Baton Rouge Parenting

Ensuring an A+ start to the school year

August 21, 2018 by Dr. Mindy Calandro

Back to school…three words that represent great joy to parents who are ready to get back to routine and bring great anguish and “pain” to kids who aren’t quite ready to give up their summer freedom. In order to ensure a smooth transition from the fun and less structured summer into a new school year, I think it is important as parents to take the time to talk to our children about their worries and concerns going into the fall semester. The question could be as simple as, “Is there anything you are worried about for this school year?” I know in my office when I ask this question, I have had many a parent be surprised by the answer their child might give. When we know what our children are worried or afraid of, it makes us, as parents, better equipped to give them the guidance they need to maneuver through the unchartered waters of a new school experience happily and successfully.

I encourage parents to teach children to view school as their job. What better time to start teaching children about work ethic than from the very beginning of school. As parents, we should set expectations for our children in regards to their “job” performance, and if these expectations are not met, then they should be held accountable. Now, the expectations, as well as the consequences, will, of course, vary by age, but even the youngest child should understand that they should strive to be the best they can at their job. Even my son who is starting Pre-K 3, knows that mommy and daddy expect him to listen to his teacher, follow directions, and be a good friend to his classmates. If he doesn’t achieve these things, he doesn’t get to read books at night (his favorite pre-bedtime activity). These expectations are established from the get-go so that there is no confusion about the “job description.”

I also encourage all parents, but especially the parents of elementary aged children, to establish a good rapport with their child’s teacher. After all, the reality is that in many cases their teacher will spend more time with them during the weekday than we will. It is crucial to make sure there are channels of communication that exist between parents and teachers, and these should not be one-way avenues. Parents should feel comfortable bringing up concerns to teachers just as teachers should be respected when they bring concerns back to parents. A partnership between teacher and parent is vital to helping children achieve success in the classroom which often translates to increased self-confidence in kids.

So as everyone heads back to school, establish those expectations, let them know their “job description,” and then make sure your voice as a parent is a positive one with excitement, support, and encouragement for the upcoming school year. As kids make the trek up the ladder to reach those expectations you have set, make sure they know you are their biggest cheerleader and will always be behind them to catch them when they stumble, to give extra little pushes along the way, and to celebrate all of their achievements all from a place of unconditional love.

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Moms where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting and living in Baton Rouge.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share BRM’s experiences with food, fitness, health and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

Autism Awareness is Your Responsibility, Not Mine

April 16, 2018 by Guest Contributor

My son, Eli, said his first full sentence before he was two years old. “That’s a dog!” He said it all the time regardless of if there was actually a dog in sight. It was on repeat in the car, at the grocery store, and at home.

My family laughed. We thought he was so cute. His voice was soft and sweet when he said his favorite sentence and the only other time we heard it was when he was reading.

Before we could make out Eli’s speech he was very interested in books. He’d sit for hours with his books spread around him. He would turn the pages one at a time and stare intently at the words and make sounds.

As his speech matured, I realized he was actually reading the words. He could read almost any book in front of him independently, but he still struggled to ask for things he wanted. I was concerned about Eli’s hearing.

At a doctor’s visit, I expressed my concerns with Eli’s pediatrician. The doctor agreed that his speech was an issue and agreed to refer him for ear tubes if he continued to have chronic ear infections. Two months later he was scheduled to have ear tubes put in.

Eli was two years old. The plan was to pay close attention to the progression of his speech over the next six months. Things did not improve. Eli could repeat words when prompted, but could not generate sentences on his own.

Everyone told me not to panic. “He’s young.” “Give him time.” “Boys develop slowly.” My mommy senses were going off and I paid close attention to them.

We were referred to a neuropsychologist who watched Eli play in her office for 30 minutes. “I see his signs of autism. I would like to refer him for speech therapy to see if a speech delay is the issue,” she told me and his father.

Less than a year passed before he was given an autism diagnosis.

When we got the diagnosis, I was not shocked. I didn’t know that much about children with autism, but I knew something was different about Eli. I was relieved to know what that difference was.

But the news was difficult to process. The first feeling I felt was worry. I just didn’t know what this meant for Eli and his future.

No parent plans to have a child with a disability.

I named him Eli Jett. I planned to scream “Go Jett!!!” at his soccer games. I planned his first day of kindergarten and his high school graduation. I planned driving him to college and crying outside of his dorm. I planned his wedding day and being a grandma.

