There’s an organization in Vancouver, Canada that just may be grooming a new generation of future chefs.

This new generation is being introduced to urban agriculture and preparing healthy foods during the years when they, as young children, are developing eating habits and preferences for certain foods .

As parents we know the importance of protecting our children against sun exposure, especially in the summer months. Protecting preschoolers, who fuss at wearing hats  and being slathered in protective lotion can be a daily challenge, but Dr. Perry Robins,  President of the Skin Cancer Foundation encourages parents to make this daily ritual an ongoing activity no matter the struggle as it will save lives in later years.

In his comments on the Skin Cancer Foundation website (www.skincancer.org) Dr. Robins shares, saying, “Unfortunately, 54 percent of children burn or tan in their second summer and 22 percent burn in their first, according to one US study. Children should not be getting sunburned at any age, especially since there are a range of very effective sun protection methods that can used.”

Dr Robins offers the following advice for keeping young children safe:

I came across an article by Kay Kosak Abrams, a psychologist, that I am reprinting because it has a message for every parent who has ever had to explain why we must say goodbye to something or someone that means a great deal to us.  Dr. Abrams shares her thoughts on the necessity of saying goodbye as a child moves towards adulthood. I hope reading her article will make it a little easier for you the next need to help your child with saying goodbye.

Sometimes we try to protect our children from sadness and loss in ways that result in increased fear and anxiety. It is a common misperception that to ignore “saying goodbye” might alleviate painful feelings.

By middle school, most children have experienced the loss of a friend, pet or relative. Separation, loss and reattachment are common and necessary experiences in life. Infants separate and reattach when they nurse and when they sleep. Our children practice separation when they go to a friend’s house or when they go to school. Sleepovers and summer camp are also times to practice emotional and physical separation.

As they grow up, our children move away from dependency in order to master independence over and over and over again. I often remind parents that parenting is about attachment, separation and “letting go,” from the time our children are born to the time we are saying goodbye as they leave for college.

If a child shows signs of regression, such as reverting to bed wetting or clinging with fear when a parent attempts to leave, it is time to step back and think about how to help him or her regain a sense of emotional security. It is never too late to go back in order to rethink a “goodbye” ritual to help your daughter or son adjust to loss.

Here are some tips that may help in preparing children in saying goodbye to a beloved caretaker.

• When we experience a sudden or mysterious loss, we are more thrown off than if we had been able to prepare. This is true for young children as well. When babies experience a sudden or extreme change in circumstance, you may see greater insecurity manifested in fussiness and poor adaptation. Some babies and young children show changes in sleep patterns, appetite and general mood, just as we do when we experience significant change or loss.

• When we feel vulnerable and uncertain, just after “the rug is pulled out from under us,” we engage in dependent behaviors that might increase our sense of security. For example, your child may be “clinging” because now he or she is afraid that another person that he or she depends upon will disappear. Increased crying, whining or “baby talk” might secure more care as well.

• In addition to behaviors that secure dependency, we need to work through feelings of sadness and loss, and we might engage in efforts to protect ourselves from further vulnerability of loss. Your child might become bossy and controlling in an effort to ward off any vulnerability. If he or she “mans the ship,” so to speak, he or she can feel in control of who comes and who goes during playtime.

• In order to promote healing and to begin moving forward, start with a simple conversation addressing the caregiver’s departure. You can bring out a photo of  the caregiver to help your child with conscious recall. Addressing the truth gently, but directly, is best. Tell your child that the person who left had to go but they still love and will miss him or her.

• If there is a way to communicate with the caregiver by phone, through a visit or sending letters, this will help your child, as will having your child draw a picture and send it to the person.

• Once you have gently and directly addressed the fact that the caregiver will not be coming back, but that he or she is well and can exchange letters and packages, your child will be able to move forward. The significance of a caregiver’s absence will recede with a peaceful, rather than fearful, feeling.

Growing up involves making friends and losing friends. Most parents will need to depend on alternative caretakers at some point prior to preschool. Children benefit from attachment to extended family members, as well as to caretakers. However, when someone they love is leaving, young children need to understand their experience of loss.

Saying goodbye helps us to attach, separate and reattach, thereby making new relationships while holding onto beloved friends who are no longer with us. It is parents’ job to help their children with the transition. Learning how to say “goodbye” is a lifelong skill and a priceless gift we teach our children.

Kay Kosak Abrams is a psychologist in private practice in Garrett Park, Md. Visit www.kayabrams.com for more information.

