Can’t arrange for home delivery?
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you have to brave the grocery store
• Shop early in the morning or late at night.
• Avoid weekends and after work.
• Bring your own wipes to clean cart handles.
• Avoid self-serve bulk bins.
• Keep your phone in your pocket.
• Use tap to pay.
• Follow distancing guidelines and floor arrows.
• Stand back if a “traffic jam” of people occurs.
What a headache
It could be a tension-type or secondary headache or even a childhood migraine. Recommended ways you can help your child include: reducing activity and making them more comfortable. To provide relief, ask your doctor if you can administer children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen. In the case of migraines, ask about preventive medications as well to reduce re-occurrences. Secondary headaches come from minor illness (cold or infection), allergies, dental problems, side effects of medications, sinus infection or a head injury. To be sure, if the headaches persist, follow up with your doctor or specialist for advice.
Coping with angry teens
Tempers often flare and it can be draining to live with a young person who is exhibiting moody, disrespectful or challenging behavior. Try to consider the root cause before you get angry too. Your teen may be battling low self-esteem, be feeling emotional, fearful or unwell. They may also be responding to hormonal changes or outside stressors. Experts recommend:
1 Creating reasonable expectations.
2 Listening without becoming flustered
3 Encouraging physical exercise, sleep and good food.
4 Reducing technology before bed.
5 Supporting hobbies and participation.
6 Setting a good example with calm, rational behavior.
If you feel like nothing is working, don’t hesitate to ask for professional help.
Free play
Looking for something fun and educational? CBC has built their own collection of free online kids’ games (cbc.ca/kids/games).
Blue Story:
Connect two blue blocks to complete the levels by clicking on objects to make them disappear
Color Blitz:
See how many circles of the same colour you can match before your number of moves runs out.
Misbehaviour or stress?
When a child has mood swings, trouble listening, or is impulsive or distracted, it could be that they are not simply misbehaving. Experts suggests that these actions could be “stress behaviours” caused by any number of biological, emotional, cognitive or prosocial triggers that lead to stress such as: noise, fear, lack of exercise, or other people’s actions. They suggest that often the child is not fully aware of what or why they are upset or has limited capacity to act differently. Here is a bit of wise advice
• Find ways to help the child learn their triggers.
• Teach them how it feels to be calm.
• Develop strategies that help them “get back to calm” when they feel agitated is.
Poison protection
5 helpful tips that will keep your kids safer.
1 Store medication out of reach in its original child-resistant packaging.
2 Lock up potential poisons (cleaners, personal care products, etc.).
3 Study the plants in and around your home and remove any that are toxic.
4 Teach your child that putting “found” objects in their mouth isn’t safe.
5 Keep your local poison control centre’s number on your phone.