The plans had changed. I wasn’t sure exactly how, but I definitely knew that I had to let go of my personal plans for his life.

Processing that your child has autism is one thing. Explaining it to your family and friends is another.

“Why did you let them label him?”

“Do you think it was the vaccinations?”

“Nothing is wrong with him! He’ll grow out of it.”

People meant well but knowing that did not make it easier. I spent a lot of time justifying my decision to get him evaluated. It was exhausting.

The next few years were different than before. I quit my job and devoted my time to getting to know Eli. I read a lot of books and articles, but it was most important for me to learn about him from him.

We spent a lot of time away from family and friends. During that time we missed many birthday parties and celebrations. It was hard to take him places where people didn’t understand. Staying home was the only way to avoid the stares and judgments of Eli’s meltdowns.

The most overwhelming part of mothering him during that time was apologizing and explaining his autism away. But I noticed he was unapologetic and unbothered. He had his own swag and a personality that could light up a room. One day I decided that I was not going to apologize for who he was anymore.

I could not be responsible for explaining why he didn’t want to talk to every stranger in the grocery store. Or to justify his behavior to other parents at the park.

I never thought anything was wrong with him, but I felt like explaining that he was different to other people contradicted that. Nothing is wrong with him. What’s wrong are other people’s assumptions and expectations of him.

To me, his label of autism is no different from him being black or a boy. The only difference is that you can’t see it.

As a parent of a child with autism, I have to teach Eli a lot of things. He has 6 hours of ABA therapy a day just to be able to socialize appropriately with his peers. We are constantly working on improving. Some days he doesn’t want to talk because he’s so overwhelmed by all of these tasks.

He does a lot of work to fit into society. I expect him to do it because that is just how life works. But it would be nice to see other people put in some effort to enter into his world sometimes.

If you asked me what someone could do to make the world better for children with autism, my answer would be simple: change their thinking.

Educate yourself. Don’t expect everyone to be the same. Be slow with your judgments. Be compassionate. Be accepting and teach your kids to be the same. Be willing to push yourself outside of your comfort zone to be inclusive of others.

April is Autism Awareness Month. Have you been thinking about how you can enter the world of someone who has autism?

*******************************************

Here’s a book that I recommend to everyone:

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

A helpful video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6fy7gUIp8Ms

Khayriyyah Cutno is Eli’s mom. She is co-owner of New Orleans Doulas and a contributor to This Mama Wines. Giving birth was a pivotal moment in her life that led her to the decision to support other growing families in her native city of New Orleans. Her personal motto is “Chasing happiness and my kid one day at a time!”

Instagram: @dohappystuff

Business: New Orleans Doulas noladoulas.com

http://www.thismamawines.com

Amazon gives parents and teens a new way to manage online shopping

November 8, 2017 by Tiany Davis

This post is brought to you by Amazon and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

I’ve suddenly found myself the mom of THREE teen boys. To say that this season with teens snuck up on me would be an understatement, I have often found myself ill-prepared for all that teendom brings. My hope is to raise responsible, independent, socially aware teens to prepare them for adulthood. I’m constantly seeking essential life skills for my teens to learn through everyday living. Amazon shopping is one simple way I’m going to sneak in a few life lessons. My boys were gifted $100 to try out a new program from Amazon allowing teens their own login… so many lessons to be learned!

Amazon gives parents and teens a new way to manage online shopping

Amazon’s new program gave my teens the freedom to explore Amazon from their own login, a great opportunity for them to stretch their arms and independently handle their shopping needs, with my guidance and approval. Working together, we decided to go with the 4 gift rule, my teen purchased a want, a need, something to wear and something to read. When my son, Micah, made his purchases, I receive itemized notifications for every order to approve (or deny).

A great way to utilize this new Amazon program is to figure out what you’re spending on your teen’s clothing, necessities, and entertainment and invite them to start purchasing their own items while you have oversight to their online shopping. Once you are comfortable with their spending habits, you can set an appropriate spending limit for each purchase so they can shop for their necessities. Teens can exercise smart shopping decisions with access to Amazon customer reviews and comparison shopping tools. If they make a mistake, Amazon is there to help, backed by their A to Z guarantee. This new program will help teens be more responsible for their financial actions while the consequences are not too serious.

