Childcare
Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
Home is the first place where a child is supposed to get unconditional love, care, kindness and safety. But not all families can assure a safe haven for kids at home. Children who become victims of domestic violence or witness domestic violence are at serious risk of physical and mental health problems. The impacts of direct and indirect domestic violence on children can be both short-term and long-term.
Like other common occurrences across the country, domestic violence is an uncomfortable feature of Bangladesh as well as in many other countries. Research has shown that about 10 million people are affected by incidents of domestic abuse annually. This number will also increase if we consider the silent victims- children. A study in 2010 shows that 1 in fifteen children was exposed to cases of intimate partner violence and 1 in 3 also experienced acts of violence. Let’s explore here the consequence of domestic violence on children.
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What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence also known as domestic abuse or family violence is a kind of violence or abuse that occurs in a domestic setting. It is also called intimate partner violence, which is committed by one of the people in an intimate relationship against the other person. Domestic violence relates to violence against children, parents, or the elderly in various forms such as physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, or sexual abuse.
How can domestic violence affect children physically and mentally?
When a child is abused or tortured directly by a family member or intimate partner that includes physical, sexual, psychological, or economic violence, it is called direct domestic violence.
Short-term effects of direct domestic violence on children
Children who are the victims of domestic violence may feel fearful and anxious. This can cause short-term effects on them so they react in different ways depending on their age:
Effects of domestic abuse on preschool children
Young children who experience domestic violence generally start doing things they naturally do at a young age like bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, increased crying and whining. Most often they may show signs of terror like mumbling or hiding. They may also show signs of severe separation anxiety.
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Impacts of domestic violence on School-aged children
School-aged children often feel guilty about the abuse and blame themselves for it. Domestic violence hurts children’s self-esteem and so they always feel annoyed with everything and may not participate in school activities. Usually, they can't achieve good grades at school. Generally, the victimised kids have fewer friends than others. They might face trouble in making new friends or socialising. Most often they suffer from headaches and stomachaches.
Implications of family abuse on Teens
Domestic violence affects teens in negative ways, for example fighting with family members or bouncing school. The abused tenagers may engage themselves in risky behaviors like having unprotected sex and using alcohol or drugs.
Besides, they have trouble making friends. They usually start fights with others and most importantly get in trouble with the law. These types of behaviors are widely seen in teen boys who are abused in childhood compared with the abused teen girls.
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How watching domestic violence can affect a child's mental health?
When a child witnesses the abuse of their mothers, fathers, or other family members, this is called indirect domestic violence. This may affect a child psychologically, emotionally and even physically. Watching family abuse may create negative influences on children both in short terms and long terms.
Short-term effects of indirect domestic violence on children
Check below some of the quick effects that children usually experience after witnessing domestic violence.
Anxiety
Children tend to remain in horror if they see abuse of one parent by the other. They feel insecure at home as they remain scared of the next physical or verbal assault. If domestic abuse between parents or among other family members frequently occurs at home, it can create a state of perpetual anxiety in children.
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Newborn Baby, Infant Care Tips during Summer
Summers are not easy for anyone, especially when the temperatures are very high. It is really difficult for your newborn baby to bear this high temperature. As a new parent, you are also wondering how you go about keeping your newborn baby cool during the summer. We’re here to help you with the 10 best amazing tips to care for your little angel in this terrible summer.
Why Do Babies Suffer in Summer?
The scorching heat of summer can be dangerous for newborn babies. Summer with its soaring temperatures can bring unbearable woes for your baby. Your baby can experience irritability and discomfort. Your baby can be sweating, its cheeks can be flushed, hair can be damp, and even has a heat rash. So, you need to make sure that your baby is cool and comfortable at all times.
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Essential Newborn Baby Care Tips for the Hot Summer Days
Baby’s Diet
As your newborn baby is breastfeeding, ensure to feed them frequently to keep them hydrated. Feed them after 30 minutes or 1 hour. Never let them feel thirsty. So, make sure you feel them before they are crying to eat.
