Issuu

SPRING 2015

Like father, like son

Like mother, like daughter …good health is a family affair

KE IT A G O KID

Positive parenting

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Spring cleaning time: Keep your home allergy free

Structure, consistency key to a child’s healthy development

Win a Family Getaway at LEGOLAND® California Resort

RUN, JUMP, DANCE & PLAY. EVERY DAY.

GO KIDS!

Win a family trip to

LEGOLAND® California! MEMBERSHIP IS FREE AND ALWAYS FUN! Are you ready for some F-U-N for the whole family? Sign up for Banner Children’s GO KIDS! and participate in the Family Challenge! The Family Challenge is four weeks of fun activities to keep your family fit and healthy—March 16th through April 13th. Track your family’s progress and share your activity photos on Facebook with the hashtag #GOKIDS to win fun prizes for the whole family. Ready? Set…GO KIDS! Where moms who know, get in the know. BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS • Connect with us:

EDITOR'S LETTER

Volume 1 Number 3 | Spring 2015

Dad in training As parents, we could all probably benefit from some group therapy, right? “Hi. My name is Jim and I’m a father of three. (Group: ‘Hi Jim!’) With my first child, I bought only brand-name diapers, wipes and formula. If he dropped his pacifier, I would boil it in hot water for 10 minutes. If a Cheerio fell to the floor, I would immediately throw it away. “By my third, I just wrapped her in leaves, bought 'Frank’s Buffalo-Wing Baby Formula,' and if food dropped on the floor, I used the reliable two-day rule, unless the dog got it first.” Oh, the guilt! This parenting gig comes with responsibilities that rival that of our Commander-in-Chief. There are minute-to-minute decisions to make, laws to enact, budgets to administer. We are their world, and our kids look to us to set an example. If we eat poorly, they want the same privilege; if we don’t exercise, chances are, neither will they. Can we be good role models? I hope so. Certainly, the Zobells, our cover family, inspire me. They make it a point to eat healthy, get plenty of exercise and encourage

a positive lifestyle. Find out more on page 6. While we’re on the positive parenting topic, Banner Children’s pediatrician Dr. Leslie Quinn has some excellent advice concerning the importance of structure and consistency as it relates to raising a child. See page 8 for the scoop. Is your household a sneeze fest? It could be that it’s rife with allergens, which can be a nightmare for a child who suffers from asthma. Kimberly Byrne, the pediatric asthma program manager at Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa, can help you make a clean sweep of the types of things that can trigger allergies. Find out more on page 10. Check out these stories and many more in this issue of GO KIDS! Be sure to sign up for GO KIDS! and take the Family Challenge for a chance to win a LEGOLAND® California Resort Family Getaway! Check out page 12 or go to BannerChildrens.com/ GOKIDS for all the details.

Jim Williams, Editor and father of three

What’s inside!

4 5 6 8 10

GO MOM Blogger, Nicole Cottrell, shares 10 sniffle tips for spring allergies Suggested reading Book suggestions from Banner Children's experts Like father, like son Like mother, like daughter…good health is a family affair Positive parenting Structure, consistency key to a child’s healthy development

Spring cleaning Keeping your home allergy free

Q&A: Caffeine and kids Is it OK for kids to drink beverages containing caffeine?

12 13 14

GO KIDS! Family Challenge Ready to start the year off on a big health kick?

What we wish parents knew Banner doctors offer helpful advice

GO KIDS! activities Four outdoor activities that the whole family will love

CREATED BY REPUBLIC MEDIA CUSTOM PUBLISHING FOR BANNER CHILDREN'S VOLUME 1 NUMBER 3 SPRING 2015

Publication of Republic Media Custom Publishing.

A division of Republic Media, 200 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-444-1000

General Manager Cami Kaiser/ckaiser@ republicmedia.com; Creative Development Director Isaac Moya/imoya@ republicmedia.com; Editor Jim Williams/JLWilliams@ republicmedia.com; Senior Managing Art Director Tracey Phalen/tphalen@ republicmedia.com; Art Director Miles Abernethy; Editorial Coordinator Nick Kostenko; Contributors Rick D’Elia, Gremlyn Bradley-Waddell. GO KIDS! magazine is published as a service to our friends and neighbors by Republic Media Custom Publishing for Banner Children's. Material in GO KIDS! is obtained from a wide range of medical experts and health-care authorities. If you have any concerns about specific items that appear in GO KIDS!, consult your personal physician.

