Northland Family - November 2016

Book Buzz celebrates families

Local experts recommend educational gifts for kids

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Select educational gifts for children

By Kellie Houx As the holiday shopping season is around the corner, parents, grandparents and other important people in children’s lives may just be wondering what sort of gifts are best for children. To help out, two parent educators from Liberty Public Schools’ Early Childhood Education Center’s Parents as Teachers programming have offered several helpful suggestions.

First and foremost, Nancy Daugherty and Tammy Brizendine believe age-appropriate books may be perfect gifts that can be opened many times.

“Books are worth their value,” Brizendine said.

“Books can grow with a child. For the youngest, getting the cloth or vinyl books that babies can handle without damaging are great.”

Daugherty also suggested that early books for children have clear, realistic pictures, plus one image and one word per page to start those early connections.

Birth to 12 months

For birth to 12 months, she also suggested wooden or plastic blocks and textured rattles. Causeand-effect toys in which one action causes something else to happen — which could be as simple as pushing a big button and an animal pops up — are also recommended.

“In stores, toys that make noise are loud because the sound is competing with everything else going on in the store,” Brizendine said. “When you get home, check how loud the volume is. Turn it down if possible or put a piece of duct tape over the

speaker. Most toys are too loud.”

Daugherty also recommended limiting lights, as the flashing can be too stimulating.

“The desire is to extend the attention span,” she said. “Toys need to be three-dimensional and allow for the child to use their imagination. They don’t need the toy do to it all for them. Educational can be as simple as Tupperware bowls and wooden spoons. Remember, texture and grasp leads to building nerve connections. And yes, everything will go to the mouth, as these nerves are the first developed. It’s highly sensory.”

12 to 24 months

At 12 months to 24 months, again books are tops with flaps to lift.

“Animal books that encourage making animal

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sounds are good,” Daugherty said. “They will start trying language.”

Brizendine suggested the Little People Animal Friends Farm paired with books about animals.

At this age, the two teachers also suggest simple puzzles, a four- to six-piece shape sorter, beginning matching games, markers and sidewalk chalk.

“Children also want to feel success, so these need to be simple enough they see progress, but also are learning the right things,” Daugherty said.

“The markers and sidewalk chalk start allowing children to hold pencils correctly.”

Brizendine also suggested push toys such as a toy lawnmower or vacuum cleaner.

“So much of what we learn is through modeling,” she said. “When Mom and Dad are doing chores, their children see these skills and behaviors.”

Daugherty said that some toys and books could be purchased at thrift stores.

develop fine motor skills. This might be the time to introduce board games such as Candyland.

“Kids need to learn about taking turns,” Brizendine said. “They also need to learn to be gracious winners and losers. A little nonbreakable tea set is fun, too. You can let them have water and learn to pour and drink from an open cup.”

3 to 5 years

2 to 3 years

Also around the age of 2 to 3 years old, children can continue playing through dress-up, and thrift store clothing can be fun and affordable.

“We also recommend continuing the hand-eye coordination and encourage a small chalkboard or dry-erase board so, again, the hand is grasping

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chalk or a marker as a pencil,” Daugherty said.

At about 3 years of age, dolls, lacing cards and beading strings are good gifts, as they can help

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From 3 to 5 years of age, blocks of various sizes and shapes that allow children to build what they want is suggested, Daugherty said.

“It might also be time for a bicycle with a good-fitting helmet,” Brizendine said. “However, make sure it is not motorized. Kids need to know how to pedal.

A bat and ball might be good. There’s also pretend doctor’s kits or a tool set.”

Most importantly, the two teachers said, is to instill not only how to learn, but that children love to learn.

“We want families to treasure literacy, especially,” Brizendine said. “They can learn nurturing and empathy with dolls and stuffed animals. The main trick is that families are present and play is a positive experience.”

As Daugherty said, “The best reading app is a parent and a lap!”

Robert M. Huster, M.D.

(Age 2 years - grade 5)

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Book Buzz: Celebrate Families Newsbee will be tooting his horn-of-plenty this month surrounded by family members,

young and old. As we turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving, your literary bee buddy wants to mark the holiday with books that “Celebrate Families.” There’s nothing like having family in your corner, there for help, support, laughter and love. But that’s enough gobbling on about sentiments sweet — pass the turkey, please!

Newspaper Hats

Print rules in “Newspaper Hats,” by Phil Cummings, a wistful tale about Georgie and her grandfather, a gent in a nursing home whose room is piled high with newspapers “stacked around him like tall city buildings.”

When Georgie visits grandfather, she has concerns. “Will grandfather remember me?” she asks her dad as they walk down the long hallways.

Georgie doesn’t get the answers

she wants when she talks with her grandfather — instead of recognizing her, he launches into yesteryear. “I remember my brother and tadpoles in cans . . . And summer rain from thunderclouds that tasted like dust.” On and on her grandfather goes as he looks at framed photos, never answering Georgie’s question: “But do you remember me?”

