9 minute read
MIGHTY KIDS
HELPING YOUR CHILD THROUGH A Temper Tantrum Temper Tantrum HELPING YOUR CHILD THROUGH A By Elizabeth Fox
Teachers, parents and babysitters alike: they all are going to have to deal with tantrums more than once. No child's personality is the same, but there are approaches you can use that will work on most children, even if you haven't had luck with calming them yet.
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1Change your tone of voice
Kids are smart. They pick up on the little things without realizing. If they've heard you use that same tone to scold them again and again, they are eventually going to realize that no real danger comes out of it, and they are still going to try and get their way. When you change your tone of voice, it presents a slightly new situation that they aren't familiar with. They will pick up on that change, feel less secure in their tantrum and listen. to feel overwhelmed. Children feel the same way, and when it happens, they can lash out. Whether it was a miscommunication with a peer, a rule you set in place, or a punishment for misbehaving, you can explain your reasoning calmly so they have an understanding of why things went the way they did.
2Explain the situation
When you don't have a good understanding of a situation, it's easy 3 Smile
If the child is crying, speak with a light smile on your face. Presenting more negative emotions could make the situation worse. Be sure to speak reassuringly.
4Crouch and present your hand
Big height differences can be scary. By crouching to the child's height and holding your hand out, allowing them to take it if they wish, you are having a face-to-face connection instead of looming over them while they cry and fuss. 5 Scold firmly
You might be surprised how effective proper scolding can be if done correctly. If a child isn't responding to comfort or being warned, take them aside and tell them in a firm tone that what they are doing is not acceptable behavior. Be sure to be quick with this talk. It should take no more than a few seconds, as a child may lose interest if it's any longer, and it may lose its intimidation factor. Children may be used to lighter scolding, such as others casually telling them not to do something, and it won't hold any weight with them. Using a firm (but not angry) approach may help.
6Have them look you in the eyes
One reason a child may not be responding to being scolded is lack of eye contact. Many children automatically find eye contact out of respect when they are being scolded, while others look away out of guilt. Some,
however, will occupy their eyes with things on the walls or floor to avoid the tension. Make sure they see your eyes when you are speaking. If you cannot get eye contact, and they simply won't look at you, don't stress over this. It may simply be because they are afraid, and you can just continue scolding.
7Try speaking to the child like an adult
Looking at parents who use this method, you might notice the maturity level of their children is higher than the average age level. Many people automatically use a different voice when speaking to children, but try talking as if the child were a full grown adult, at least in tone. You can't set extreme expectations for communication, but you may find that the child takes more responsibility for themselves when you move away from traditional methods of speaking to children.
Each child is different in their own right, so adjust these methods as you see fit. Taking care of a child is not an easy task, but it's an incredibly important one. With these tricks and some thinking outside the box, you may have better control over temper tantrums, and you should have an easier time setting rules and scolding.
MOVE OVER CRISIS, MAKE ROOM FOR Joy Joy
By Patricia F. Danflous
Vanessa Joy Walker is more thoughtful and caring when she delivers a warning similar to that famed Bette Davis movie line. When the author, adversity coach and life strategist tells her loved ones that “I’m not okay today,” she’s is preparing them for an off-kilter day while reaching out for understanding and support. It’s one of the ways she’s learned to manage lifelong anxiety and depression without destroying those around her.
Taking control of life’s roadblocks, detours and the unexpected doesn’t come easy for Walker. With a strong spiritual foundation, self-reflection and significant life experiences, however, she’s cleared the way for hope and joy. Her innovative method of learning from crisis is now a nurtured talent that she graciously and professionally shares with individuals and industries throughout the world. “Life can be incredibly difficult, but it is the difficult things that strengthen us,” said 46-year-old Walker from her North Carolina home.
“The training process for a marathon, for example, is hard,” she continued. “Yet on the day of the race you are prepared for the course and can enjoy that great feeling of crossing the finish line.”
Walker’s energetic, joyful outlook contradicts her life’s history filled with crisis after crisis in addition to her battle with anxiety and depression. Abandoned shortly after birth, the two-time cancer survivor has also encountered infertility, a husband’s betrayal, early menopause and more.
Imagine, your ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed at the age of 35. You accept that you can’t have children but celebrate the pregnancy of the “perfect” surrogate. Then grieve when miscarriage news arrives.
Imagine, the God-loving husband who complements your spiritual believes and faith suddenly decides that Christianity is not for him any longer.
Imagine, preparing yourself to meet the woman who abandoned you at birth after years of wondering only to learn she has died shortly after reaching out to you?
