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A Child's Development Depends Upon Strong Mental Health-MHA of WNY Blog Featured Image

A Child’s Development Depends Upon Strong Mental Health

We worry so much about our children reaching physical and cognitive milestones that we can sometimes forget about cultivating their mental health, starting the day they are born. We hold them close when they cry, speak to them in sweet voices to keep them calm, and tell them how perfect they are.

Still, an average of 17.1 million kids have reported suffering from a mental health disorder each year in the U.S., with half of them officially diagnosed before the age of 14. There are still many who go undiagnosed and end up in trouble more and more each year.

So, what do we do about our kids? How can we, from the very beginning, give them the tools for great mental health? What can we do to increase the mental wellness of our children? How can we tell if our children need more? 

What Children Need For Strong Mental Health 

The quality of our child’s mental health can be dependent upon what we emphasize in our way of parenting. We make faces at them until they learn to smile, teach them to walk, and encourage them to talk, but is this enough to support their psychological growth?

A Child’s Development Depends Upon Strong Mental Health

Setting our children up for success, mentally speaking, is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. And a healthy mindset begins at home, with supportive and engaged parents just like you. The fact that you are reading, or skimming, this blog means that you are mindful of change. 

  • Our kids need to feel safe wherever they are, such as in daycare, the park, and especially at home. Losing a sense of safety causes anxiety and fear.
  • They need a strong sense of independence, which means giving them the ability to test their limits while keeping them safe. They need to be able to rely on themselves as well as you. 
  • Our children need to know, even when you are not around, that they are loved unconditionally. Feeling alone can be detrimental to anyone’s mental health, but especially to a child who is dependent on you to survive.
  • A strong sense of self, confidence, and high self-esteem, most of which come from the family dynamic and how they are brought up. A confident child knows themselves, feels safe, and learns to trust their own instincts. 
  • Encouragement and support in all areas of their life. Just be there for them and support their ideas, activities, and even their failures. 
  • The opportunity to play freely with their peers, especially imaginative play, without fear of teasing or shaming. Children learn from other children and mimic the behaviors and actions that they witness. Shame gives them a reason to give up and can cause ruminating thoughts and anxiety in the future.

As parents and caregivers, we have a lot on our plates, but we should still sit back and watch how our young ones interact with the world. How is their self-esteem? Do they seem fearful, angry, or agitated? Are they choosing to embrace destructive behaviors or is there a hesitation when needing to interact with others?

Much like any disorder, the earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. Connecting with your child’s pediatrician is a great way to start helping them before any of these negative feelings become a permanent part of them. Sometimes, it does take a village to raise a child, and you can build your own with trustworthy and empathetic people who have your kid’s best interest at heart.

A Child’s Development Depends Upon Strong Mental Health

Child’s Development Depends Upon Strong Mental Health

While their physical and cognitive abilities are incredibly important, both are supported, consistently maintained, and strengthened through a positive sense of self and an innate feeling of safety. The truth is, our babies, toddlers, and children cannot reach their milestones on time, and effectively, if they aren’t yet able to cope with the obstacles that they will naturally face.

  • We can help our kids by setting realistic expectations and goals for them to reach, and praising them when they reach them. This can show your child how to effectively deal with problems as they arise, without so much anxiety, while reinforcing their independence.
  • Encourage them to try new things and allow them to fall before you pick them up. We can learn just as much from falling as we do from flying. Reinforcing a sense of security after the fall strengthens their self-esteem and general confidence. 
  • Admit when you are wrong and apologize when it’s warranted. This not only shows our kids that none of us are perfect, but that we all fail, and it’s okay to admit our flaws, especially with a heartfelt apology. Show them what to do by modeling the more humble response and encourage them to do the same.

All in all, our children’s mental health can be affected by genes, but the tone at home really sets the stage for their future. Scheduling the services of a great pediatrician is the first step toward ensuring the quality of your child’s health.

If you are worried about your kiddo, or you need to find a pediatrician for your new bundle of joy, contact us at Medical Health Associates of WNY. We promise direct communication, compassionate care, and a knowledgeable team wholly dedicated to the health and safety of your children.

Medical Health Associates of WNY is always happy to help our families in Western New York.

Top 5 Reasons Your Child Should Exercise - MHA of WNY Featured Image

Top 5 Reasons Your Child Should Exercise

Exercise is vital at all ages of life, including in children. It doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym. Any physical activity that increases the heart rate can be counted as exercise. Being physically active is important in children as it determines how their bodies and minds develop.