Wise Georgie doesn’t press the issue; instead she directs her grandfather’s attention to newsprint, and a project that

delights others in the nursing home. Soft pastel illustrations by Owen Swan couple beautifully with this heartfelt book.

Six Dots, A Story of Young Louis Braille

The lessons we learn from our parents provide vision for our futures. So it was for Louis Braille, in “Six Dots, A Story of Young Louis Braille,” by Jen Bryant.

Born a small child, Louis dreamed big, wanting to help his father in his shop. A horrible accident occurred there that led to Louis being totally blind by the age of 5.

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Louis’ family helped him learn; his sisters “made a straw alphabet,” Papa made letters with leather strips, and Mama and the boy played dominoes, “counting the dots with (his) fingertips.” As he grew, Louis longed to read, but there were no books for the blind.

Louis knew without books, “(he) would always be held back, like (a) dog chained too tight.” That’s what prompted the boy to study in Paris. Louis persevered and succeeded, reading a book in the library with raised letters that were large and bulky. There must be a better way, he thought.

A secret wartime code unlocked a door to Louis’s genius. He created a way for the blind to read using raised dots, “each dot pattern (standing) for a letter in the alphabet.” Lush illustrations by Boris Kulikov make “Six Dots” a standout.

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the temporary loss of his voice. “Mayday,” by Karen Harrington, introduces us to a boy who knows all about catastrophes.

When his beloved uncle is killed in Iraq, it prompts another change in Wayne’s life. His crusty grandfather, a veteran, will be moving in with Wayne and his divorced mom. He’s just adjusting to that when his plane drops out of the sky.

What could be worse? How about coping with a dad Wayne aptly nicknames, “Flee,” dealing with his mom dating again, angst about girlfriends, and looking physically different than anyone else?

Spouting facts whenever he gets uncomfortable with a thought or feeling, Wayne sets out to retrieve the flag the government gave to his late uncle when he was killed in action, a flag that was on the doomed flight that Wayne and his mother were on.

With a band of unlikely heroes, including his grandfather and a new buddy, Wayne finds his voice and learns to stand up for himself in ways he never could have imagined in a book that is moving, funny and unforgettable.

— Reprinted with permission, Missourian Publishing Company. Copyright 2016.

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EAT, DRINK AND BE HEALTHY

It’s the season for feasting, but 29 million Americans with diabetes can find this season particularly challenging when trying to manage their diet.

People with diabetes don’t have to skip all the good stuff to eat during the holidays, but Liberty Hospital Certified Diabetes Educator Jessica Chavez, a registered nurse, recommends following these five guidelines from the American Diabetes Association to stay on track during holiday parties.

1. Eat breakfast or snacks earlier in the day. “It is a myth that a person with diabetes can save all of their carbs for one meal,” Chavez said.

“If you save all carbohydrates for one meal, then blood sugars skyrocket. Avoid that by keeping meals consistent to help control your blood sugar throughout the day.”

2. Choose to eat your vegetables first. “Fill up on veggies first, then you’re not as tempted to go for the things that are more unhealthy,” she said.

3. Remember to regularly check your blood sugar throughout the holidays. “On party days, add a few extra blood sugar checks to help you stay on track,” Chavez said.

4. Take a walk or attend your usual exercise session the day of a party — it doesn’t matter if it’s before or after eating. “Exercise will help you absorb extra glucose in your system and use your insulin properly,” she said.

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5. Don’t beat yourself up. “If you overindulge and eat more carbs or food than you planned, don’t think you have failed,” she said. “Just make a plan to get back on track.”

One-on-one sessions with a certified diabetes educator and group classes are available with a physician’s order and are covered by insurance. The program includes education on diabetes management, medications, diet, exercise and stress management. For more information, contact the Diabetes Education Department at Liberty Hospital at 792-7267.

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Be mindful to avoid holiday weight gain

By Ryne Dittmer

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eating. For example, if you have four different dessert options in front of you, choose the one that you like the most, eat it slowly and enjoy it.

Depriving yourself completely can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food,” said Nelson.

When planning a party menu, Nelson said it is best to plan a spread with many plant-based options (vegetable dishes should outnumber starchy and sugary dishes), healthy fats and lean protein. With some organization, desserts can also be delicious without being detrimental to health.

“Try using foods found in nature that are naturally sweet. One of my favorite and easy desserts

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With the start of another holiday season on the horizon, families and friends will soon be gathering in homes and around tables for a multitude of parties. While these are times of celebration, they can equally be times of challenge for those striving to eat healthy. That is, unless you have a plan of action.

“Prepare yourself mentally ahead of time,” said Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian Lindsay Nelson. “Have a game plan. For me, having a healthy snack and staying hydrated before a holiday event takes the curb off my hunger. When at a holiday event, fill up half your plate with non-starchy vegetables and eat them before you eat anything else.”

Nelson said mindful eating is extremely important during the holiday season, which means slowing down to enjoy your plate of food and choosing your favorite dishes instead of a sampling from every option on the table.

“Pick out your foods that you really like and enjoy them without the guilt.

