Kids @ Kingston

Compiled by our MCH & Immunisation Nurses

Issue

No 10

There are

alternatives to

hitting

children

When we lose control,

we want to lash out

at someone and sadly,

many of us take it

out on our children.

Children are dependent upon adults for care and protec-

tion and should not be subjected to physical violence.

Stop and think!. Step back, sit down.

Put your child in a safe place (cot, room) and leave for

a few moments.

Count to 20, or 100 — say the alphabet out loud.

Walk around your home, go outside until you calm down.

Make yourself a warm drink.

Put on your favourite music or radio program.

Pull weeds out of your garden, water the pot plants.

If your child is old enough, explain why you are angry.

Good discipline means working with your child

not against them Children learn by example. If you hit them, they will

think it’s ok to hit too.

Their playing could re-

flect this.

Hitting people is wrong,

and children are people

too.

Misbehaviour occurs

for a variety of

reasons To gain attention—Does the child want your attention

any way she can get it?

To express needs—Is the child trying to tell you she

is bored, frustrated or lonely?

To assert power—Is the child trying to see how far

she can push you?

Inability to control emotions and actions—Is the

child developmentally able to meet your expectations?

Coping with challenging behaviours Many people see punishment as the answer to children’s

misbehaviour. Consider this:

Punishment means getting a child to do the right thing

by doing something unpleasant to them if they don’t.

Children will continue to misbehave as long as there is no

risk of being caught. As adults, isn't it our job to guide

children to behave in an acceptable way, to develop self-

control and a sense of right and wrong — which is what

prevents the misbehaviour from occurring? Children

should learn to behave appropriately because of the

implications to others, not because of the threats of

punishment. Punishment is a temporary halt to the

behaviour.

Positive guidance techniques

Use positive language. Use ‘do’ rather than ‘don’t’. eg:

‘We walk inside’ rather than ‘Don’t run inside’.

Redirect children to more appropriate experiences.

Eg: a child who is throwing toys could be given a ball to

throw outside.

Show children what they should do—not just what they

shouldn’t.

Explain reasons for asking them to do things.

‘Because I say so’ teaches nothing for next time.

Try to avoid nagging—the more you nag, the less they’ll

listen.

When children do something wrong. EXPLAIN the

mistake and how to put things right.

Think about whether limits are necessary. Are they

for your benefit or the child’s? eg: Are you expecting

the child to have a sleep because they need it or

because you need a break?

Have expectations that are age appropriate. Eg: It is

inappropriate to expect children to share under the

age of 3 years.

Sandra McGowan

Your child and secondhand smoke Smoking inside the house and around a baby or child exposes

them to secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke increases the risk of many

illnesses: Croup

Bronchitis

Pneumonia

Middle ear infection

SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)

Asthma

Smoking around a baby or child can have long

term effects: Hearing loss

Slower growth

Learning and behavioural problems.

Infants and children should not be exposed to

secondhand smoke anywhere they spend time. Don’t let anyone smoke near your baby or child—not in

the house, the car, outside or anywhere else they spend

time.

Ask relatives, carers and friends not to smoke around

your child.

Protect your baby or child from secondhand smoke even

if you still smoke.

Make your home and car smoke free.

If you breastfeed and you smoke: Don't smoke before or during feeds

Don't smoke near your baby

NAPCAN

VicHealth

Home made Cheese Biscuits 175g Reduced fat grated tasty cheese

100g Rice flour

50g ground almonds

20g Margarine

Method

Rub margarine into the rice and ground almonds and

add the cheese.

Add a little water if req to make into a stiff dough.

Roll out onto a floured surface and cut into shapes.

Bake at 180 C for 10-15 mins or until golden.

Makes approx 24 biscuits Better Health Channel

Childhood bedwetting

happens in many families.

While a lot of children

grow out of wetting the

bed by the time they start

school.

Many children of primary school-age still wet the bed.

Most children stop daytime wetting by about three

years of age and wetting at night by the time they are

five. Most preschoolers will still wet their bed from

time to time.

Bedwetting is nobody’s fault. It is not caused by laziness

or done to get attention. Many children who wet the

bed produce more urine at night than others, due to a

low level of a hormone which controls how much urine is

made while the child is asleep.

Often bedwetting runs in the family and you may find

that dad, mum, uncle or aunt used to wet the bed.

If a child who has been dry starts to wet the bed again

it is important to have a medical check to see if there is

an infection or other health problem.

Reassure children that bedwetting is normal, there is

nothing to be ashamed about, and they will grow out of

it in time. It can be very helpful for them to know if

someone else in the family used to wet the bed.