If you are a working mother, you can suck your breast milk for your baby before going outside or you need to consult your doctor to have an alternative way. But remember, there is no alternative to mother’s milk for a newborn baby.
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Bathing
As in the summer season, your baby may sweat, and you need to bathe your baby regularly.
You can bathe your baby 3 or 4 days a week. But, make sure you consult your doctor before making the bathing routine for your baby. Bathing will keep your baby comfortable and help her sleep better.
However, of course, use lukewarm water for bathing your baby, and always check the temperature of the water first before bathing. Make sure you wash your baby’s neck, armpits, and all folds carefully while bathing and dry them immediately just after bathing.
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Light Dressing
Let your baby always wear light clothes. It is important to select cotton clothes for your baby for the summer which can breathe. Synthetic clothes are good for babies as they may increase your baby’s discomfort and cause rashes.
Dehydration
Make sure your baby never feels dehydrated. Remember, during summer your baby loses fluids without sweating also. Rapid breathing, restlessness, warm skin, a flushed face, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea are some signs of a baby being dehydrated. So, then you need to breastfeed your newborn baby frequently. However, consult your baby’s doctor if you feel something serious.
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Prevent Heat Rashes
The most common issue amongst babies in the summer is heat rashes. So, make sure you cook your baby always. For this, you can put two spoons of sandalwood powder in their bathwater. Applying talcum powder also makes the baby cool. Don’t forget to change diapers if they are uncomfortable. Make sure your baby wears loose clothes.
Try to stay indoors
Try to keep your baby indoors. If you can keep your baby indoors, you can save them from the heat and ultimately can avoid heat rashes. If it is really necessary to go outside with your baby, try to avoid stepping out between 10 am to 2 pm because at these times the sun rays are the harshest.
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Remember, a baby’s skin is sensitive to the sun's rays. Before stepping make sure to wear your baby light-colored clothes and prefer a full-sleeve shirt and pants. Carrying an umbrella can also protect you and your baby. Don’t carry your baby for a long time in a sling or a baby carrier because this makes babies very hot and sweaty.
Oil massage
Any light oil massaging for your baby during summers can give them comfort. So, massage your baby with light oil at least 2 times a day. However, never forget to wash it off well while bathing. If there is excessive oil in your baby’s skin, it might block the sweat glands. Take time to massage your baby with oil. You can give them light exercise while massaging.
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Protect from mosquitoes & Bugs
Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading diseases such as malaria and dengue. So. make sure you save your baby from them. Ways are available to protect your baby from mosquitoes. Firstly, you can do it by using a mosquito net.
Besides, you can use organic mosquito repellent. Bugs also always disturb your baby. So, make sure you keep your baby protected from mosquitoes and bugs.
Moreover, keep your house mosquitoes and bugs free. Naturally, mosquitoes build their house in the air cooker, so regularly clean and change its water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Furthermore, make sure your house and surrounding area are free from any stagnant water.
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Maintain the Right Room Temperature
As most of the time, your baby needs to stay in the room, make sure you maintain the right room temperature. Many parents do not know the reason for their baby’s cold and illness. But you need to be careful with your baby. A little bit of air conditioning cannot hurt your baby and the perfect temperature is 25°C. You can also use an air cooler but you need to ensure it is clean.
Consult a Doctor if Necessary
Don’t forget to consult a doctor if you feel something serious happening to your baby. When your baby is displaying symptoms of dehydration or rash consult a doctor. When you see that your baby is really struggling with the heat and it is in a lot of distress, immediately give your medical treatment otherwise it could create another issue altogether.
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Bottom Line
Babies feel discomfort but they don't tell, just display some signs of their discomfort. So, you need to be careful about their reaction. Don't delay consulting a doctor if something is urgent. We have shared several effective tips to care infant and newborn babies in summer. These tips will help you to keep your babies cool and comfortable in the scorching heat of the hot summer days. Share this article with your nearest one to keep their babies safe during summer.