We exist to make a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care.

If you no longer wish to receive GO KIDS! magazine, please notify us through email at gokids @ republicmedia.com or by phone at 602-444-2235. Be sure to include your full name, address, city and zip code as it appears on the mailing label of the publication.

Cover Photo: Aime and Greg Zobell and their four children get involved in a variety of activities to stay fit. Photo by Rick D'Elia.

BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS

For information, call 602-230-CARE (2273) or visit BannerChildrens.com.

GO KIDS!

GO MOM 10 sniffle tips for spring allergies

Spring has sprung! And with it so has itching, sneezing, and general misery also known as allergies. My daughter Riley usually gets especially stuffy and uncomfortable during the Springtime. Seasonal allergies in our kids can be caused by pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. If your child suffers from the sniffles during this time too, here are a few tips to help keep them happy and offer relief:

Salt-water is your friend Keep a bottle of saline nose spray around the house for stuffy noses without medication.

Play inside On especially windy days, or in the early morning and early evening when the pollen count tends to be higher, keep your kiddos inside to play.

Get humid A humidifier is a great way to ward of stuffy noses and help children sleep better at night.

Spring for fancy tissues Nothing is worse than a kid with a raw red nose, so try and buy the tissues with aloe or lotion.

Keep the windows shut This is especially important during windy days and applies to the car too.

Be notified You can sign up on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology’s website and receive notifications about airborne allergens in your area.

Natural fibers Try and dress your kids in natural fibers, like wool and cotton, as synthetic fibers create static electricity which actually attracts pollen.

Clean up Vacuuming (preferably with a vacuum with a HEPA filter) and regular dusting can really cut down on that nasty pollen.

Invest in an air filter While a good one can be pricey, a quality air filter can make breathing much easier for your whole family.

Child-safe allergy medicine Don’t be afraid to offer a child safe, doctor-approved allergy liquid too. Parents should always check with their provider or pharmacist that any over the counter allergy medication is safe for their child’s age and get correct daily dose, etc. Hopefully, with a few minor tweaks your child can enjoy the outdoors this Spring and even stop to smell the roses.

Want more helpful advice on food, fitness and fun? Check out Nicole Cottrell’s GO MOM blog online every Tuesday and Thursday at BannerChildrens.com/gomom

alk about being driven to help others! For several days each week, three Banner Children’s medical staffers — a nurse practitioner, bilingual nurse and bilingual medical assistant — hit the road in the colorful, can’t-miss-it HealthMobile, a 40-foot RV specially outfitted with an upbeat waiting room and two exam rooms. Their goal? To dispense plenty of valuable, and free, healthcare services to children from uninsured, underinsured and low-income families around the Valley.

The mobile unit fulfills a vital need for many families who face difficulty in accessing such care due to logistical or financial reasons, Christopherson says, adding that Arizona has the third largest population of uninsured children in the country. To make care even more accessible, walk-in patients are welcome at the HealthMobile (although appointments are preferred), allowing the team to see an average of five to six young patients during each day-long visit to established sites in Apache Junction, Buckeye, Queen Creek and Maricopa.

“The most frequent services they provide are sports physicals and well-child checks,” says Megan Christopherson, Child Health and Wellness senior manager with Banner Children’s School-Based Health Program. But the team has also seen plenty cases of bronchitis, ear infection and chronic cough over the past few months, not to mention asthma-related issues and urinary tract infections. “They see basically any condition you’d expect to see at a pediatric office.”

Meanwhile, plans are underway for the HealthMobile team to add immunizations to their offerings, and Christopherson also hopes to see mental health services added in the near future.

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“I believe the demand for the HealthMobile’s services is only going to go up, especially once we start offering immunizations,” she says. For more information about the HealthMobile, visit BannerChildrens.com/ schoolclinics or to make an appointment, call 480-412-6344. Spring 2015

Need a little help figuring out how to deal with a toddler who won’t eat fruit? Perplexed by a teen who just seems intent on making all the wrong choices? A trusted pediatrician is one of the first people you’ll probably turn to for guidance, but a book can also be a great source — for parents and doctors alike! We asked some Banner Children’s providers to name some of the titles they find themselves going back to again and again and would recommend to parents. The books below run the gamut from self-help books aimed at kids to works of fiction and even a couple recipe books. Enjoy! Steven Erickson, MD, medical director at Banner Concussion Center, Phoenix