Parents can add up to four teens ages 13-17 to their account for free. If you have Amazon Prime, your teens can also share select Prime benefits including Free Two-Day Shipping, Prime Video and Twitch Prime at no additional cost. Amazon’s new program along with my Prime account is going to make shopping for my teens a breeze.

Teens can shop via the Amazon app (for Android and iOS) and either parent or teen can start the process to get teens connected on Amazon. Teens and parents can learn more and sign-up at amazon.com/forteens. The more we teach our teens before they go off on their own and the more real life lessons they can experience, the better prepared they will be.

TIGER Kids Study with Pennington Biomedical – Veggie Spring Rolls Recipe

April 28, 2017 by Guest Contributor

As moms, the health and wellbeing of our children is at the forefront of our minds. Balancing busy schedules with school, sports and social lives can make it hard for our kids to consistently eat healthy, exercise, perform well in school and manage the stresses of life in a healthy way.

Summer is fast approaching which means more time for fun activities. I’m also thinking about how to keep my boys healthy and happy during the hot summer months, which leads me to share about a great opportunity for our kids to become “TIGER Kids.”

Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center are conducting a study to learn more about what motivates kids to make healthy choices. The study is called TIGER Kids and it’s a great opportunity right here in our community to contribute to knowledge that could help kids across the country. How cool is that?

Researchers are measuring things that influence how our kids perform in school, how to help them become more active and how to eat healthier. The study is also looking at body image, stress levels, family behaviors (like kids’ relationships with siblings) and other motivating factors that contribute to the choices kids make.

Beyond contributing to research that could help our kids get and stay healthy, what’s in this study for us? Kids will be compensated for participation in TIGER Kids (can earn up to $100 for participation) and they have the opportunity to become a kid scientist! They can help researchers work to discover how to help kids move more, sit less and eat healthier. You and your kids can also get great in-depth information about their health, and kids will receive two “wearables” for a week to track their physical activity.

Participating in this study is easy! You and your child will visit Pennington Biomedical a total of 3 times over a 2 year period. Interested in your child becoming a TIGER Kid? I’ve included the full study details below. To screen for the study, visit http://www.pbrc.edu/TIGERKids or call 225-763-3000.

TIGER Kids Study with Pennington Biomedical

Study Purpose

The TIGER Kids research study will evaluate ways to: increase kids’ physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior (help kids move more and sit less), encourage healthy eating, and assess other factors that may influence school performance, body image, stress and mood.

About the Study

TIGER Kids participants will attend an orientation session at Pennington Biomedical to learn about the study and receive activity tracking tools. Participants will then visit Pennington Biomedical’s Translational Research Center for Children (TReCC) twice during the study – one visit after the orientation session and one visit two years later.

TIGER Kids participants will also receive valuable health information at no cost. Each participant is eligible to receive a copy of:

their lab work; including blood sugar and cholesterol tests;
a printout of their DXA scan, which includes total body fat, total muscle mass, total lean mass and bone density readings; and
a copy of body measurement data including height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure and heart rate.

TIGER Kids participants will attend a total of 3 study visits over the course of approximately 2 years with the following procedures:

Body measurements (height, weight, and waist size)
Blood pressure
Surveys
Dietary Questions
Wear an activity monitor, GPS tracker, and respond to messages on a mobile app for 7-days

Study Qualifications

To qualify, participants in this study should be:

Be between 10 and 16 years old
Not be on a restrictive diet

Compensation

Total compensation for the completion of this study is $100.

Study Contact

Parents, are you ready to see if your child qualifies for the TIGER Kids study? Visit http://www.pbrc.edu/TIGERKids to screen online or call 225-763-3000.

Looking for a healthy family fun recipe to cook this summer? Check out these rainbow fruit and veggie spring rolls:

Veggie Spring Rolls

Makes about 24 rolls, 1 roll with dipping sauce is 110 kcals, 2g protein, 17g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 4g fat, 1g saturated fat, 2g monounsaturated fat, 1g polyunsaturated fat

2 cups shredded carrots
1 red bell pepper
1 cucumber, peeled
1 large avocado, peeled and seeded
2 mangoes, peeled and seeded
1 package of vermicelli noodles, cooked according to package
24 brown rice spring roll wraps
1 cup cilantro leaves
1 cup basil leaves
1 cup mint leaves