Do not limit how much your child drinks during the day

or evening. Children need to have at least five or six

drinks every day. Soft drinks that contain caffeine are

not a good idea because they increase the amount of

urine produced and children need to go to the toilet

more often. Some parents find it helpful to take their child to the

toilet two or three hours after they goes to sleep. For

others, this doesn’t work.

To help save washing—Cover the mattress with plastic,

put thick underpants or ‘pull-ups’ on your child or leave

a soft light on so its easier and safer for them to go to

the toilet.

If your child is over seven, he may be helped by a

bladder training program and/or a bell/alarm program.

These programs are often successful and you can find

out more about them from your local community health

centre, pharmacy or GP.

Don’t punish, criticise or tease your child and don’t let

others do this to your child. This can make children

tense and anxious and make the problem worse. Help your child feel as comfortable as possible about

going to school camps and sleepovers. They should be

encouraged not to miss out on these fun times.

Teachers are used to dealing with these situations

and can deal with it without embarrassing the child. Raising Children/Bedwetting

Portable cots

Second-hand and heirloom cots Second-hand and heirloom cots can be a hazard to

children because:

The spacing between the bars may be too wide and

trap a child’s head or may be too narrow and trap a

child’s arms or legs.

Older, painted cots may be painted with lead paint

that the child may chew on and swallow when they

are teething.

The corners of the cot can catch on the child’s

clothes and create a strangulation hazard.

Safety at home do’s and don't’s

Do not use a portable cot if your child weighs

more than 15 kg (check instructions for your

particular model)

Check all locking devices are properly latched

before putting a child in the cot. Stop using

the cot if your child is able to release the

locking devices and collapse it.

Do not put pillows or an additional mattress in

a portable cot. Babies can become trapped

between the mattress and cot sides and may

suffocate. Older children may use the extra

height to help them climb out.

Check vinyl or fabric-covered rails frequently

for rips– a teething child can chew off pieces

and choke.

Remove all toys from the cot when the child is

sleeping.

Repair tears in mesh or fabric immediately.

Regularly check locking devices to ensure they

are operating properly.

Keep the portable cot clear of curtain or blind

cords as they are strangulation hazard.

Keep the cot away from heaters, stoves and

power points. Keeping baby safe /Australian & Consumer Commission

Bed wetting

Tuna and Potato Patties 500g potatoes

1/2 cup milk

325g canned tuna in brine,

1 spring onion, chopped

1/2 cup fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs,

1/4 cup olive oil (60ml)

1 egg

Method

Boil potatoes until tender. Cool.

Place potatoes in a bowl, add milk and mash with a fork.

Mix in tuna, green onion, parsley, egg and breadcrumbs.

Shape into 30 patties.

Heat oil in a large frying pan and cook until golden and

crisp on both sides.

Drain on absorbent paper and serve.

What to do

Immunisation

Rotavirus study In Australia, it is estimated in children less than five years of age

that there are approximately 10,000 hospitalisations, 115,000 GP

visits, 22,000 emergency department visits and one death due to

rotavirus each year.

The Murdoch Institute is responsible for monitoring the Rotateq vaccination. Their two year study of 72,000

babies showed the following data:-

Dramatic decrease in gastroenteritis

Hospitalisations rate reduction—96%

Emergency Hospital visits rate reduction—94%

Visits to GP rate reduction—86%

Parental loss of work reduction—87%

The National Immunisation Program Schedule provides free

oral rotavirus vaccine to infants aged two, four and six months of

age.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in

infants and young children in Australia.

Children can be infected with rotavirus several times during

their lives, and almost every child will suffer at least one infec-

tion by the age of three years. It is easily spread from one child

to the next. Symptoms range from mild, watery diarrhoea to se-

vere, dehydrating diarrhoea with vomiting, fever, and shock.

Oral rotavirus immunisation Oral rotavirus vaccine is the best way to protect infants and children against rotavirus disease. The vaccine will

not prevent diarrhoea and vomiting caused by other infections but is very good at preventing severe diarrhoea

and vomiting caused by rotavirus.

In Victoria, the oral (swallowed by mouth) rotavirus vaccine used is called RotaTeq®. RotaTeq® is a ‘live’ weakened

virus vaccine. The vaccination course of RotaTeq® consists of three doses and is recommended to be given at the

same time as other vaccines included on the National Immunisation Program at two, four and six months of age.

There is a small chance of catching a rotavirus infection even after receiving the vaccine. However, if this

happens, it would usually be a much milder illness than if your child had not been immunised.

The first dose of RotaTeq® should be given no later than 12 weeks of age and the third dose should be giv-

en by 32 weeks of age.

www.health.vic.gov/immunisation