Physical Inactivity

Research has shown that physical activity in children has decreased worldwide. Many children lead a sedentary lifestyle, and parents are anxious if the amount of time children spend sitting in front of screens playing video games, watching television, and using tablets or cell phones will hinder their development.

Many factors contribute to this lack of physical activity in children, and they include:

  • Urban living
  • Technology
  • Academic pressure

The consequences of children having a sedentary lifestyle may not show when they are young. They are likely to have issues when they reach a certain age. According to research, inactive children are likely to become inactive adults.

Top 5 Reasons Your Child Should Exercise

Being inactive has consequences like:

  • Energy imbalance that puts your child at risk of becoming obese
  • Increased risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Low bone density

Exercising in Children

Instilling positive exercise habits at an early age encourages your child’s development by enhancing motor skills and promoting bone and muscle growth.

Parents should encourage their children to do a variety  of exercises that promote:

  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Endurance

Strength exercises

Exercises that promote strength include exercises like crunches and pushups. These exercises will strengthen your child’s muscles and bones and tone their muscles.

Flexibility exercises

Exercises that increase flexibility include stretching activities such as dancing, yoga, martial arts, and a simple activity such as stretching to pick a toy for smaller children.

Endurance exercises

Exercises that build endurance are mainly aerobic. These activities help strengthen your child’s heart and improve their body’s oxygen circulation. Such activities include;

  • Cycling
  • Swimming
  • Walking
  • Jogging
  • Dancing
  • Playing soccer or basketball

Exercises Based on Your Child’s Age

Please encourage your child to be physically active for at least 60 minutes daily. The best way to engage your child in physical activities and keep them fit  is by:

  • Making it fun that they look forward to the activities
  • Involve the whole family
  • Schedule physical activities that are regular and are consistent
  • Be a good role model by being physically active

Activities for a child below 1 year

This age group involves children who are not mobile. As a parent, you can keep them active by including activities like tummy time and stretching to pick a toy for at least 30 minutes spread throughout the day.

Screen time is discouraged for this age group; instead, read a book or tell a story to your child as they rest. Also, ensure a good balance between physical activities and rest. Your child should get at least 17 hours of sleep daily.

Activities for children aged between 1-2 years

Children in this age group should get 180 minutes of activities spread out throughout the day. They should not be restrained for more than an hour at a time. Sleep is recommended for at least 11 hours every day.

Children in this group are slightly mobile and should be engaged in moderate-intensity activities. During resting time, avoid screen time and instead read a book to your child or tell them a story.

Activities for children aged between 3-4 years

Physical activities for 180 minutes spread out throughout the day for this group are recommended. This age group is normally very active, so this should not be a problem. Include fun activities in your daily routine, like running around.

Activities for children aged 5- 17 years

These are school-going children, and they should be encouraged to be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day. They should engage in moderate to vigorous aerobic activities like swimming, cycling, and other sports. Strengthening exercises should be encouraged and discourage them from being sedentary for long.

Top 5 Reasons Your Child Should Exercise

Reasons Your Child Should Exercise

Parents should ensure their children exercise every day since exercise benefits their bodies and minds as they grow. Here are some reasons why you should encourage your child to be physically active;

1. Exercise Improves  fitness and overall health

Exercise will help your child keep fit and reduce the chances of becoming obese or overweight. It also protects them from health problems like cardiovascular diseases and Type 2  diabetes linked to obesity.

Exercise also strengthens your child’s bones and muscles, reducing the risk of conditions like osteoporosis.

2. Exercise improves brain function

As your child exercises, their heart rate increases, promoting cardiovascular fitness. This prompts the growth of new blood vessels in the brain and improves blood circulation to the brain.

According to research, exercise increases brain size, hence improving academic performance in children.

3. Exercise improves your child’s coordination, balance, flexibility, and posture.

It helps your child to be able to perform daily tasks with ease.

4. Exercise is good for your child’s mental health.

Exercise reduces the likelihood of a child getting anxiety and depression. When a child exercises, there is a release of endorphins in the brain, making your child happier.

Endorphins also improve your child’s self-confidence, give them better sleep, and increase their energy levels.

5. Exercise gives your child an opportunity to socialize

When your child engages in physical activities with other children, they learn to socialize, make friends, and share.

Final Thought

Parents should prioritize keeping their children active to promote their health and wellbeing. Ensure your child has protective equipment when exercising to avoid injuries, to minimize the risk of injuries.