Veggie Spring Roll Dipping sauce

1/3 cup peanut butter or cashew butter
2 Tbsp Hoisin sauce
1 ½ Tbsp Reduced Sodium soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
½ tsp chili sauce (check ingredients for peanut allergens if necessary)
2-4 Tbsp warm water for desired consistency

Fruit Spring Rolls

Makes about 10 rolls
1 roll with vanilla yogurt is 65 kcals, 1g protein, 15g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 0g fat

1 mango
5 strawberries
2 kiwis
6 pineapple chunks
5 romaine lettuce leaves
10 Brown rice spring roll wraps
½ cup mint leaves
½ cup Vanilla yogurt for dipping

Directions

Slice fruit or veggies into skinny strips and tear herbs into smaller pieces. Set aside.
Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan or kettle and set aside to cool slightly.
Prepare the veggie spring roll dipping sauce by combining all ingredients together. Thin with warm water to achieve desired consistency.
Add the hot water to a large bowl and submerge one rice paper to soften for about 5-10 seconds.
Transfer rice paper to a flat, slightly wet surface and add desired fruit, veggies, and herbs. Fold the bottom of the rice paper up over the fillings, then gently roll over once, fold in the sides to seal, and continue rolling until completely sealed.
Repeat process until all toppings are used.
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to a couple days, though best when fresh.

Want more healthy recipes? Check out the Pennington Biomedical metabolic kitchen website! www.pbrc.edu/kitchen

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Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

October 13, 2016 by Dr. Mindy Calandro

You know the feeling. The sign posted on the door of daycare announcing the current illness that is floating around. Oh the dreaded sign! “We want to inform you that cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease have been diagnosed here at the center.” GREAT! There are likely two questions that are running through your head: 1) So what are we going to do when our child comes down with this latest illness? and 2) What exactly is Hand, Foot and Mouth disease? Well, that first question is one that I have struggled with many times in my own household, and unfortunately, I can’t help you answer, but that second question…I CAN help with that one!

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease is a very common viral illness in children, particularly those under 5 years of age. Older children, teens and even adults can get Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, but it is much less common as most people have had HFM by that time and therefore have natural immunity to these viruses. This illness is typically seen in the late summer to fall, but especially here in Louisiana with our mild climate, I will see cases of HFM year round. The virus is spread through contact with droplets of someone who is infected, so it is spread by sneezing and coughing as well as the saliva that children “share” with each other on toys. It is not uncommon to see mini “epidemics” of HFM that spread through daycare centers or other child care facilities. The incubation period for HFM is 3-6 days, so I generally tell parents to be on the lookout for signs of HFM for about 1 week after “the sign” is posted at daycare.

What are the symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

As with any other virus, each child may present differently, but most children will start out with fever. In the next few days, children will often develop the classic rash that really can be anywhere on the body but, as the name suggests, most commonly is seen on the hands, feet, and around and in the mouth. The rash looks like small blisters or ant bites, and you will find these spots on the palms and soles of the feet (there are not a lot of illnesses that will cause a rash on the palms and soles but HFM is one of them).

Especially in infants and toddlers, I will almost always see the rash in the diaper area and on the backs of the thighs as well. If you look inside the mouth, you may see ulcers on the inside of the lips or tongue as well as in the back of the throat. These blister lesions will typically continue to pop up over the first 3-5 days of the illness. After that time the rash will slowly begin to fade, and parents may even notice peeling of the skin where the blisters were located in the coming week. Finally, some children will have changes to their fingernails or toenails about 4-6 weeks after hand, foot, and mouth disease, and it may appear like the nail is “splitting” horizontally and coming off. No worries…there is a new nail under there!

Since HMF is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not make the illness or the rash go away. The mainstay of care for HFM is making sure children are drinking lots of liquids and using acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help with fever. Sometimes the throat can be so painful for children that they will not want to drink liquids, and then the concern is that they could be become dehydrated. When it comes to liquids to offer, I often say that when kiddos are sick, they can have free reign of the liquids…so that means juice, milk, popsicles, Slurpees or even ice cream. Just something that has liquid form to it! If your child is refusing to take liquids, make sure and call your pediatrician as there are some occasions where a special mouthwash can be used to help with the pain. As far as the rash goes, most children are not bothered by the rash. It doesn’t hurt or itch typically and may only cause mild discomfort when walking for those children that have their little feet covered in blisters.