Dave Bachmann, teacher at Banner Children’s Academy, Tempe

• Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success by John R. Wooden on leadership • Why Is Everybody Always Picking on Me? by Terrence Webster-Doyle, about bullying and conflict management

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney on dealing with many issues so central to children’s self-esteem: bullying, trying to “fit in,” friendships, etc. • Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss because it’s an important message for parents as it emphasizes the fact that every child has the potential to achieve their goals

Dave Curran, MD, private practice pediatrician and Banner Children's affiliate • American Academy of Pediatrics’ Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, Birth to Age 5 • Colorful Cooking: Healthy and Fun Recipes that Kids Can Make by Jacque Wick

Healthmobile schedule Mondays Buckeye Elementary School 210 S. 6th Street, Bldg. 700 Buckeye, AZ 85326 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays Banner Goldfield Medical Center 2050 W. Southern Avenue Apache Junction, AZ 85120 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays Banner Health Center 17900 N. Porter Road Maricopa, AZ 85138 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays Banner Ironwood Medical Center 37000 N. Gantzel Road, San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS

John Sarmiento, MD, Banner Children’s pediatrician at Banner Health Center, Surprise • ADHD: What every Parent Needs to Know by Michael I. Reiff, MD • The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD, for parents of infants • 1-2-3 Magic series by Thomas W. Phelan, PhD, on discipline and behavior, aimed at parents with kids two years and older • The Everyday Parenting Toolkit: The Kazdin Method for Easy, Step-by-Step, Lasting Change for You and Your Child by Alan E. Kazdin, PhD, on discipline and behavior • The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals by Missy Chase Lapine, about toddler nutrition • How to Get Your Kid to Eat…But Not Too Much by Ellyn Satter • Autism’s False Prophets by Paul A. Offit, MD about vaccinations Mia Gregor, PsyD, Banner Children's neuropsychologist, Mesa • Don’t Feed the Monster on Tuesdays! by Adolph Moser, EdD, about self-esteem • The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Kids by Lawrence Shapiro, on coping skills and stress

GO KIDS!

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Like mother, like daughter…good health is a family affair

Stephen Bair, D.O., a family medicine physician at Banner Health Center in Gilbert

When you are a parent, little eyes are always watching what you do. That’s why the food and exercise choices made can have a huge impact on the choices children make as they grow.

stay-at-home mom of four, Jaime Zobell says she tries to be a good role model for her kids, but she doesn’t consider herself a perfect parent. “I love to eat, and I like everything!” the Mesa resident says with a good-natured laugh. “You name it, and I’ll say yes to it: Mexican food, Chinese food, pizza, ice cream. And sometimes I eat a little more than I should, too.”

several 10K races and a half marathon, “always training for the next race,” Jaime says. • They like to be active, hiking and riding bikes with daughters Rachael, 12, Lauryn, 9, Hannah, 8, and son Austin, 5, and occasionally even coaching a kids’ sports teams.

Lauryn, for example, says she loves to be outside — like her mom — and burn off energy. “We go on bike rides and we walk around the block and we go hiking,” she says, adding that a recent walk at Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson was particularly fun.

For example:

• They eat most dinners together and at home, where a wellbalanced meal might include spaghetti or grilled chicken prepared by Jaime. Breakfast may be a smoothie made by Greg, who has lost 10 pounds drinking the concoctions of spinach, almond milk and an assortment of frozen fruit.

Rachael notes that her dad runs a lot and because of his example, she’s now interested in the sport. In fact, she’s participating in a running program at school. As for food, she’s quick to name zucchini as her favorite vegetable and likes that her mom “makes it a lot,” mixing it with red and yellow peppers. She’s also a fan of her dad’s smoothies.

• She likes to exercise in the fresh air and is out the door by 5:30 a.m., six days a week, running at least a mile and then walking. He has a gym membership and rises at 3 a.m. to get in a workout. He’s also run

“I try to be healthy,” Jaime says, “and the kids know Greg and I like to be active. They know it’s important.”

“They taste like Caribbean Passion,” she says, referring to a flavor of smoothie found at Jamba Juice.

To the couple’s delight, their kids are following their lead and love being active and eating right.

Stephen Bair, D.O., a family medicine physician at Banner Health Center in Gilbert, says

That said, the former schoolteacher and her husband, Greg, a nurse practitioner, consciously make plenty of positive lifestyle choices.