Encouraging Healthy Home Habits - Medical Health Associates of WNY Blog - Featured Image

Encouraging Healthy Home Habits

New Parent Resources: Building Good Habits for Children

Your home is where you are instilling lessons your children will carry with them for the rest of their lives. As parents, we have a responsibility to help build healthy home habits with our children early-on, so they are set up for success into adulthood. Here’s how you can start encouraging healthy home habits with your children to ensure they have a strong foundation for the future.

Your Example is Massively Influential in Childhood Development

It’s important to keep in mind that one of the most powerful influences on childhood development is the example parents set. Children look to us to learn how to navigate the world. Given our influence, engaging our children in everything we do is extremely beneficial to establishing healthy habits. In the household, one way we can promote positive growth includes involving children in chores and interacting with our children with intention.

As you are navigating your day-to-day life, the way you speak and conduct yourself impacts how your children perceive tasks and situations. As an example, if you make doing chores seem like it’s just a normal part of the day (or even something that can be fun), your children won’t think of chores as the same level of burdensome they would if you were visibly dreading the chore. The same is true for encouraging nutritious meals, staying active, and managing emotions. Your example at home is essential to your child’s ability to build healthy habits.

Empower Your Children with Age-Appropriate Chores

When you are working toward building healthy home habits, ensure you are setting you and your children up for success. Age-appropriate chores are a great way to do that. They allow you to form habits early that can be built upon as your child grows.

Encouraging Healthy Home Habits

Starting early is key to making tasks seem less daunting. If your child has been accustomed to some type of chore for as long as they can remember, maintaining new responsibilities as they get older becomes much more seamless. Based on childhood development, here are some suggestions to help you navigate age-appropriate chores.

2-3 Years Olds

Around the toddler stage, your children will need the most guidance as they navigate their chores. Keeping in mind you will need to be involved with these chores, around 2 years of age, you can begin showing your child how to do things like:

  • Put away their toys when they’re finished
  • Organize books
  • Put clothes in the laundry hamper
  • Help make their bed

4-5 Years Olds

While your example is still influential to your child’s learning, now your child is moving into a stage where they can complete some chores independently. The chores they need help with versus chores they can do alone will vary by child, but around this age, children can do chores such as:

  • Water flowers and plants
  • Sort laundry to be washed
  • Clean up the dinner table
  • Help bring groceries inside
  • Tend to pet bowls

6-9 Years Olds

In this phase, your child is more capable than ever before to take on chores themselves, but they probably are the least interested in it. Before, your child was excited to help mom and dad, but this stage is typically where some rebellion sets in. That makes consistency through this stage even more important. Chores your child can now take on include:

  • Sweeping
  • Cleaning their room
  • Loading the dishwasher
  • Preparing snacks and breakfast for themselves
  • Helping to make dinner
  • Vacuuming around the house

10+ Years Olds

There are some differences in the chores a 10-year-old can do versus chores a 15-year-old can do, but the differences aren’t as drastic as we have seen in each previous stage. Once your child is 10 or older, that is a great time to give them specific chores they manage in the household. That could include things like:

  • Doing their own laundry
  • Taking out the garbage
  • Cooking simple (to more complex, as they age) meals
  • Washing the dishes
  • Overseeing pet care
Encouraging Healthy Home Habits

Using Childhood Development to Build Good Habits for Children

The foundation you lay with your children in your home is the groundwork to how they will approach adulthood. Beginning with the example you set from the time they are born to the consistency you uphold through each stage of their life, you are preparing your child to have healthy home habits not only when they live with you, but when they begin living on their own, as well.

While it can feel like we are always searching for the latest parenting hacks, sometimes going back to the basics of childhood development will help us make the largest impact on our children. If you have continued questions about how to build healthy home habits with your child as they develop through various stages, your pediatrician is always a fantastic resource. For Buffalo families, Medical Health Associates of Western New York is always happy to help.

How to Find the Perfect Pediatrician for Your Child - Medical Health Associates of Western New York - Featured Image

How to Find the Perfect Pediatrician for Your Child

Whether you are a new parent or a seasoned parenting pro, expecting a new baby is an exciting – and chaotic – time. There’s a lot on your to-do list, and finding the right pediatrician is one of many important decisions you have to make before giving birth.

Choosing the right pediatrician to care for your children is no easy task. When you select a pediatrician, you are establishing a relationship with a medical expert who will become close to your family and provide you with guidance through all stages of your child’s development.

