Do Video Games Belong In the Home?

In home video games have been in existence for the last 30 years. They allow the player to enter into a virtual world and become part of the game’s reality. Today, the quality of these games has greatly evolved. The realistic features in some of the characters and environmental settings mimic real life scenarios, making it sometimes hard for impressionable children to understand the difference. So, are all video games bad?

            Video games aren’t all bad. Playing games for a limited amount of time can improve dexterity, promote computer literacy, and help language development in younger gamers. Companies have now created learning games that promote the mental development of small children. They are able to recognize letters, shapes, numbers, and objects, which all help memory. With advancements in technology, some of the games talk back to the players, improving language and listening skills. Following instructions is also important when playing. The gamer must plan, think quickly, take risks, and concentrate. In order to advance to a higher level, all qualifications must be fulfilled, which includes problem solving and logic.

            Alternatively, some video games encourage violence and danger. The more interactive the game is, posing realistic violent situations, the more problematic they become. Ironically, Grand Theft Auto V, a violent virtual reality game recently hit store shelves and made almost one billion dollars internationally within first weekend sales. While the rating on the game is “Mature”, for consumers 17 years of age and older, many parents bought the game for younger children. What do violent video games impose on impressionable youth? They have the potential to promote violence outside of the game, confuse reality and fantasy, encourage social isolation, and could enable impulsive behavior.

            Choosing which video games to purchase for children can be challenging. While some seem to have positive learning features, those games are purchased in a lesser volume than violent games. Is the influence of peers causing children to ask for these games at home, or are parents and caregivers unaware of the intense negative nature of some of the more violent games? If children ask to play specific video games, do research, discuss, and make suggestions to decide whether those games actually belong in the home.

Trust: An Employee/Employer Building Block

Welcoming someone new into your home requires trust. Who is this person coming in, what will they bring to the table, and how can I feel completely secure when they are caring for my child alone? Those are all relevant, and important, questions that can run through a parent’s mind when hiring a nanny. Now ask, how can a caregiver ease the process?

Set common goals. Let parent’s feel secure by knowing that there is a nanny/parent team. Set an agenda and follow through.

Establish credibility. Following through on a consistent basis will help the parent trust that the nanny’s word is fact. If she says she is going to do something, it will get done.

Listen and follow directions. Parents know what they want done, when they are out of the home. When going over the day’s plans, take notes, ask questions, and reiterate important details to ensure accuracy.

Add input when needed. Being at home all day allows caregivers to be more aware of scheduling conflicts, amount of downtime, more hectic times of the day, and more. Observe, express concerns, and offer suggestions to employers.

Be a strong communicator. Nannies are the eyes and ears of the home when parents are away. Try keeping a notepad that recaps the day so parents are updated when they come home. The outcome is a smooth transition from day into evening for kids.

Earning an employer’s trust may be instantaneously or take time. Once a relationship is established, parents will feel more at ease. A strong foundation is built on trust.

Keep Social Media Professional or Private

Social media can be a professional liability. Prior to hiring, employers may search potential employees’ Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Without updated privacy settings, entering a name into Google will display all active social media accounts. While hiring decisions cannot be made solely on what is found, it certainly can influence opinions. Once hired, employers can check these sites to monitor behavior, comments, and status updates at any time. To keep social media professional, here are a few helpful tips:

Think before you post. Social media posts are meant to be active, engaging, and non-offensive. Stay clear of foul language, discrimination, and comments that demean personal character.

Who will read the post? Before posting, determine if anyone reading the post will be offended personally or professionally. Also, social media posts are time stamped. This makes it easy to place where you were at the time of the post. Were you at work?

A picture is worth a thousand words. Posting inappropriate pictures can cause educational consequences, professional dismissal, or public shame. A photo posted online can be seen by millions.

Who will remember this? The internet is forever. Once something is posted online, it remains forever. If deleted from a particular site, the image, or comment, is still in cyber space and detectable if searched for properly.

Aside from professional social media forums, educational institutions have now included social media guidelines within their ethics policies. Indecent commentary or negative portrayal of an institution can result in expulsion or criminal charges.  Before posting online, check privacy settings. They can usually be found under account settings [privacy]. Since social media sites update regularly, account settings should also be checked periodically. The best advice for social media use is to keep everything professional, and if using social media to express every opinion, keep it private.

Don’t Let Peanut Allergies Stop the Fun

According to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), researchers estimate that 15 million Americans have food allergies and one in every 13 children is affected. Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish are eight foods that account for 90 percent of allergic reactions.

Peanut allergies are on the rise, especially in children. They can result in difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or fatal reactions. Peanut butter and peanut oil aren’t the only foods to avoid. Many ethnic foods, such as Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese contain traces of peanuts. Candy, especially chocolate, some cereals, granola, some veggie burgers, and many health food bars also contain peanuts. Caregivers and parents should be cautious since there is no proven way to prevent the allergy, just blood and skin tests to detect it.

Peanut allergies are typically diagnosed within the first two years, though they can develop at any age. The symptoms may include, but are not limited to, tingling of the mouth, hives, swelling of the tongue or throat, abdominal cramps, or vomiting and diarrhea. Anaphylaxis is the most serious. When this occurs, blood pressure drops quickly and the individual loses consciousness.