Now for the last remaining question that every parent asks, “When can my child go back to daycare/school?” and the answer might surprise you. Once your child is fever free for 24 hours and tolerating liquids well, they can return to school. Unlike chicken pox, the hand, foot, and mouth disease rash itself is not contagious! The only time I would recommend keeping kids out of daycare in regards to the rash is if they have many open sores that they are itching as these could easily become superinfected with bacteria (this is not very common with HFM whereas with chicken pox, superinfections of the skin are much more common). The virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease can be shed through respiratory droplets for 1 week after the illness and can be shed in the stool for several weeks following symptoms, so by no means are children kept out of daycare or school for this period of time. This is again one of those times where you hope your daycare is doing a good job of wiping down toys, washing hands, and practicing very good diaper changing hygiene!

For those of you who have been “lucky” enough to experience Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease already, you may say, “Wait a minute! My daycare told me that she couldn’t return until the blisters were crusted/gone.” Well, as I said above, fever free for 24 hours is the main criteria for return to daycare or school, but child care facilities are able to set their own return policies when it comes to infectious diseases like hand, foot, and mouth disease, so in many cases, their policy will be the “law of the land.”

So if the next dreaded sign on the door at daycare reads “Hand, foot and mouth disease,” take a deep breath as you are now armed and ready to deal with this unpleasant but all too common illness of childhood. And as with any illness, if you have specific questions or concerns about your child, please make sure and give your pediatrician a call…it’s what we are here for!

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Moms where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting and living in Baton Rouge.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share BRM moms’ experiences with food, fitness, health and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

Cox Connect2Compete – getting more families online.

September 12, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Today’s kids are considered digital natives, they are growing up surrounded by and immersed in digital media. As a homeschool mom, not a day {or an hour} goes by that we do not turn to Google to get quick answers on just about any topic or question. The world’s encyclopedia is as weightless, free and instantly accessible as Wikipedia. Using the internet, you can learn a new language or delve into the depths of metaphysics with just a click of a mouse. The Web has unlocked the keys to a worldwide virtual school, a plethora of information and connectivity. Our boys use the internet to access their lessons, research and watch tutorials on just about anything they want to learn how to do. In much the same way, students are increasingly using the internet to keep up with homework assignments, to do research for school, and to connect with teachers and classmates.

Teachers are using digital tools in the classroom more and more to improve learning, assign online homework, post grades and email parents about student progress or needs. In today’s digital world, home internet connection is a necessity.

It’s hard to imagine living without the luxury of high speed internet, it’s something many of us take for granted. Unfortunately, too many are under-connected; an estimated one in three Louisiana residents does not have access at home. Students who don’t have internet at home struggle to keep up. Especially now, after the recent floods, I would imagine that many more children will go un-connected.

Having internet access at home is essential in helping students connect and succeed in the classroom and beyond. Living without internet access makes it hard for children to explore topics and ideas that interest them personally — what I, as a homeschool mom, call interest-driven learning. It’s easy to see that living without internet access can cause major learning gaps for children. Cox is working to alleviate this struggle.

Cox Connect2Compete Baton Rouge

Cox understands this new reality and works in the communities they serve to provide affordable internet and devices to low-income students and their families. Cox is striving to narrow the digital divide with Connect2Compete, a discounted Internet service available to qualifying households in our area.

There are many families in our area who want internet access but can’t afford the equipment or can’t afford the monthly fees. If you or someone you know is eligible for Connect2Compete, you need only apply online at www.connect2compete.org/Cox or call 855-222-3252 and get connected!

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

What can moms do to help their children at a time like this?

August 23, 2016 by Guest Contributor

Throughout the area, families are dealing with enormous challenges and the stress levels that come along with them. In my role as psychosocial lead for Save the Children, I’m spending time at the shelters working to help families who have no other place to go. The moms I talked to today were worried about so many things that the first thing I wanted to do for them was help them find ways to cope.

I started by really listening to them and acknowledging all the fears and emotions they are dealing with. That went a long way. If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, please try to find someone who can do the same for you. And if you can’t, try writing down your feelings, taking a walk, or using other strategies that have worked for you at other stressful times in your life.

Self-care is so important. One of the moms I spoke with today had a young baby and her husband had just been abandoned them after a fight. He had taken the few belongings they had salvaged with him, so the first thing we did was help her find a change of clothes for herself and her child. But then we talked through her other challenges and what she could do to feel calmer and more equipped to start taking them on one at a time.