This trusted expert will be there to support you through all sorts of bumps, bruises and sniffles.

When should you choose a pediatrician?

Who you’re entrusting with your child’s healthcare is an important decision. If you’re expecting, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to find the right doctor.

Start looking for a pediatrician 2-3 months before your baby is due. Schedule a face-to-face visit at their offices or a virtual call to give yourself the opportunity to ask questions and see if they fit your needs.

After all, you’re going to see them quite a bit. Especially in your baby’s first year. A newborn will see a doctor between five and eight times for well-baby checkups and visits. And those visits don’t account for the unexpected visits for colds, fevers, rashes, and more.

How to Find the Perfect Pediatrician for Your Child

Your pediatrician will be your partner in your child’s health. You are making a commitment to your child’s health and development with the oversight of a board-certified medical professional.

5 things to consider when selecting your child’s doctor

First and foremost, choosing the right pediatrician starts with trust. Trust is the key ingredient for any working relationship. You have to trust both the provider, their expertise and their ability to listen and respect your wishes as a parent.

With trust in mind, here are five steps to choosing the right pediatrician.

1. Do Your Homework

Your Pediatrician should do more than accept your insurance policy. They should be trusted as an expert amongst the community. So, ask around.

Reach out to your personal network of family and friends for recommendations. You will most likely receive multiple recommendations and guidance on what practices to steer clear of. Then, check out social media and online reviews to learn more about other parent’s experiences.

With some trusted and referred providers in mind, narrow it down by those who accept your insurance policy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that first-time parents actually meet with their pediatrician before their child is born.

2. Check Reviews

Finding the right pediatrician is not the same as shopping for a new pair of shoes online, but there is a lot you can learn from others’ insights. Read reviews carefully. You will want to pay attention to both positive and negative patient feedback.

How many reviews are available for the doctor or practice? What is the average rating? Have patients provided written reviews or basic star ratings?

Then, dig into the comments that have been left. Identify trends and feedback patterns. When reading through any negative reviews, take into consideration that one bad experience may not be an accurate reflection of the practice or provider. But, if there are 40 reviews in a row complaining about the provider’s inability to listen to a parent’s concerns about their child’s health, you may want to stay away from that provider. Use your best judgment.

Trusted review sites such as HealthGrades can be a great resource for your due diligence.

How to Find the Perfect Pediatrician for Your Child

3. Check for Convenience and Accessibility

As a parent, you are busy. You need a doctor who is available, accessible and has a supporting team of experts around them. You cannot afford hours of waiting on hold or dropped phone calls with the supporting call line.

A great place to start is the practice website. Ask yourself:

  • Is it easy to navigate?
  • Where is the practice located?
  • What are the office hours?
  • How can the doctor be reached?
  • Is there an easy-to-use patient portal for you to login and keep track of your childs’ health?
  • Are there clear profiles available for providers and their supporting medical staff?

If you cannot locate their office online, chances are they are not the accessible solution you are looking for.

4. Take Your Pediatrician for a Test Drive

If possible, take the time to meet with them face-to-face. You heard us. An initial appointment can allow you to see how they interact with new patients and families, engage with the office staff and experience first-hand what you can expect during the course of your child’s care.

An office visit provides you with an opportunity to speak directly to the doctor. Ask them questions like:

  • How long have you been practicing?
  • Why did you choose to become a pediatrician?
  • Any questions you have about upcoming healthcare needs for your child.

Pay attention to their responses as you will be developing a close relationship with this doctor. A great pediatrician treats the parents emotions just as well as they consider the treatment of your child. They will understand the anxiety of choosing the right solution for you and your family. In fact, some practices may even go as far as providing new-born resources such as online links, lactation consultants, and more.

Do not hesitate, get on the phone and give them a call.

5. Pay Attention to How The Doctor Interacts with Your Child

Trusting your network of friends and family, reading online reviews, and “test driving” the office with a consultation or phone call is only 10% of the journey to finding the perfect pediatrician.

The final deciding factor can come down to that first appointment when you are holding your child and sitting in their office. Trust your instincts and pay attention to the way the pediatrician interacts with you, your family and the patient.

Parents and pediatricians become partners in raising healthy children through all stages of development. Find a pediatrician that meets your needs and respects your family’s unique style, approach and philosophy when it comes to raising children.

A great pediatrician will take the time to listen, learn and educate you each step of the way.