12 minute read
A Safe & Social Summer
We talked to experts about how to be appropriately cautious when preparing for summer fun
By Alison Kotch
One of the toughest parts of the pandemic for both parents and kids was not being able to socialize in person. In fact, a Pew Research Center report found that during the last year, the thing American adults missed most was their social routine. Kids were forced to socialize online—the number of messages they sent increased 144 percent in 2020. But now that infection numbers are down and many people are vaccinated, everyone is eager to return to a version of summer that feels close to our “normal” mask-less lives. For parents, this means ensuring kids make up for lost time on the playground. “Play is the most powerful learning tool for children. The foundation of soft skills like communication, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership is primarily built through play in children’s formative years,” says Ariel Kornblum, Psy.D., clinical director of behavioral and educational services at Manhattan Psychology Group. Unstructured playtime helps foster kids’ imagination and creativity, and it teaches them the coping skills required to navigate life; and strong attachments to both friends and family equip them for everyday challenges. This is true for parents, too. “Connecting to other parents is one of the hallmarks of surviving parenthood, and while this varies for every family, most [adults] rely on support from other parents for any and all challenges,” Dr. Kornblum says. So how do we safely socialize this summer? We spoke to experts about the precautions we should take for group gatherings.
Establish comfort lEvEls with othEr parEnts.
Although the best course of action is to defer to state, local, and the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding masking, sanitizing, and social distancing, the first step toward normalcy is to decide what level of closeness is appropriate for your family. (This can be tough when our social habits have been disrupted by a trauma-filled year.) Younger kids will likely take longer to adjust to a pre-pandemic-style play, while older students with established friend groups and access to technology might have an easier time. Regardless of your child’s age, the adjustment to in-person socialization may take a while. “What is most important during this time is that parents remain supportive and understand that transitions may take longer than expected,” Dr. Kornblum says.
minimizE any potEntial coviD ExposurE.
Parents should not assume that all kids in their friend group are safe playdates. “I always encourage open dialogues between family and friends in order to fully understand the risks,” says Gopi Desai, M.D., FAAP, general pediatrician at New York Presbyterian Queens. “Talk about the activities you and your family have been doing, and what those around you have been doing. This will give you a sense of what the exposure levels might be.” Dr. Desai recommends asking about vaccine status for adults
and kids (older than 12) in the household. If all members are vaccinated, the risk of transmission is much lower. If kids haven’t been vaccinated, Dr. Desai recommends masks—parents should model mask-wearing behavior so their kids can follow their example. Also, talk to them about the importance of not sharing food/cups or items that are difficult to clean, and they should be reminded not to put toys in their mouths or touch their faces. If children will be eating together, and masks will be coming off, make sure to enforce social distancing rules. The CDC says that COVID transmission can occur when touching surfaces covered in the virus, or within 6 feet of others who don’t live in the same house. Another good nugget of advice: Postpone the playdate if anyone is sick.
ReseaRch summeR camp and play outdooRs.
If you’re looking to send your child to camp, ones that are primarily outdoors are still your best option. Be sure to ask about safety precautions that will be taken by the staff. Dr. Desai recommends asking if masks are required at all times, if staff members are required to be vaccinated, and about the number of children that will be enrolled. “If staff members are vaccinated and most of the day is spent outdoors and in small groups, this will definitely lower the risk for children attending,” she says. Additionally, parents should know the rules when it comes to encounters with someone who has COVID. “Ideally, even large camps will split up into smaller pods so that kids and staff are only exposed to a limited number of people,” Dr. Desai says.
No matter what level of socializing your family chooses this summer, keep in mind that the best option for one family may not be the best option for another family. And as Dr. Desi says, it’s important that kids find joy in their summer activities. “We know that there are clear benefits to attending in-person camp and having playdates, so it is crucial to encourage these activities in a way that is safe and mindful.”
Alison Kotch is a freelance writer, editor, and runner who specializes in wellness and travel content. She enjoys cooking and gardening and lives in Brooklyn.
The Language Experts since 1998!