What foods do you need to be feeding your young athlete before a practice? What about before a big game?

According to Dr. Henry A. Stiene, MD, a  board certified  physician and practitioner of Sports Medicine and Co-Medical Director and Team Physician for Xavier University in Cincinnati, parents can actually use nutrition to help their sons and daughters compete or practice with more energy and effort.

Dr. Stiene shares that carbohydrates are the foods that fuel muscles. This is the food group that is utilized when the large muscles of the body are involved in physical activity.

While proteins and fats are essential to the physical development of young athletes, they provide no direct energy for exercise or athletics.

Carbohydrates are stored in muscles in the form of glycogen, which can remain in the muscles for 12-24 hours. Carbohydrates are easily digestible compared to foods high in proteins and fats that can sometimes take 12 hours to be completely digested, especially in growing children.

This is why one can feel so lethargic after eating a meal high in protein and fat; these foods become an energy drain in the sense that is takes much metabolic effort to digest these foods. This is energy that could otherwise be used for exercising muscles.

Examples of carbohydrates are well known to our young athletes. They have learned the food pyramid and know this food group includes breads, cereals, pasta, grains, fruits and juices, dairy products such as milk and yogurt, and sports drinks.

When planning what to feed your young athlete before practice or a game, know that his or her meal needs to be mainly carbohydrates. Kids all have different eating patterns. Some may not want to eat at all before practice. You can remedy this by having them eat a bigger lunch or breakfast and having them take sports drinks to practice and provide a well-balanced meal after practice or games. The best time to eat a pre-game or pre-practice meal should be 1-3 hours before competition depending on how much the athlete eats.

A bagel or muffin with some peanut butter and jelly about 1-3 hours before practice will get most athletes through practices
and games. Avoid a large amount of high fat and protein snacks in the hours before competition- it won’t provide much energy and may actually make the athlete feel tired. A small amount of protein or fat (such as peanut butter) is OK as it can also keep the athlete from getting hungry during practice. Save larger amounts of proteins and fats for after practice or provide some at breakfast and lunch.

Other good choices before practice would be cereals, pasta or rice without heavy sauces, fruit and yogurt, granola, honey, jams or jellies on bread or muffins. Give all these foods at least a good hour to digest. Popcorn and pretzels are also good choices as they are high in carbohydrates and have some added salt, which can stimulate thirst-enhancing intake of the most vital nutrient-water.

Having kids eat during a homework break after school and before practice is a good idea as it gives food time to digest and also
can get them back in focus to complete their homework. If your not sure about the nutritional content of a given food, the label
will provide this information for you in great detail.

What about tournaments and multiple games or competitions on the same day? Most of what is offered at concession stands is pretty high in protein and fat such as hot dogs, candy, and nachos. Good choices for between games are pretzels, popcorn, and sports drinks. If your son or daughter has a favorite snack such as bagels or peanut butter and jelly, have then bring some along.

If the game is early on Saturday or Sunday, have your son or daughter load up on carbohydrates the night before by feeding them pasta or pizza, especially if they are not big breakfast eaters. A bowl of cereal or juice with toast or a muffin will usually get them through the game.

Save the wings, burgers, fries, dogs, and chicken strips for after the games and avoid high amounts of protein and fat with breakfast for those early morning games. While it is true that soda pop and candy are mostly sugars (which is what carbohydrates are in a more complex form), pop and candy can cause wide fluctuations in blood sugar, also draining and wasting energy that would otherwise be used during practices and games.

Source: Henry A. Stiene, MD,board certified in Sports Medicine and practices Sports and Orthopaedic
Medicine with Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

There are games we played as young children that still have value today.They are inexpensive and help to develop eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity, gross and fine motor skills, agility and patience. Jacks is one such game.

Games such as Jacks can be played alone or with a few others and then they become an opportunity to practice e good sportsmanship. Most of all…these games are just plain fun to play.

Jacks originated hundred of years ago when children had little to play with and made up games by using bits and pieces of things they found on the ground. To play Jacks you need to:

• Toss the 10 jacks gently out onto the playing surface

• Use your throwing hand to toss the ball into the air

• While the ball is in the air, pick up 1 jack using only your throwing hand.

• Catch the ball in your throwing hand before the ball hits the ground

Jacks helps young children learn to count as well as giving them the opportunity to develop their gross and fine motor skills. The rules for Jacks are simple and, with practice, children can develop ball handling skills such as throwing, bouncing and catching.