I connected this lovely woman with some other moms and they quickly offered each other emotional support. Together we discussed how the stress they were feeling as moms could easily transfer to their children. They realized it wasn’t selfish at all to look after themselves, and how important it is for their little ones.

Certainly this is a scary and uncertain time for many children. They look to their parents and caregivers for guidance and reassurance, but sometimes we aren’t sure of the best way to manage. Here are basic ideas I hope can help.

10 Tips to Help Kids Cope with Disasters

Limit TV time. Watching television reports on disasters can overwhelm younger children who may not understand an event is being replayed and instead think the disaster is happening over and over again. Overexposure to coverage of the events affects teenagers and adults as well.
Listen to your children carefully. Emotional stress results in part when a child cannot give meaning to dangerous experiences. Begin a dialog to help them gain a basic understanding that is appropriate for their age and responds to their underlying concerns.
Give children reassurance. Let them know that if any emergency or crisis should occur, your primary concern will be their safety. Make sure they know they are being protected.
Be alert for significant changes. Be aware of changes in sleeping patterns, eating habits,
concentration, wide emotional swings or frequent physical complaints without apparent illness. They will likely subside within a short time but if prolonged, we encourage you to seek professional support and counseling.
Expect the unexpected. As children develop, their intellectual, physical and emotional capacities change. Younger children will depend largely on their parents to interpret events, while older children and teenagers will get information from a variety of sources that may not be as reliable. While teenagers seem to have more adult capacities to recover, they still need extra love, understanding and support to process these events.
Give your children extra time and attention. They need your close, personal involvement to comprehend that they are safe and secure. Talk, play and listen to them. Find time to engage in special activities for children of all ages.
Be a model for your child. Your child will learn how to deal with these events by seeing how you deal with them. Base the amount of self-disclosure on the age and developmental level of each of your children. Explain your feelings but remember to do so calmly.
Watch your own behavior. Make a point of showing sensitivity toward those impacted by the disaster. This is an opportunity to teach your children that we all need to help each other.
Help your children return to normal activities. Children almost always benefit from activity,
goal orientation and sociability. Ensure that your child’s school environment is also returning to normal patterns and not spending great amounts of time discussing the crisis.
Encourage your child to do volunteer work. Helping others can give your child a sense of control, security and empathy. In the midst of crisis, adolescents and youth can emerge as active agents of positive change.

We are sharing these tips with parents in the shelters when they bring their kids to our child-friendly spaces. It’s wonderful to see the children play, smile and have fun again, but we all know there is so much more work to be done to help these children and their families bounce back.

If you’d like to support our response and recovery work, please consider donating at www.SavetheChildren.org/Gulf-Floods.

Thank you!

Anjana Dayal de Prewitt

I am hungry.

August 7, 2016 by Guest Contributor

I am hungry.

Not in a figurative sense. Not hungry for a new pair of shoes or hungry to achieve a new milestone in my career.

I am literally hungry. My stomach feels empty more than it feels full these days and my fridge and pantry are so bare it seems that they are taunting me each time I open them to inspect their contents. I save all non-meal food items for my kids because even though I am nursing a baby and need the nutrients, I can’t stand to hear the tiny voices of my children every time they go to the cupboard only to discover there’s nothing there to eat.

I hope that they don’t remember this. I pray that, instead, they remember the laughter we have shared as I try to distract them from their desire for food. I hope that they forget the tears that fill my eyes at the thought of their tummies growling, but remember the smile on my face as we have dance parties in the living room to Taylor Swift.

I don’t even know how we got here. It all happened so fast, when just months ago the thought of going without food seemed like something that could never happen to me. We work hard, we love Jesus and we serve Him to the best of our abilities. It’s crazy how one decision made even with the best of intentions can alter the course of your life in ways you never imagined. It’s eye-opening the compassion you can express for others when you are walking through a situation you could’ve never thought you’d find yourself in.

Lately, when we do get to buy groceries, it’s only the bare necessities. I hate that I fuss at the kids the minute they run to the pantry or to the fridge for a snack because they want to sample all the food they haven’t seen in days, but I know the sooner they eat it, the sooner it’s gone. And when it’s gone, I have to hear them cry about their hunger, and it kills me.

How do you explain rations to small children? How do you tell them “If you eat this now, you will be hungry later?” How do you live with yourself as a mother when you’re digging sugar soaked fruit out of a donated can from the food pantry to feed it to your children for lunch and they beg for more but it’s all you have?