ABC Languages online tutoring for kids and teens is a great way to give your child a personalized learning experience. Our professional, caring instructors are here to ensure a fun, effective, and interactive learning experience. Set up one-on-one classes, or form a group with your child’s besties! www.abclang.com info@abclang.com 212.563.7580
Your Child’s Cough: When to Worry
By Linda Chen, D.O., pediatric pulmonologist at the Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn at Maimonides Medical Center
The most common worry I hear from parents is about their child’s cough. Coughing can occur for various reasons in healthy children, but we must first understand why we cough. Coughing is a natural reflex to protect the airways carrying air into the lungs. When we breathe in something that could irritate or harm the lungs, the body senses that and reacts by coughing. Think about the times you walked through a dusty area or you drank water that accidentally went down the wrong tube—coughing in these situations is a natural response, and it goes away once the irritation is gone.
Common Reasons Why Kids Cough
The Common Cold: Cold viruses (upper respiratory infections) are one of the most common causes of cough in healthy children. Children ages 6 and younger could have up to 8 colds in a year, while older children can have up to 4. Symptoms include congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, low-grade fever, headaches, and body aches. These symptoms might seem to get worse in the first three days of illness but will show improvement in the next 1-2 weeks. The best thing you can do is keep your child hydrated and comfortable.
alleRgies: Approximately 10-30 percent of people in the U.S. have allergies, but it’s rare in children younger than 2. Allergies and common cold may look similar, however allergies involve itchiness of the eyes, nose, or mouth area and do not cause fevers. In this case, coughing is caused by postnasal drip. Some children have these symptoms during specific seasons while others have symptoms year-round (depending on their allergy). Identifying and removing the triggers and taking allergy medications will help alleviate the symptoms.
Childhood asThma: Coughing, not wheezing (a musical whistling noise in the chest), is the most common asthma symptom. An asthma cough is usually dry, appears more at night, and can last for a few weeks or even longer. Weather changes, exposure to cold air, exercise, strong emotions, or allergens can worsen the cough, and viral upper respiratory infection is the most common trigger. During flare-ups, the cough could become more wet sounding and may be associated with wheezing. Nebulizer treatments or inhalers with albuterol several times a day relieves the cough. If the cough is persistent, your doctor may start your child on inhaled or oral steroid.
Pneumonia: This infection in the lungs often starts as an upper respiratory infection later progressing to sudden onset of cough and fever. The cough is often wet, and the doctor may hear crackle sounds in the lungs. The most common cause of childhood pneumonia is viral, which doesn’t require antibiotics. Children with bacterial pneumonia usually have high fever and more severe symptoms and generally respond to antibiotics. School-age children may have “atypical” or “walking” pneumonia, which involves mild body aches and headaches, with sore throat, dry cough, wheezing, or rash. The body is usually able to fight this without antibiotics, but if your child has persistent cough and/or fever, it would be worth an evaluation.
asPiRaTion: Choking on liquids can also cause cough. When this happens repeatedly, a wet cough develops with chest congestion. It’s often seen in children who have swallowing issues or developmental delays. This could lead to repeated lung infections over time. Recurrent aspiration of liquids can be managed by adjusting the thickness of liquids, feeding therapy, or finding another means to feed. If a wet cough persists despite therapies, or is associated with noisy breathing, your child may benefit from a bronchoscopy evaluation. A more serious type of aspiration occurs when a young child accidentally chokes on a piece of food, item, or toy, resulting in the “foreign body” blocking the airways (aka foreign body aspiration). Coughing occurs immediately as the body’s response to get rid of the blockage. You may also hear noisy breathing, called stridor. In these situations, immediate emergency department evaluation is warranted.
When To see a doCToR
Although these are some common causes of cough in children, there are still many other less-common causes. So, when should you be worried? As a general guide, your child should see a doctor or specialist if the cough has any of these qualities: • Persists more than 4 weeks, without a day of no symptoms • Interrupts sleep at least 3-4 times a month • Limits physical activity or worsens with activity • Occurs only while drinking and eating • Associated with fevers and not getting better with medications
You know your child best, so if you notice any concerning signs in your child, don’t hesitate to discuss with your pediatrician.
