Parent Source
Serving DeKalb County
Summer Camps Provide Options
Start Preparing for Spring Allergy Season
What Parents Should Know About Ultra Processed Food
Summer CAmps provide options
Parents have lots of options at their disposal when choosing summer camps for their children. Competition for summer camp can be fierce, as camps only have a limited number of openings, many of which fill up quickly once enrollment begins. So it’s in parents’ and kids’ best interest to identify their summer camp options early so they can be ready to pounce when enrollment begins.
Sports camps
Sports camps are wildly popular. Sports camps tend to specialize in one sport, like basketball, soccer or football, and may be overseen by a local high school coach and his staff. These camps are a great way for kids to have fun playing a sport they love, and also serve as a great opportunity for young athletes to learn the fundamentals of a given sport and fine-tune their existing skills or, in the case of less experienced children, develop new ones.
Outdoor-centric camps
Sometimes characterized as adventure camps or nature camps, these offerings tend to be centered around physical activities that bring children into direct contact with the great outdoors. Kayaking, rafting, zip-lining, hiking, and rock climbing are just some of the outdoors activities children may be introduced to over a typical summer at outdoorcentric camps. Some outdoor-centric camps also teach survival skills, and many pride themselves on preparing campers to take on leadership positions on outdoor excursions.
STEM camps
STEM camps incorporate activities that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math into each day’s offerings. Campers may be part of teams that design and build robots. Coding a website also may be a project campers take on at a STEM camp. Parents concerned that STEM camps keep kids indoors for much of the summer are urged to ask staffers how much time kids spend outside and away from screens while enrolled at the camp. Many STEM camps make a concerted effort to offer ample outdoors time, but it’s best to ask prior to enrolling a youngster in STEM camp.
Arts camps
Arts camps may introduce children to activities like painting and drawing or performance arts like theater and dancing. These camps also cater to kids with ample experience in artistic pursuits, and some may specialize on a particular one. So arts camps can be great for both newcomers and more experienced children.
Religious camps
Religious camps are another popular option. These camps emphasize faith-based teachings and spiritual activities but also tend to incorporate more traditional camp experiences, like outdoor play and other pursuits, into their daily schedules. Religious camps may be offered to congregants and non-congregants alike, so parents can look around for religious camps even if their current house of worship does not host a camp of its own.
Academic camps and special needs camps are some additional summer camp options families can consider as they seek to ensure youngsters have a fun and memorable summer.
Start preparing for spring allergy season with these expert tips
Spring is right around the corner! If you’re among the one in four U.S. adults that suffers from seasonal allergies, it’s time to start preparing for the influx of pollen and other allergens.
“The biggest mistake people make with spring allergies is waiting for the first sneeze to take action,” said Dr. Fred Pescatore, M.D., a Manhattan-based natural physician and author of The Allergy and Asthma Cure. “If you wait for symptoms to show up, you’re fighting an uphill battle. Preparing early is the difference between controlling your allergies and letting them control you.”
Check out Dr. Pescatore’s top tips for preparing for allergy season so you can enjoy spring with minimal symptoms.
Change your air filter
Your HVAC air filter works hard year-round to improve your indoor air quality by removing dust, pollen and other allergens from your home. Change the filter at the onset of spring so it is operating optimally before spring allergy season arrives.
Pro tip: If you have severe allergies, don’t replace the filter yourself. The old filter will be full of allergens that can trigger your symptoms during the replacement. Instead, have another household member take on the chore and dispose of it immediately.
Manage inflammation
Leading up to allergy season, make an effort to manage inflammation before it starts. Inflammation is a normal immune response to allergens, triggering symptoms like sneezing, congestion, coughing and watery eyes.
A proactive approach can help reduce the intensity of seasonal symptoms. Foundational habits like limiting excess sugar, gluten and dairy, prioritizing sleep and managing stress all support a more balanced immune response. For those looking to add targeted nutritional support, Pycnogenol® French maritime pine bark extract has been clinically studied for its role in helping
to modulate the body’s inflammatory response when taken ahead of allergy season. While many people rely on over-the-counter antihistamines for short-term symptom relief, some prefer a more natural approach that supports overall immune health rather than simply masking symptoms. Dr. Pescatore adds, “When recommending Pycnogenol® to my patients, I typically suggest 50 to 100 milligrams daily starting 5-8 weeks before allergy season for best results.”
Reduce pollen exposure
Pollen is one of the most common seasonal allergy triggers, so reducing your exposure is key. This is especially important now, as pollen seasons have become more intense, start earlier and last longer in recent years - largely due to climate change. Warmer weather creates the perfect environment for pollen to thrive, especially during warm days and cool nights.
Even though it’s tempting to let the fresh spring air in, keep doors and windows closed to prevent pollen from entering your home and settling on surfaces. Using a high-quality air purifier with a HEPA filter can also help reduce indoor pollen levels and improve overall air quality. In addition, avoid doing yard work like mowing the lawn before noon, when pollen counts are typically highest, and try to limit outdoor activities on high pollen-count days.