To help avoid allergic reactions, caregivers and parents should monitor children’s food closely. Be sure to carefully read food labels and teach children not to eat other’s cooking if the ingredients are unknown. Packing snacks and lunches for school may also help reduce the chances of children coming in contact with peanut stricken foods. In severe allergic cases, parents, caregiver, and teachers should be fully educated on how to administer an EpiPen. An EpiPen is a shot of epinephrine which reverses anaphylactic shock and helps control serious reactions.

Parents and caregivers should develop, and keep, a written plan with recommendations from their child’s health care provider that helps others recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction, how to administer treatment, and who to contact in case of emergency. All allergies, including peanut, can be 100 percent controlled with monitored observation and attention.

Idea from: March of Dimes- Peanut Allergies

Turn Play Time Into Play Dates!

Nannies add a spark in the home. The one-on-one care they provide to children makes for great self-esteem boosters. Children experience individual learning. While the one-on-one care is great for child development, it is important for children to have social interaction as well. Play dates are great ways for caregivers to remain involved while helping children interact with others.

            In play dates, nannies can teach children how to interact emotionally and socially. They guide them to learn how relationships function in the form of friendships. Playing with other children provide the environment to learn how to share and compromise. Play dates are also strong antidotes to bullying. They provide the venue to introduce kids to the concept of accepting others.

            Children learn how to be polite and respectful during play dates. They’re able to learn to collaborate and cooperate with other kids and caregivers. Successful play dates are planned play dates. Forcing children to overplay may lead to restlessness depending on age. Allow them to “free” play for 60-90 minutes, maybe followed by a structured activity where everyone participates. By the end of the play date, children will have had adequate social interaction for the day and be ready to transition back into a one-on-one atmosphere.

            Play dates are easy activities for nannies to plan. They can be held in the house, park, a local gym, or Mommy and Me class. As part of the nanny’s responsibility, she should first be certain the parents are consulted about to whose home children are taken, or who may be coming into their home. Secondly, relay details about the play date back to the parents. Nannies can share how the kids interacted with others, how they respond in a group, and what sort of games they like the most. While the individual care and one-on-one playtime children receive at home is great for developmental growth, play dates help prepare children for the transition into the longer days of being with other children when they eventually enter school.

Don’t Let Summer Bite

The summer heat attracts seasonal bugs. Ants, ticks, flees, and mosquitos tend to bite more during the summer months. Kids spending more time outdoors during these warmer days, run a higher risk of being bit by bugs. While dressing children in long sleeves during the summer may not seem practical, parents and caregivers might want to consider thin, loose-fitting clothes that don’t include bright colors. Linen is a great alternative for shorts and tank tops. The light and loose material allows for children to be covered and cool.

            Wearing socks and sneakers instead of sandals when playing in grass can reduce chances of being bit. Be sure to also avoid dusk and dawn. These periods are when bugs tend to bite most aggressively. Scented soaps and lotions left on the skin add to the aggressive biting.

When kids want to be outside, just be sure to pick the right bug repellant. DEET, a slightly yellow oil believed to repel insects, is one of the most common ingredients in most bug sprays. Some repellents include extra ingredients to remove the DEET chemical. However, most experts agree that repellents with DEET have the best protection. Parents and caregivers have to keep in mind that products with higher DEET concentrations aren’t necessarily stronger than those with lesser concentrations; they just tend to last longer. If children are going to be outside for a few hours, repellent with 10% DEET will work. For longer days outdoors, 20% DEET proves more effective. Always consult a physician before applying bug repellent to children under the age of three.

            As a bonus, many bug repellents come with built in sunscreen, but be aware. These products should be used with caution. Sunscreen is meant to be re-applied multiple times throughout the day, while bug repellents, especially those containing DEET, are not. It is best to think about sunscreen and repellent as separate applications. Summer is a time to enjoy the long days outdoors. Kids should be able to play outside without the summer bite!

Idea from: Summer Safety

Should You Be CPR Certified?

CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency procedure used to preserve brain function when someone exhibits abnormal or unresponsive breathing. CPR instructors advise everyone, especially those caring for children, to become certified. When children stop breathing, the risk of brain damage is heightened and chances of survival are lowered. Parents and caregivers can choose a convenient location close to their home and become certified in a day. For those who have already gone through the CPR training class, certification renewal can be done through an online class.

            Certification is important for many reasons, the most primary being that it can save a life. When a CPR necessitated event occurs, people tend to get nervous and panic. If someone is CPR certified, she is prepared to react quickly and calmly. Attempting CPR when not certified can result in injury. Many common mistakes include chest bruising, inadequate breathing, and incorrect timing between breaths and chest pumping. If there is an emergency, call 911, then administer CPR. For those unfamiliar with CPR, finding someone who can perform the procedure or relay the process step by step is the best choice.

            According to CPR training administrators, effective CPR can triple the survival rate of someone in danger. The human body is only made to survive four to six minutes after the heart stops beating. That usually does not give emergency responders time to reach the injured party, which is why effective CPR training is important. For small children whose body organs are not as developed as those of an adult, the response time needs to be expedited. Doctors should advise parents to get certified, followed by parents suggesting caregivers to do the same. A few hours of training could be worth a life.