GO KIDS!

Spring 2015

it’s pretty typical for children to emulate their parents. So if you want your kids to make positive, health-minded choices in life, you should, too. “That’s how kids become who they are,” says the father of nine, who’s seen that very kind of emulation in his own home.

ut what if you’re not a traditionally “healthy” parent? Is it possible to change up your ways and model a better example for your children? Of course, says Kathy Thomas, PhD, Banner Children’s neuropsychologist, who thinks most parents do a pretty good job of doing right by their offspring. “Parenting’s a tough job, and you don’t have to be a perfect parent to parent perfectly,” she says. What’s more important is your willingness to look at lifestyle and, if necessary, change those habits BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS

“I try to be healthy and the kids know Greg and I like to be active. They know it’s important.” that are less than desirable. So, to get started on a healthier path, Thomas offers these tips: • If you usually view exercise as a chore, change your perspecitve and consider it a fun activity and let your kids know your new love of working out. “Take them for a walk when the weather is lovely, and make it a fun time of discovery.”

• If you use sugary sweets as a reward, swap them for more nutritious choices or make it clear that you’re not having a treat until you first eat a healthy dinner. • Don’t rely on your child to be self-motivated; kids need praise and encouragement when they make a smart or healthy choice. “You should give 10 praises for each not-so-great thing they do,” Thomas said. “And show them unconditional love.”

Finally, why not have your kids join the Banner Children’s GO KIDS! program? It’s a fun way for them to learn how to stay active and make good choices — and it’s free! Find out more Kathy Thomas, at BannerChildrens. PhD, Banner com/GOKIDS. Children’s neuropsychologist

GO KIDS!

Structure, consistency key to a child’s healthy development

Positive Parenting

ood, shelter and clothing may be the essential needs for human survival, but what about the factors necessary for a child’s healthy development? Two that seem to help children of all ages thrive are consistency within the home environment and structured schedules.

“Babies and children develop well directly in response to positive parenting,” says Leslie D. Quinn, MD, a Banner Children’s forensic pediatrician at Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa. “Being attentive and responsive, providing a safe environment at all times and providing a consistent framework for kids to rely on, in terms of schedules, rules and responses, are considered best practices when it comes to parenting.” While no one’s perfect, and it’s impossible to always be positive many moms and dads meet most of these suggestions from Dr. Quinn or come close to doing so. Still, if you’re feeling like you could use some guidance, she offers a few ideas:

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Leslie D. Quinn, MD, a Banner Children’s forensic pediatrician, Mesa

Spring 2015

Give kids room, but establish boundaries based on safety and family values “You want to empower your kids to go off in the world and to love learning,” she says, and you need to give them the skills they need to function on their own. So let children do what they need to do and give them room to expand and explore, all the while enforcing rules and boundaries that your family’s will be comfortable with.

Provide a safe environment at all times for little ones You want your baby or toddler to explore his environment by using his brain and body to reach out to what’s around him. “Babies learn by picking things up and putting them in their mouth,” she said. And if he pushes the boundary that you’ve created — perhaps by tugging at the gate at the top of the stairs — you have to gently re-direct him. Treat toddler tantrums correctly Kids think they are going to get their way when they scream and stomp, but you need to let them know that’s not going to be the outcome. “Put your child in another room from the situation and let him calm down,” she says. Be consistent, and your child will quickly learn temper tantrums don’t work. Establish a routine Children thrive on routines and consistency, and it’s best to start integrating these into their lives early on while they’re very young. You might start by telling your child to “Eat your breakfast, then brush your teeth, complete homework before playing video games, and take a warm bath or shower, followed by a book and then bedtime.” BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS

Have immediate consequences for bad or inappropriate behavior A timeout, one minute for each year of the child’s age, may be used sparingly; allow your child to sit alone and think about what she’s done. After the time’s up, acknowledge that the timeout is now over, ask if she’s aware of what she did wrong and announce that it’s “time to move on.”

Don’t over-schedule kids They might not act like it, but they need downtime and plenty of sleep. “They get tired, stressed out, and they can’t function any

better than you or I could,” she says. If there are several sports or extracurricular activities they want to participate in, tell them to narrow their choices down to two and be very firm when you say, “You can’t do them all.”