Add shower to nighttime routine
If you don’t shower at night, it’s time to start. During the day, pollen settles on and clings to your hair, face and body. Rinsing off before going to bed prevents pollen from settling on your pillow and triggering allergies while you sleep. Plus, having a warm shower before bed can be incredibly relaxing, allowing you to settle into sleep and wake up refreshed to take on another day.
Don’t be reactive. Be proactive.
You can’t control allergens, but you can make intentional changes in your life to reduce your exposure to allergens and manage your symptoms before they start. Use these expert tips to get a jump on allergy season so you can enjoy the warmer weather to the fullest!
What parents should know about ultra processed foods
Parents of young children know that a day doesn’t go by that they don’t spend some portion of the day thinking about their child’s health. Whether it’s getting kids to bed on time so they can reap the rewards of sufficient sleep or taking steps to protect children’s mental health or encouraging kids to be physically active, parents make various daily decisions with their youngsters’ health in mind.
Parents’ choices regarding kids’ diets are equally important and consequential decisions. Ultra processed foods have garnered increased attention in recent years, and curious parents can consider this rundown as they seek to make healthy dietary choices for their children.
Defining ultra processed foods
The National Academy of Medicine notes that the term “ultra processed foods” is typically defined as any food containing an ingredient not typically found in a home kitchen or restaurant. Ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup fit that description.
Concern surrounding ultra processed foods
Much of the concern about ultra processed foods is not necessarily the items themselves but the frequency with which they tend to be eaten. Consuming the occasional food containing high fructose corn syrup likely won’t have a significant impact on a person’s overall health if that individual is consuming sufficient amounts of fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains as well.
The NAM notes that ultra processed foods are engineered to feature an almost irresistible flavor profile, which makes it difficult for anyone, but especially children, who have limited impulse control, to avoid overconsumption.
Therein lies the danger of ultra processed foods, which tend to contain higher amounts
of sugar, salt and saturated fat than whole foods or minimally processed items. Adults may recognize when it’s time to stop eating less nutritious foods, regardless of how appealing they might be. But children are unlikely to stop eating something if it tastes good, regardless of its questionable nutritional profile. Kids who grow accustomed to eating large amounts of ultraprocessed foods could be in jeopardy of developing conditions such as obesity or heart disease that are linked to overconsumption of sugar, salt and saturated fat.
Examples of ultra processed foods
The World Health Organization notes that sugary snacks, including candy and baked goods, and sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, are some popular examples of ultra processed foods. Potato chips and some commercially produced breads, including white bread sold at supermarkets, are some additional examples of ultra processed foods. Parents concerned about the effects of ultra processed foods on their children’s health are urged to discuss alternatives with a pediatrician. Children old enough to understand the benefits of a nutritious diet can be included in such discussions so they gain a greater understanding of the dangers of excessive consumption of ultra processed foods.
Signs adolescents might be struggling with mental health
Adolescence can simultaneously be an exciting and challenging time for children. The World Health Organization defines adolescence as a transitional period children experience between the ages of 10 and 19. The physical changes and challenges of adolescence are widely recognized, but mental health also can be challenged during this pivotal period in a young person’s life.
It’s easy to mistake signs of mental health issues among adolescents as normal struggles that tend to affect all children at this point in their lives. However, the WHO reports that one in seven adolescents across the globe experiences a mental disorder, which is why it’s so important that parents do not quickly dismiss signs of struggle as a normal part of adolescent life. Recognition of signs suggesting adolescents are struggling with mental health issues can increase the chances kids get the help they need.
Behavioral disorders
The WHO reports that behavioral disorders, which include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder, are more common among younger adolescents than kids nearing the end of this period in their lives. Kids who have difficulty paying attention, are excessively active and act without regard to consequences might be dealing with a behavioral disorder. Conduct disorder may compel children to exhibit destructive or challenging behaviors that compromise a child’s ability to fulfill their academic potential. Conduct disorder also can increase a child’s risk of engaging in criminal behavior.
Eating disorders
The WHO notes that girls are more commonly affected by eating disorders than boys. These conditions, which include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, tend to emerge during adolescence and are marked by abnormal eating patterns. Adolescents may exhibit an abnormal preoccupation with food and be particularly concerned about their body weight and body shape. The WHO reports eating disorders often co-exist alongside other mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and even suicide.
Psychosis
Conditions marked by symptoms of psychosis, which can include hallucinations or delusions, tend to emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood. Participation in activities typical of daily life, such as school, are impaired by conditions indicative of psychosis.
Risk-taking behaviors
Some adolescents struggling with mental health turn to risk-taking behaviors in an effort to cope with their emotional challenges. The WHO reports that young people are especially vulnerable to substance abuse when confronting mental health challenges during adolescence. Some adolescents also look to risky sexual behavior as a means to coping with mental health issues during adolescence.
Various mental health issues can arise during adolescence. Parents are urged to be vigilant and observe children’s behavior during this pivotal period in youngsters’ lives.