Mindful eating can help you to eat less, yet enjoy the food that you are

processed ingredients when making desserts. Another favorite healthier dessert that I love is making brownies from black beans. It sounds strange, but I’ve served it to many people without telling them what was in it.

They had no idea,” said Nelson.

There may also be good news for those dreading the holiday pounds.

The New England Journal of Medicine found that while people’s perceived holiday weight gain is up to 6.7 pounds, most gain less than a pound during the holidays. But with a mindful approach to the season’s eats, that number can remain even lower.

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Seasonal affective disorder is more than sadness

By Amanda Lubinski Millions of people each year suffer from bouts of mild depression related to the start of winter and the dark, cold months it brings, but seasonal affective disorder can also affect people all year long.

“For most, the onset is winter and fall, but you can also have it in the spring and summer,”Ryan Huyser, medical director of The Liberty Clinic, located at 2609 Glenn Hendren Drive in Liberty, said.

The Mayo Clinic defines SAD as a type of depression related to the changing of the seasons.

“SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year.

If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter Ryan Huyser months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody,” the Mayo Clinic’s website, www. mayoclinic.org, states.

The severity of the depression, Huyser said, can prolong and enhance symptoms.

“If it’s real severe, it won’t just go away because it is depression, it is a real thing,” he said. “That’s why we tell people to consult their doctor.”

Symptoms

Huyser said there are common symptoms related to seasonal depression, including: • feeling depressed all or most of the day; • decreased pleasure in activities; • weight loss or gain;

• either too much or not enough sleep; • feelings of excessive guilt; and • excessive thoughts of death.

Summer depression, the Liberty doctor said, can express itself slightly differently than winter depression.

“In summer, you can be manic,” he said.

Contributing factors

The Mayo Clinic notes SAD is diagnosed more often in women than in men, while information released by Mental Health America, a leading community-based

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Young people are more likely than older people to get winter SAD, with MHA reporting that the main age of onset of SAD is between 18 and 30.

The specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown, the Mayo Clinic site states, but there are factors that play a role.

Some factors that may come into play include: • Your biological clock or circadian rhythm. Reduced levels of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt

your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.

• Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. • Melatonin levels. A change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

Huyser added that some are generically predisposed to the depression, meaning they cannot control or prevent it.

“That’s the thing. It’s hard sometimes because it can be frustrating because we all want to be in control of our bodies,” Huyser said.

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Treatment

While there aren’t set preventative measures for SAD, Huyser said there are different types of treatments.

“The treatment really depends on the severity, but there are multiple things,” he said.

Treatments include: • Bright light therapy, where a patient increases his or exposure to bright light.

“In light therapy, also called phototherapy, you sit a few feet from a special light therapy box so that you’re exposed to bright light. Light therapy mimics natural outdoor light and appears to cause a change in brain chemicals linked to mood,” the Mayo site states. “Light therapy is one

of the first line treatments for fall-onset SAD. It generally starts working in a few days to two weeks and causes few side effects.”

• Cognitive behavioral therapy or counseling.

“Therapy can help you identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that may be making you feel worse, learn healthy ways to cope with SAD, and learn how to manage stress,” the Mayo Clinic site states.

• Medication including antidepressants.

“You need to see a doctor for any of these. People can be feeling suicidal so we really want them to stay safe ad see a doctor,” Huyser, who is certified in internal medicine and pediatrics, said.

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Holidays highlight ongoing need for food assistance

By Corey Edwards Food donations are always needed, according to Liberty Christian Church administrative assistant Troy Cooley, but those numbers do increase around the holidays.

“We do it year round, but I would say that it does pick up in the wintertime, but we do it all year,” Cooley said, adding that the Wilkerson Food Pantry, 427 E. Kansas St. in Liberty, has been donating food to families in Clay County for

43 years.

“Our congregation does an amazing job, but it is a community effort to take care of the community with food,” Cooley said. “It is great when we get (donations).

“People would typically call or come in and schedule an appointment with us, then we would give them bags of groceries based on the size of their family.

In that includes vegetables, fruit — canned, of course — pancakes, syrup, peanut butter and jelly, breakfast cereal. Just a smattering

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of food that would get them through the week.�

Other items needed, according to the church, are crackers, SpaghettiOs and canned meats such as tuna, chicken and salmon. “Those are some of the basics,� Cooley said.

Along with money or food items donated directly to the church from individuals, Cooley said many area businesses also donate. “Community organization sometimes donate food,� he said. “The Food for Fines program run by the Mid-Continent Public Library donated some food this year. Organizations like Curves, the fitness group, has also donated food to us.�

According to Mid-Continent’s website, during the Food for Fines program, which was held in September, patrons could bring “boxed or canned non-perishable food items to any MCPL location to pay off your overdue fines and help out your local community.�

Cooley added that even children get into the act of giving back to the community, noting that some have birthday parties where they ask for canned food instead of presents.

Community members who want to help out the Wilkerson Food Pantry or others like it have options for contributing. “They can write a check for the church or food donations.

We do them both,� Cooley said. “Just give us a call (7813621) and let us know you are coming, and we will be happy to meet you at the door.�

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