Young Kids Wearing Makeup: Health Risks and Ways of Prevention
If your little princess is searching for cosmetics in your bag, it is an issue of concern. Generally, kids copy to their parents when parents get ready, put cream or foundation on their face. It is not easy to control your kid, but you need to remember that the cosmetics your young kids wear for makeup use harmful chemicals. Sometimes, mothers love to put makeup on their pretty little daughters which is very harmful too. So, you must know the health risks of wearing makeup for kids. Every parent must determine the bounds and restrictions before allowing the young children to come in contact with makeup and beautification products.
Why Makeup Is Harmful To Kids?
Your child should not use these makeup products at such a young age. Check out the reasons why:
Toxic substances
Children have tender skin. Research has shown that child-skin’s absorption rate is 10% higher than adults because of their faster metabolism. So, whenever they apply lipstick or any other makeup products with dangerous chemicals, their skin will absorb those chemical products in a fast manner and ultimately the effects become evident in the future. Thus, your child becomes vulnerable to toxic materials and substances of the cosmetics products.
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Sensitive skin
Studies have shown that children have thinner skin which has lower barrier functions than adults. As they have lower barrier function in their skin, they cannot protect the skin from harmful materials. Besides, children’s skin is not equipped enough to defend itself against irritants. So, application of makeup products can cause diverse skin problems in children.
Dryness And Itchiness
Continuous use of makeup products can cause dryness, itchiness, redness, and irritation to the tender skin of children. It ultimately harms the skin's barrier. Moreover, the structure of the skin can get damaged. As a result the skin can become highly sensitive and can even react to water.
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Helping Kids with Sharing: How to teach a child to share
Undoubtedly sharing is an essential skill for the social, cognitive, and emotional development of a child. But naturally, preschoolers don’t understand the idea of sharing. Generally, children comprehend the concept of sharing at the age of three. Although the most basic sharing skills are developed in the preschool years, the positive effects on communication and socialization can extend long into the future. Are you still confused about how to teach your kid sharing? Check here for the basic tips.
Advantages of learning and practicing sharing for children
Nancy Bruski, author of The Insightful Teacher says that sharing may be very tough for young children. But we all know that children must learn to share to make and keep friends. Besides, learning and sharing are essential for children to play cooperatively, take turns, negotiate and cope with disappointment. Moreover, it is sharing which teaches children about agreement and civility.
Read Teaching Public Speaking to Children: Benefits, Effective waysSharing is one of the supreme parts of getting along with others. It becomes more important and essential when your child starts having playdates. Moreover, it is crucial when your child starts going to child care or preschool.Young children need to learn how to cooperate in the use of classroom materials like toys, materials, ideas for play, or being first in line. However, sharing is challenging and some children learn it slowly but it's one that all children need to understand they need to overcome in order to share.
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10 effective ways to encourage your child for practicing sharing
Children love to imitate and they imitate their parents most. If you model good sharing and turn-taking in your family, it becomes a great example for your children to follow.Remember, children need opportunities to learn about and practice sharing. Some ways check below to encourage sharing in everyday life:
Sharing 'rules'
Talk about the difference between home and preschool using a set of classroom 'rules' that are simple and easy to understand. You can focus on features of sharing such as asking for things, taking turns, and helping each other. Let your children know that sharing is an important part of being in an environment with peers.
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Discussing the value of sharing
Your child may be too young to understand the value of sharing. What you can do is highlighting the good points of sharing. Tell your child that if he or she shares their toys with friends, everyone gets to have fun. If you highlight good sharing in others, your child is more likely to follow their example. You can encourage your kid to read books or watch videos regarding the good parts of sharing.
Modeling
Put a model example pointing out good sharing in others. You can say something like- ‘ your friend was sharing his toys really well. He likes to share all his toys and lovely things with his friends. This will inspire your kid also to share his things with others.
Kleptomania or the habit of stealing in children: How to deal with it?