I try to thank the Lord for His provision. I try to smile while I shop at the store while I furiously calculate every penny we are spending and simultaneously determine if we will be able to keep our water running once I buy these items. I try not to cry when a friend orders us a pizza for dinner because she knows otherwise we would not have anything to eat.

I try not to hate politicians who say that people like me should be drug tested when we are already living in overwhelming grief and humiliation. I try not to be offended by fellow church members and Christians who want to withhold government programs that we need just to survive. I try not to resent my husband- who works tirelessly and without complaint, often three jobs at once- for us being in this position.

I try to understand what it’s like for other moms who never get a reprieve from this reality. I try to imagine what it’s like for families who don’t have electricity or comfortable beds or adequate shelter. I try not to get angry at those who have excessive amounts of money but want to hold on to it for dear life, because they somehow deserve it more than I do. More than my kids do.

I try to keep it together and to put on a happy face for those around me, but most of all for my kids. The hunger pangs screaming from within my hollow stomach burn so strong that they turn me into a person I don’t like, a mother I don’t recognize. I try so hard to be what they need me to be, but…

I am hungry.

The above is written anonymously by a fellow Baton Rouge mom, a mom living in our community, this mom could be anyone’s neighbor. Hunger is everywhere: It’s in every community, it can also be invisible. Some 47 million Americans live in poverty. All told, 17.5 million households and 16 million children—one out of every five—struggle with hunger. Visit the Baton Rouge Food Bank to learn how you can help those hungry in our community.

Pokémon Go, explained – what parents need to know.

July 12, 2016 by Tiany Davis

By now you’ve surely heard about the new Pokémon GO app that has thousands of people glued to their phones as they capture Pokémon monsters in a battle to “Catch ‘Em All”. The Pokémon Go app is currently the top downloaded free app, and the top grossing app, in both the Apple and Android stores. (The app does have optional in-app purchases)

Just days after the Pokémon GO app launched in the US, hundreds of Pokefans are joining forces outdoors to find their favorite pocket monsters throughout their neighborhoods and cities, including Baton Rouge! The app’s use of GPS and internet services turns the whole world into a Pokémon region map. Parents are thrilled to see kids getting off the couch and out the door for adventure on foot, on bikes and via the family car. However, this game is not just for kids, families are enjoying the fun together and many adults are reliving their childhood love of Pokémon.

Once the app is downloaded, players can customize their Pokemon trainer name. Through the phone’s camera, the cute characters are animated into your real surroundings, with players swiping vertically to catch them. The interface on their phone will show person walking on a Google Maps-type layout through the phone’s GPS.

How to play Pokémon GO

The maps show surrounding landmarks such as statues, lakes, parks and train stations which represent pokestops. The aim of the game is to capture new monsters with a display at the bottom of the player’s phone showing which monster species are near and how far away they are. They can pop up anywhere and it’s your job to catch them.

You’ve found a Pokémon! Now what? When the game enters capture mode, you’ll see a wild Pokémon juxtaposed into real life through your phone’s camera. You’ve got Pokéballs to throw at it, and there’s a colored ring circling the Pokémon’s body.

The color of the ring when catching Pokémon tells you how hard it is to capture said Pokémon.
Green = Easy
Yellow = Moderate
Red = Difficult

The more difficult the Pokémon is to catch, the less likely it is to be caught simply by throwing a Pokéball at it. However, there are special Pokéballs you’ll earn as your Trainer levels up.

If you happen to see rustling leaves on the map, it’s is an indication that a wild Pokémon is nearby! You can get a good idea of what kind of Pokémon it is based on the menu in the lower right of the main screen.

“Get on your feet and step outside to find and catch wild Pokémon. Explore cities and towns around where you live and even around the globe to capture as many Pokémon as you can. As you move around, your smartphone will vibrate to let you know you’re near a Pokémon. Once you’ve encountered a Pokémon, take aim on your smartphone’s touch screen and throw a Poké Ball to catch it. Be careful when you try to catch it, or it might run away! Also look for PokéStops located at interesting places, such as public art installations, historical markers, and monuments, where you can collect more Poké Balls and other items.” The Pokemon Company

When you reach level five you can join teams, battle in gyms, and begin the real game. You can learn about the more advanced options of play here.