Keep technology out of the bedroom That means no computers, TVs, game systems or even cell phones in the bedroom. “Computers should be in the living room or kitchen, and TVs should be in the living room or playroom, and remember there’s no TV until homework is done.” Be loving and be supportive — always Be responsive to your child, no matter his age, and also be specific in your praise: “I love how your art is so creative!” And, at bedtime, let your child know you love him unconditionally: “I love you no matter what.” Visit Pinterest to find a list of positive and encouraging quotes for your kiddos. Pin it for later: Pinterest.com/BannerChildrens

GO GOKIDS! KIDS! 99

SPRING

Keeping your home allergy-free

t’s springtime, and all you want to do is open those windows and sliding glass doors and let in all that fresh air, right? • While that air might be fine for some people, it could spell trouble for anyone in your home who suffers from allergies, says Kimberly Byrne, RN, pediatric asthma program manager at Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa. • “In springtime, everyone wants to open the windows, but pollen counts are highest in the late morning and late afternoon,” she says, so keeping windows and doors shut is your best move. “We actually have four allergy seasons in Arizona because our temperatures don’t get below freezing enough to make most of the plants and weeds go dormant.” • Moving to another climate won’t solve any problems, either, because every state has its allergens, Byrne notes. • The smart thing to do is to learn how to eliminate many of the things that make us sneeze, cough and wheeze. To assist with that effort, Byrne offers these tips for keeping your home as allergy-free as possible all year long:

Regularly launder window coverings, such as curtains, and dust or wipe clean mini-blinds and vertical blinds.

Keep animals out of the bedroom; even if you’re not allergic to Rover, the dust, pollen and grass he can inadvertently bring into your room and onto your bedspread can wreak havoc on your respiratory system. Keep pet dander to a minimum by bathing your animal weekly.

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Teddy bears and other stuffed animals look cute on your child’s bed, but they’re the equivalent of a dust mite sanctuary and that’s bad news if your child has asthma. To kill the mites, launder any washing machine-safe toys in hot water, followed by a spin in a hot dryer. For stuffed animals or other toys that cannot be laundered, place the item in a plastic freezer bag and allow it to sit in the freezer a few days. The cold will kill the mites, and that favorite stuffy can once again claim his rightful spot at the head of your kiddo’s bed.

Wash all bedding once a week in hot water, followed by a hot drying cycle, to kill dust mites. Allergen-proof bedding covers are nice, but they can be pricey, Byrne says. She suggests opting for just a pillow case.

Consider using a small air filter, especially in the bedroom, which is the most important room to keep clean for anyone with asthma. It is important to keep the bedroom free of allergens, she notes, because “everyone’s airways get smaller at night.” According to Byrne, adrenaline keeps the airways a little more open in the daytime, but at night, they can get worse and you may find you have that typical nighttime asthma symptom: coughing.

Vacuum frequently, preferably with a model that has a HEPA filter, which keeps dust and other small particles contained within the unit. Spring 2015

Q&A Caffeine and Kids Is it OK for kids to drink beverages containing caffeine? Caffeine is bad for children — because it disrupts their much-needed sleep and decreases slow-wave sleep. We advise and encourage parents to give their children water to drink, which doesn’t have empty calories like soda or juice.

How does caffeine affect children? Caffeine is a stimulant that not only affects the brain but also the skeletal muscle, and it can increase the heart and respiratory rates and even cause tremors. It is believed that caffeine also impacts the sleep-inducing substance in your child’s body called adenosine. The feeling of energy from caffeine doesn’t last long, and the aftereffects can leave kids feeling more tired than before.

But a cup of coffee, or iced coffee drink is OK for my pre-teen or teen to consume because it doesn’t have as much caffeine as a can of cola, right? Good try, but no! An 8-ounce cup of coffee actually has 110 mg of caffeine, while a 12-oz Diet Coke has 46 mg, a can of regular Coke contains 35 mg and a can of Mountain Dew has a bit more with 55 mg. The best thing is to stick with water. You can add some flavor by adding sliced fruit to your water or consider trying a flavored sparkling or seltzer water.

Diana C. Go, MD, Banner Children’s pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist, Glendale

How Much Caffeine? 8-ounce coffee 110 mg

12-ounce Diet Coke 46 mg

12-ounce Coke 35 mg

12-ounce Mtn Dew 55 mg

Vitamins and Supplements for Kids Should I give In the United States, most children have access to a healthy, balanced diet and do not require any type of vitamin supplementation. Vitamin D and calcium my child are particularly important, but many of the foods that kids eat and drink — vitamins? such as milk and orange juice — are often fortified with those nutrients. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend children take a vitamin supplement, however, if the child has a restricted diet or a medical condition, it may be necessary, and that is something you need to discuss with your pediatrician. A children’s daily vitamin isn’t necessary, but I don’t think any harm is caused by taking one, either.

BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS

Michelle Ruha, MD, toxicologist at Banner Poison and Drug Information Center, Phoenix

GO KIDS!

Ready to start the year off on a big health kick?

Win a LEGOLAND® Family Getaway Includes: Five - 2-Day Resort Hopper Tickets to LEGOLAND® California Resort 4- Day, 3-Night Stay at LEGOLAND® Hotel $100 LEGOLAND® Gift Card $100 Gas Card (Visa G/C)

Register to become a GO KIDS! member on-line! Step 1: Register your child for the Banner Children’s GO KIDS! program online at BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS. Step 2: Record your family’s activities weekly via the GO KIDS! online tracker. There will be a new family challenge assigned each week for your family to try together. Step 3: Post a photo of your family participating in the weekly challenges to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #GOKIDS (make your post public). Participating families will be eligible to win weekly prizes. Sign up to become a GO KIDS! member today to receive more information on weekly activities and prizes.

Grand Prize: Family trip to LEGOLAND® California Resort For complete Grand Prize rules and details:

www.BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS

Join GO KIDS! by March 16

LEGOLAND® California Resort has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions. The resort is home to LEGOLAND Water Park, SEA LIFE® Aquarium and the LEGOLAND Hotel. For Resort information, visit LEGOLAND.com.

But that’s not all. GO KIDS! will host a health and wellness festival in the West Valley later this fall and there are several other kid-friendly events sponsored by Banner Children’s throughout the year. There is also plenty of timely food and Fitness Challenge

fitness advice from GO MOM blogger Nicole Cottrell, who posts every Tuesday and Thursday on the GO KIDS! website. So, what are you waiting for? All you have to do to get in on the fun is register. Just go to bannerhealth.com/gokids and create a profile. Then start tracking your kid’s activities during challenges. “Be sure to sign up, because this is a great experience for the entire family,” says Rachel Calendo, co-manager of the program. “Kids look to their parents and joining the GO KIDS! program is one way to be an awesome role model.”

June 1-29: “This is a great way for kids to stay active over the summer months.” Family Challenge March 16-April 13: Campus Challenge “Your entire family Sept. 7-Oct. 9: can take part and learn “This challenge is aimed about diet and at teachers, who sign exercise.” up their classes to participate.”

Food Challenges Nov. 9-Dec. 7: “Learn about all kinds of food and then learn how to pick healthier choices.”

GO KIDS! Magazine Cover Photo Contest

Post your family photo to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #GOKIDS (make your post public). One family will be selected as our cover photo in the next issue of GO KIDS! magazine. More details available at BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS.

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GO KIDS!

Then, get ready to be challenged! There are four GO KIDS! Challenges planned throughout the year.

Free when you sign up!

KIDS! YEA

“Each child who signs up will receive a GO KIDS! pack, which contains a backpack, neon sunglasses and a jump rope, and parents will receive the GO KIDS! magazine and the Banner Children’s e-Connect newsletter,” says Ryan Polosky, co-manager of the GO KIDS! program.

Kids in kindergarten through eighth grade and their families are encouraged to sign up for the Banner Children’s GO KIDS! program, a free, fun way to stay active, learn about healthy living and, yep, even get some cool swag.

Like mo ther, like …good health is daughter a family affair

Sprin cleaning g Keep your time: allergy home free

Posit parentive ing

Spring 2015

Structure, key to a consistency child’s healt hy developm ent

Win a Fam Getaway ily LEGOLA at California ND ® Resort

2/27/15

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GO PARENTS

What we wish parents knew: “One thing I wish that parents knew is that the supposed link between sugar and diabetes is actually a fallacy. The truth is

that typical Type 1 diabetes (usual childhood type) is not at all related to food but to the immune system attacking the pancreas. Most Type 2 diabetes (which usually is only an adult type of diabetes) is related to genetics and tendency to be overweight.”

Alvin H. Perelman, MD, FAAP, Banner Children's endocrinologist, Scottsdale

"I want parents to know how important it is to donate blood for children’s surgeries! With more than 15,000 operations each year in the United States alone, heart surgery in children less than one year of age is more common than you may think. Banner Children’s is one of about 130 programs around the country providing expert care to these smallest of heart patients, and it requires a committed team both in the hospital and our community through blood donations.

