map in hand, you’re well-equipped to guide them through the twists and turns.

Whether it’s through therapy, heartfelt discussions, or soothing visualization exercises, there are tools at your disposal. Recognizing the signs and seeking appropriate treatment arms your child with the courage to face their fears and embrace a happier, less anxious life.