Monday, March 3, 2014

QUALITY TIME

The simple definition of quality time is that you spent time doing something that meant a lot to your child. Sometimes term 'quality time' is used to mean that you please your child by spoiling him so that you can cut down on the amount of time spent together. This type of definition is a gross abuse of the term.

How much time should you spent with your child?-the answer is: spend as much as time as possible in a way not to interfere with developing child's independence or socialisation with other members of community. Following are good examples:

1. Participating in activities of daily living like teeth brushing, bathing, eating, dressing of the child- without hurry or distraction
2. Playing together
3. Visiting places like gardens, restuarants and parks
4. Going around for short walks, to fill petrol/ get money from ATM, buy provisions from neighbourhood store
5. Reading together- the same book
6. Doing household tasks together- like tidying, gardening, cooking- with a sense of play rather than as a chore
7. Doing fun activities like colouring/ drawing/ craft work
8. Play dates where parents also play with the kids
9. taking the child along when you are doing your hobby-tasks such as trekking/ stamp collecting/ star gazing. Finding out what he likes to do and spend time doing such things- even sitting near a road and watching cars go by if he likes to watch cars
10. Listening more and talking less. Listening with interest and a sense of wonder- resisting the impulse to correct him or educate him continuously.
11. Look at the child continuously. hold his hand, pat his head and back, and give appropriate verbal and physical responses.
12. It is not the time to spoil the child. Always limits and rules of behavior have to be clear and child may be treated as equal rather than superior or inferior


Saturday, February 15, 2014

BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN- FACT SHEET


When a child or adolescent behaves in a way that is inappropriate for his/ her age or situation we call it a ‘behavioral problem’. If the problem persists for a long time and interferes with studies/ play or health and development, we call it a behavioral ‘disorder’.
Behavioral disorders in children are of following types:
1.   Delay in development of speech and understanding, physical capacities like walking, running etc and toilet habits
2.   Abnormal patterns of feeding and sleeping
3.   Being very active and having poor concentration
4.   Being very stubborn and always wanting to have own way.
5.   Being poor at studies and not attending school regularly. Fear of exams.
6.   Lying, stealing, using drugs or alcohol
7.   Starving to remain thin, inspite of being thin already
8.   Any features of mental illness such as depressed mood, excessively cheerful mood, hallucinations, false beliefs, having repeated unwanted thoughts, etc
Behavioral disorders can occur because of
1.   Improper guidance to child about expected behavioral patterns
2.   Nutritional problems
3.   Direct or indirect brain damage due to injury, infections, toxins or metabolic problems
4.   Hereditary factors
5.   Psychological trauma of severe illness, prolonged illness, family problem, mishaps (kidnap) or abuse
Behavioral problems can be diagnosed by
1.   Detailed check-up of child, family and environment
2.   Some blood tests and psychological tests may be required
Behavioral problems are treated by
1.   Parental counseling and child counseling
2.   Working with the school and other persons involved in the child’s care

3.   Sometimes medicines have to be given