Randall S. Fortuna, MD, Banner Children's cardiothoracic surgeon, Mesa

An interesting thing for the community to know is that in partnership with United Blood Services, specially selected blood donors are able to donate directly to children scheduled for heart surgery. The blood is specially processed and delivered to the operating room within 72 hours of donation. Please consider becoming a directed blood donor for children in our community who need open heart surgery." Potential donors may contact Lone Egestad, United Blood Services Special Collections supervisor, at (508) 675-5523 or legestad@bloodsystems.org.

“Parents need to know that proper oral healthcare starts as soon as your youngster’s first teeth come in. You can start by gently wiping your baby’s teeth with a slightly damp, soft cloth. By the time he’s a year old, you can use a small toothbrush and toothpaste made for babies. The first dental appointment should be around age 1 to 1 ½, and this appointment is really just to get your child — and you — on the right path to good oral hygiene. Some parents resist seeing a dentist this that early in their baby’s life, but even babies get cavities. For that reason, we do not recommend you give a baby bottles of milk or juice in the crib. Doing so can promote bacteria overgrowth on the teeth. Your baby can have a drink of water before bedtime but no food or drink should be given to him in the crib. At around 2 years of age, a toddler can brush his teeth “on his own,” as long a parent follows up and brushes his teeth afterward. At around age 5 to 7, most kids can brush on their own twice day and floss with some assistance.” BannerChildrens.com/GOKIDS

Jaclyn Kepski, MD, Banner Children’s pediatrician at Banner Health Clinic, Gilbert

GO KIDS!

GO KIDS! ACTIVITIES

Outdoor activities that the whole family will love It’s that time of year, when everyone wants to go outside and play! If you’re looking for activities that the entire family can do together, you’ll be pleased to discover (or, perhaps, re-discover) that, in Arizona, you don’t have to go far to find a pursuit that everyone will enjoy. Public pools, bike paths, hiking trails and neighborhood parks are generously sprinkled all around the Valley and just waiting to be used. On that note, Alison Perkins, an outpatient pediatric physical therapist with Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, suggests the following ideas suitable for family fun:

Revisit your childhood “In my own

practice, I like to play the games I played as a kid, like ‘Red Light/Green Light,’ ‘Mother, May I?’ and crab soccer. Kids are so technology-driven these days, I try to remind them that you don’t need a ‘thing’ to have fun. Sometimes all you need is a patch of grass and an imagination.”

Take a hike, ride a bike! Arizona is a great place for hiking, Perkins says, and the sport “can be done at a relatively young age on some of the paved trails or more challenging ones on our mountains.” And bike riding can be a great activity with older kids. Goal setting can be a fun way to keep them challenged and always pushing themselves to hike or bike a little further than last time. Go on a park tour “I usually encourage

parents to get out there on the playground equipment with their kids. It is amazing how many muscles you use on a jungle gym and how much fun you can have letting your kids make up a game.”

GO KIDS!

But if your kids are tired of going to your usual park, why not map out all the parks in your city or region and make a passport they can check off when they visit each one?

Lap it up! “Swimming is a great full body workout, and it’s so important to teach kids how to be safe around water.” To make sure they are getting plenty of exercise, you can plan some diving games and pool races. Just one more thing: Think safety! Have fun, but also make sure you have the proper equipment on hand; everyone should wear a helmet when riding bikes, for example, and you should have plenty of water and a cell phone before heading out on a hike. Follow all safety precautions, too, like watching children at all times when they’re in a pool or other body of water.

Spring 2015

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JOIN GO KIDS! Banner Children’s GO KIDS! is a free program that gives kids and families the tools and resources they need to maintain fun, active lives while making healthy choices to improve their overall fitness. Sign-up today! Members receive a GO KIDS! quarterly magazine, newsletter, access to the activity tracker on the GO KIDS! web site, Banner Children’s GO KIDS! Pack, invitations to participate in challenges, events, and win cool prizes!

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READY, SET

Like father, like son

Like mother, like daughter …good health is a family affair

KE IT A G O

Positive parenting

KID R

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S! YEA

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Chal

Spring cleaning time: Keep your home allergy free

Structure, consistency key to a child’s healthy development

Win a Family Getaway at LEGOLAND® California Resort

2/27/15 4:27 PM