Now imagine that you have not only survived one life-altering catastrophe after another but are now thriving. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? That’s only a glimpse into Walker’s precarious past.
“I needed those experiences,” emphasized Walker, demonstrating clear strength and conviction in her statement. “When I look back on those years, I was actually growing my career and initiating a purpose to inspire others to achieve a life of authentic joy. I needed all those moments when I was teetering on the edge of depression, grief or confronting another crisis to shape myself and define a career that reflects life’s torn edges that each of us experience in different ways. I’ve learned to see a connection between joy and sorrow and use that connection as a bridge to hope. Seeking out the dark parts of life can help you find the light.”
“Whenever you go through disaster, it changes your emotional DNA. If you can pivot and change your dreams or the way you see the world, you can embrace the new,” she said. “Life is a journey of experiences in response to curiosity,” she says. “In my writings and speaking engagements I encourage and guide others to take the road less traveled to discover life’s surprises.”
Think about it Walker advises. “The things we are most proud of are those things that were the hardest to achieve–like completing a marathon,” she smiled.
The daughter of a pastor who spoke in sermonettes whether in church or at the kitchen table, Walker credits him for the gift of storytelling, her strong faith and hope. Her mother provides her daily inspiration for learning and growing with every experience. “My mom learns something new every day and shares her knowledge with me.”
Despite a crisis tally that most would consider unfair, Walker displays a sense of humor. Yes, she’s learned to transition from grief to hope and joy, but really, how can she be funny, too? You will find that light-hearted side of Walker from the very first page of her recently released book, “Make Room for Joy,” to the touching letter to God on the last page. Designed with pull out inspirational quotes and messages, the book is both an autobiography of trials and sorrows and an explanation of how to transition from despair to joy. A Make It Personal section at the end of each chapter asks a soul-searching question to challenge readers to embrace their lives with joy, faith and hope.
To learn more about Walker visit her website at: vanessajoywalker.com.
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FOODS THAT CAN INTERFERE
WITH YOUR MEDICATIONS
By Kristy Podruchny
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WHEN YOU GET A NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICATIONS, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT YOU USUALLY DO IS TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT POSSIBLE INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS THAT YOU ARE TAKING. WHAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, HOWEVER, IS THAT MEDICATIONS CAN ALSO INTERACT WITH CERTAIN FOODS. IF YOU'RE ON CERTAIN MEDICATIONS, YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR DIET.
GO EASY ON GRAPEFRUIT
Grapefruit may be delicious and may be packed with nutrients; but it can change the way the body responds to medications. Allergy medications become less effective when you eat grapefruit, and cholesterol medications become more powerful.
YOU MAY NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH MILK
Your body finds it harder to make use of antibiotics in the presence of milk in the system. Components of milk such as casein, calcium and magnesium can interfere with antibiotics. When you're on these medications, you need to talk to your doctor about how safe it is to drink milk.
CHOCOLATE DOESN'T GO WELL WITH MEDICATIONS
Strong, dark chocolate can make the ADHD drug Ritalin more powerful, and tone down the effect of sleeping aids like Ambien. It can even send your blood pressure soaring if you take certain medications for depression.
COFFEE CAN INTERFERE WITH DRUGS
If you like a shot of coffee every now and then, you'll need to be careful if you take antipsychotic drugs. These drugs can become weaker in the presence of coffee. Aspirin and allergy drugs such as epinephrine can become stronger in the presence of coffee.
WATCH IT WHEN YOU EAT FOODS RICH IN VITAMIN K
Vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and kale are rich in vitamin K. The vitamin can interfere with the way blood thinning drugs like Warfarin work. While you can certainly include such vegetables in your diet, you need to make sure that you eat a consistent amount each day so that the quality of your blood does not fluctuate from one day to the next.
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GINSENG WORKS THE OTHER WAY WITH BLOOD THINNERS
While vitamin K weakens the effect of blood thinning drugs, ginseng and ginger add to the effects of these drugs. If you take powerful blood thinners, taking ginger or ginseng in addition can boost their effect so greatly as to cause internal bleeding. Ginseng can interfere with MAO inhibitors like antidepressants, as well, and lead to headaches and hyperactivity.
JUST BECAUSE FOOD SUBSTANCES ARE NATURAL DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY CANNOT INTERFERE WITH YOUR MEDICATIONS. MANY FOODS CONTAIN COMPONENTS THAT CAN POWERFULLY BOOST OR LOWER THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THESE EFFECTS BEFORE YOU START WITH A PRESCRIPTION.
