To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate: National Infant Immunization Week

Since 1994, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been celebrating National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). NIIW is about awareness and action in hopes that all infants can be fully immunized against the fourteen vaccine-preventable diseases. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses this week to celebrate the advancements made in both the creation of vaccinations and immunization programs. Many states and politicians are even getting in on the action, for example Governor Brownback of Kansas signed a bill to make NIIW officially recognized in the state and Illinois is even providing free vaccinations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics asserts that vaccines are one of the best health tools available to the public—they are cost effective and have a track record of success. Still, vaccines are one of the most talked about and controversial issues when it comes to keeping children healthy. Data does suggest that providing children with vaccinations is in the best interest of their health. Yet many families, especially in the West and Northwest United States believe that immunization is too dangerous and refuse to put their children at risk; many even suggest it may be a cause of autism (though that assertion has not been medially confirmed). As a result, the United States is now seeing the highest rates of whooping cough and measles that has existed in decades.

As a parent or caregiver, what are your thoughts on vaccination? Will you help to increase awareness of immunization this week? Have your children or charges been vaccinated, or alternatively, would they be if the choice was yours?

Philadelphia's National Nanny Training Day

Nannies, make sure you register for & attend Philadelphia's National Nanny Training Day TOMORROW! The event, in King of Prussia, is co-sponsored by us, The Philadelphia Nanny Network, Inc., and Nannypalooza.com. Registration is only $20 and includes breakfast, lunch, networking, presentations by Wendy Sachs & Sue Downey, an opportunity to join INA at a discounted rate AND prizes & bonuses. Click the link below to register. Can't wait to see you there!

http://nntdphilly.eventbrite.com/

Earth Day—Educate and Participate

This upcoming Sunday, April 22^nd, more than 175 countries across the world will celebrate Earth Day together—making it the most widely celebrated day on Earth. Since the very first Earth Day in 1970, a large part of the focus has been on teaching children. After all, those with the most time left to spend on this planet, also hold the most responsibility for protecting it. As a result, many schools are very involved in educating children about the environment and what they can do to help, but there are many things you can do with your child or charge to celebrate Earth Day at home as well.

Plant a tree. It may seem like the simplest of answers to an Earth Day activity but you can explain how plants help create more oxygen, keeping the air clean.

Recycle. Both by putting items into recycling bins rather than the trash AND by finding ways to reuse items you already have to reduce materials used in the first place.

Sing a song. Or color a page or do an activity. The internet is full of educational Earth Day activities for kids. Find one that works for you (or check out some of our favorites at this link: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth.html)

Write a letter. Let the local politicians know how much your child or charge cares about the environment and that they are working hard to preserve the Earth.

Clean up the community. Each Earth Day, most communities have neighborhood activities, such as a park clean-up. Getting involved in these types of activities will make your child/charge feel that they’ve made an impact.

Whatever you choose to do this Earth Day, make sure to pat on the back all of the kids that are making this planet a cleaner and greener place!

In Your Own Words, What Is Autism?

That’s a question that most people probably can’t answer. And those who can will produce a myriad of different responses.

Why?

Because the term autism has morphed time and again throughout the years. It has been applied to the truly autistic but also the developmentally delayed and even those children who are just a little left of center. To confuse matters more, there are several “types” or “levels” of autism that doctors use to classify the level of the disease in their patients, the most common being Asperger’s disorder. Today, 1 in 88 children in the US are diagnosed as autistic, leading many to believe that autism is heavily over-diagnosed. As a result, a portion of the medical community is suggesting it’s time to redefine autism.

The proposed redefinition would eliminate classifications such as Asperger’s with all cases falling under the new “Autism Spectrum Disorder”. Children who are diagnosed will exhibit three types of communication problems and two limited, sometimes non-typical, interests or repetitive behaviors.

Both proponents and opponents of this redefinition have exceptionally strong opinions, as one would probably imagine. Opponents include some parents that are worried their children will lose treatment and other benefits and the “mildly” autistic who suffer from Asperger’s or PDD-NOS (Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) that do not want to be categorized by umbrella terminology. Proponents include many members of the medical community, including a panel of the American Psychiatric Association.

As a nanny or a parent, has a child you love been diagnosed with Autism? If so, does this emotional connection produce a strong opinion regarding the validity or benefits of the proposed redefinition? What are your thoughts? Will this be beneficial or detrimental to Autistic children?

No matter the outcome, in our opinion there is one glaring benefit of this proposed redefinition—a very important increase in Autism Awareness.