The Pokemon Company

Pokémon GO Plus

A portable device called the Pokémon GO Plus will enable Pokémon GO players to enjoy the game even while they’re not looking at their smartphones. The device connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth and notifies the player about events in the game—such as the appearance of a Pokémon nearby—using an LED and vibration. In addition, players can catch Pokémon or perform other simple actions by pressing the button on the device. Look forward to the launch of the Pokémon GO Plus accessory in late July 2016.

The Downside to Pokémon GO

The game allows you to create either a Pokémon account or to use your Google account. Tons of websites allow you to use your Google account for credentials instead of creating a separate login. But here’s the problem, unlike other apps and websites that only grab permissions for a few things, Pokémon GO is given full access to your Google account–and it takes it without permission. We recommend setting up a Google account just for sign ups such as this.

“Pokémon GO” is a battery hog, especially when you go on a long walk and want to make sure the app is searching for Pokémon the whole time. Luckily, there’s a really handy “battery saver” mode that will help you get a lot more mileage off a single charge.” Go here for full instructions.

Pokémon GO Safety Tips:

Tell your kids about stranger-danger. The way that the game is designed can bring people together in the real world as they search for Pokemon in common areas called gyms and pokestops.
Set limits on where your kids can go.
Look up, and pay attention to your surroundings! A number of people – both kids and adults – have been so engrossed while staring at their phones and following a map, that they’ve walked right into the street, into objects and even had car accidents, my good friend had an episode lithe this one, thankfully J. Trevino injury attorney is taking care of it! Do not play and drive!!
Play in pairs or groups or make it a family adventure.
If a Pokémon is a water species, like a ‘magicarp’ or ‘squirtle’, they will likely be found in locations where there is real water around. Be sure to talk with kids and teens about being safe.
Heed the warnings that the game gives you every time you log in

Take a family Pokémon Go adventure and enjoy a sense of imagination and wonder that most other games do not offer. Enjoy your surroundings through a different lens and find local treasures you didn’t know existed. Pokémon Go gives you the opportunity to explore the beauty around you while catching some Pokémon along the way.

Sources: businessinsider.com, howtogeek.com

5 Simple Tips to Encourage Young Readers

March 10, 2016 by Taresa Sneed

It’s simple really, reading is fun! Reading is learning, and as the age old saying goes, it’s fundamental! I’ve loved reading since I was a kid, and I still do. It’s just that these days I’m reading Goodnight Moon, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Guess How Much I love You (to name a few). There’s something fun about beans leading to a beanstalk in the sky where a giant lives. There’s magic in reading, and adventure. I know how much reading helped shape my imagination, expand my vocabulary, and teach me other interesting facts, so I’m hoping to carry those things over to help my children gain a love for reading too!

I admit, I was one of those moms who read to her babies while they were in the womb. It was a regular thing. Before Landen was born I had a whole collection of books for him (that I’m now reading with his baby sister). Once born, I read to him several times a day and he always seemed to be tuned right in. But what really changed things is the My Superdad, or “daddy book” as Landen would call it. I had this book made for Trey’s first Father’s Day. I thought it would be awesome to have a hard cover book with his dad’s picture on every page with a cape on like a real superhero. It was perfect! He LOVED it. His dad was in a book, eating pizza with a gorilla, flying through the sky, and taming a crocodile. What kid wouldn’t enjoy that??? Landen was 10 months at the time and is 3 now, and it’s still highly requested to read at night before bed.

He loves books all on his own now. We made a reading nook in his room, and he can reach the shelves and pick which books he wants to read. He has his own library card and uses it to check out books and movies at the local library. We’ve done the summer reading program from the library for the past 2 summers and currently working on 1,000 books before Kindergarten (also a program through EBRPL).

More than anything, I love the little time that I get to spend with Landen and Ava when we’re reading. I love that even though Landen interrupts me and asks a ton of questions before I get through each page, he’s enjoying listening to me. I love that he’s learning, and I love that it’s something that both of my children will remember us doing together. It’s never too early or too late to develop a love for adventure through reading with your kids. Here are some of the ways we’ve done that with ours.

5 Simple Tips to Encourage Young Readers

1. Develop a routine at night that includes a bedtime story.
2. Attend story time at your local library.
3. Sign up for Summer reading programs at your local library.
4. Attend story time at Barnes and Noble
5. Let them pick the books that they want to read (because they love feeling like they’re in charge).

Happy Reading!