Linda Chen, D.O., is a pediatric pulmonologist at the Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn at Maimonides Medical Center, a 711-bed, nonprofit tertiary care provider in Brooklyn. Maimonides operates the largest hospital in Brooklyn, as well as the borough’s only full-service Cancer Center. Its physicians are nationally known for clinical excellence, innovation, and groundbreaking research, and it is a major clinical training site for the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Founded in 1911, the Medical Center continues to grow and adapt to the needs of Brooklyn’s patients and families. It is an affiliate of Northwell Health. For more information, visit maimo.org.
Meet the HealtH Care Professional
Pediatric Cardiology 948 48th St., 1st floor, Brooklyn 6701 Bay Parkway, 4th floor, Brooklyn 718-283-7500 maimo.org/find-a-doctor/hanano-watanabe
Dr. Hanano Watanabe is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist at the Maimonides Children’s Hospital who completed her Pediatric Cardiology training at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. She is part of a dedicated team of pediatric cardiologists providing infants, children, and adolescents with comprehensive evaluation and treatment for congenital heart disease, murmurs, arrhythmias (including fetal arrhythmias), and other cardiac disorders. Dr. Watanabe is a compassionate and dedicated physician who provides individualized care plans for every patient. The Maimonides Children’s Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, including fetal and pediatric transthoracic echocardiography.
Linda Chen, D.O. - Maimonides Children’s Hospital Pediatric Pulmonology
948 48th St., 3rd floor, Brooklyn 718-283-7500 maimo.org/find-a-doctor/linda-chen
Dr. Linda Chen is a respected, experienced, board-certified pediatric pulmonologist who is a member of our comprehensive Pediatric Pulmonary service that cares for infants, children, and adolescents with all forms of lung concerns and disease including asthma, pneumonia, chronic lung disease, chronic cough, and other pulmonary issues. In addition to consultations and care of lung problems and diseases, our team also offers pulmonary function testing, allergy evaluation, pre-operative assessment, pediatric sleep evaluation, and bronchoscopy. Our pulmonologists provide the highest level of compassionate, family-centered care in an environment designed just for children.
Rabia Agha, M.D. - Maimonides Children’s Hospital Pediatric Infectious Disease
948 48th St., 3rd floor, Brooklyn 6701 Bay Parkway, 4th floor, Brooklyn 718-283-7500 maimo.org/find-a-doctor/rabia-agha
Dr. Rabia Agha is director of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Division at the Maimonides Children’s Hospital. She is boardcertified in pediatric infectious diseases, and specializes in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of complicated infections in infants, children, and adolescents. Dr. Agha oversees our COVID Recovery Program for Children. In addition, she treats a wide range of conditions including congenital infections, invasive bacterial infections, unusual infections in immunocompromised patients, fever of unknown origin, Lyme disease, and travel-related infections. She also directs the Family Travel Medicine Center.
Tina Rakitt, M.D. - Maimonides Children’s Hospital Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
948 48th St., 3rd floor, Brooklyn 6701 Bay Parkway, 4th floor, Brooklyn 718-283-7500 maimo.org/find-a-doctor/tina-rakitt
Dr. Tina Rakitt is a board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist at the Maimonides Children’s Hospital. She completed subspecialty training at the prestigious Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and has more than 10 years of experience in treating a variety of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), celiac disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Dr. Rakitt’s warm and engaging manner focuses not only on treating the disease itself, but also on combating any fears and concerns children and their loved ones may have.
www.treehouseshakers.com
Private Kindergarten & Lower School
Celebrating 3 years in Tribeca
Now Enrolling K-3 Get the Bilingual Advantage
germanschoolmanhattan.org
2021 TREASURE ISLAND DAY CAMP
Ages 3 (potty trained)–3rd grade graduates July 6–August 13 | M–F | Full Day (8AM–4PM) or Half Day (9AM–1PM) Choose 1–6 weeks Sprinklers · Outdoor Games · Arts & Crafts · Theme Days Sand Table · Painting · Air-conditioned Classroom Fun Water Activities · Playground Time
LUNCH & SNACKS INCLUDED!
For pricing, email Miss Kim, Camp Director: TIsland347@gmail.com 347 74th St, 11209 | 718.238.7676