Kleptomania is an abstract disorder. It is known as uncontrollable stealing which is generally an urge or desire to steal. To steal anything is less valuable but if not stopped it might become a habit as kids grow up. Somehow, most parents don’t know what kleptomania is in kids and how to manage it. We are here with some proven strategies to handle kleptomania in your children.
What is Kleptomania in children?
The situation or habit of not being able to withstand the urge to collect or put by anything is called kleptomania. Children with this mental disorder are impelled to steal things, generally objects of little or no notable value, like pens, pencils, tape, paper clips, signs, rubber, eraser, traffic cones, cosmetics, and small toys.
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Kleptomania is an irresistible desire to snap something. It generally begins at adolescence and is seen as a rare case in children. Kleptomaniacs are not criminals in thought but they steal because they are mentally unstable. Research has shown that kleptomania is more common in women than men. However, children too are influenced by it.
Causes of Kleptomania in children
Still, it is unknown the causes of kleptomania in children. It may be a result of environmental, psychological, and biological factors. Many suggest that changes in the brain may be the root cause of kleptomania. More research initiatives are necessary to find out the possible causes of kleptomania. Let’s check out here the most common causes of kleptomania:
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Environmental Causes
Kleptomania in children is not a big issue. Child development experts suggest the following general trend of stealing:
- Many children love to take home particular things they like that generally do not belong to them.
- Kids of 2-4 year old do not have a clear idea between yours and mine and general sharing, so they take things home. Actually, this cannot be marked as stealing.
- Children of 5-8-year-olds are aware of the ownership. If they take anything that does not belong to them, they hide them and try to subterfuge when they are asked about that. It is normal that they cannot have self-control. But parents need to be concerned about this behavior. However, they need not worry too much considering it as a never-to-die habit.
- It is really a matter of serious concern for kids of 8 years or more. It becomes impossible to refrain these kids from the stealing habit although they are corrected several times.
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Psychological Causes
- The kids who are anxious or angry and attention seekers may steal at home, school, or with friends. In these cases, of course, they need help, as they are enduring serious physical and emotional abuse.
- Most children are compelled to steal when they do not afford to buy certain items. They may steal to own some popular branded items or may do so to support their drug habit.
Biological Causes
Brain activity pattern
When the neurotransmitter serotonin decreases in the brain, it often causes risk-taking behaviors. Serotonin controls the mood and emotions of a person. Moreover, there may also be a flow in dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter switch on the enjoyment of the brain. This causes the stealing act in the child and the child gets pleasure from it.
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Childhood Cancer: Risk factors and causes of cancer in children
It is estimated that each year about 400 000 children and adolescents of 0-19 years old develop cancer. When cancer is diagnosed in a child, it is certainly an atrocious issue of serious tension for parents about their child’s health, treatment, and future. But most of us do not know what causes cancer in children. Continue reading this article to find out the most common causes of cancer in children.
Let’s check out first the types of cancer in children
Generally, types of childhood cancer are not the same as adult cancer. The most common childhood cancers are:
- Leukemia – begins in the bone marrow and spread via the bloodstream
- Brain and central nervous system tumors – gliomas and medulloblastoma
- neuroblastoma – is called a cancer of the nerve tissue and is generally found around the kidneys
- Lymphoma – begin in white blood cells (lymphocytes), usually in the lymph nodes and other lymph tissues
- Wilms’ tumor – known as a type of kidney cancer
- Bone cancer – osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma
- rhabdomyosarcoma – develop in muscle and connective tissue
- Retinoblastoma – is called the cancer of the retina
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The frequent causes of cancer in children
There are many causes of cancer. Modern Scientists believe that it is the interconnection of many characteristics together that produces cancer. The factors tangled might be environmental, genetic, or constitutional characteristics of the individuals.
Cancers in children often begin or happen in the stem cells that are capable of producing other types of synthesized cells that the body requires. Childhood cancer is usually caused by sporadic (happens by chance) cells.
Epithelial cells in adults generally become cancerous. These cells stroke the body cavity and overlap the body surface. Cancer occurs from environmental disclosure to these cells over a period of time. This adult cancer is sometimes referred to as received for this reason that leads to a threat to genetic child cancer. However, according to Tanya Watt, M.D., a pediatric oncologist at Children's Health℠ and Associate Professor at UT Southwestern, parents, children, or anybody’s is not responsible at all for developing cancer in children.
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Most Common Risk Factors of cancers
As stated above, cancers in adults have been linked with recurring exposures or risk factors. A risk factor is a thing or event that may increase people's chances of developing a disease. A risk factor does not surely cause the disease, but it may be the cause of making the body less resistant to it. Here as below, some most common mechanisms and risk factors are considered to come up with cancer:
How to Help Your Children Make Friends in School
Nowadays, many of our kids don’t get enough chances to acquire social skills because of various hardships especially for the pandemic Situation of COVID 19. Particularly, children born with Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cannot mix or accompany people even with the same of their ages. In this case, they just need some coaching and practice time on simple social skills. For your child's happiness, follow ten ways to assist your child make friends in school.
10 Ideas to Help Your Children Make Friends in School
Model positive social behavior
Generally, children always learn through example. As a parent, you should always try hard to be a good example to your kids. So you need to be conscious at the time of connecting with others. Your kids’ behavior in some way depends on how you act when you are in front of them. Your child observes how you are making a conversation with your partner, relative, or even a stranger standing next to you at the mall. Therefore, make sure that your child gets something positive for example negotiating skills, problem-solving skills, etc. from each dialogue you take part yourself in.
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Role-Playing at Home
Role-playing can help your child if they have problems making or keeping friends in school. Sit down with your child at home in your free time especially at lunchtime or dinner time. Start conversations with them and ask them to follow you to make conversations with other kids when they are at school. It is not necessary for all kids, it just applies to those kids who especially do not know how to talk to other kids.
Effects of Passive Smoking on Children’s Health
Passive smoke means the smoke inhaled from other people’s tobacco or cigarette smoke. There are other kinds of smoke available: cooking smoke, fire smoke, paper burn smoke, etc. The impact of Passive Smoking on kids’ Health is vulnerable around the world, especially in poor and developing countries. To prevent your children from smoking causing health hazards you need to take some protective measures like quitting smoking, making sure the environment is smoke-free, smoke-free home and car, etc.
Consequences of Passive smoke on a Child's Health
Second-hand smoke
Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke which drifts from a lit cigarette and the smoke breaths out from a smoker. Second-hand smoke is made up of mainstream smoke which the smoker breathes out and sidestream smoke which drifts from the end of a burning cigarette.
While a second-hand smoker smokes, the people very near to him are exposed to harmful and damaging smoke of different toxic ingredients in them. Second-hand smoke contains toxins and gasses like Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, etc. that babies and children can breathe in. Children most commonly come into contact with second-hand smoke while and after while their parents, family members, friends of any of your family members, or nearest one smoke.
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Second-hand smoke is dangerous for children
Second-hand smoke is dangerous for children and babies as their smaller airways are developing at this period. During this developing stage, babies and children have less mature immune systems than grown-ups. That is why the repercussions are riskier for kids’ and neonates’ health than that of adults. Pregnant and premature infants are also more likely prone to suffer from various extreme health disorders.
Some Basic Life Skills to Teach Your Kids during Quarantine
Life is full of uncertainties. We can hardly assume what is coming beforehand. As a parent, it would be wise to start preparing our kids to learn some life skills so they can face the challenges life throws upon them. You may think that teaching kids life-skills can demand a considerable amount of time, effort, and patience. But why don’t you utilize the quarantine period for this endeavor? If your kids are taught some life-skills besides homeschooling, it will keep those young minds engaged in minimizing their boredom. Here goes some basic life skills to teach your children during Coronavirus home quarantine.