Navigating Developmental Delays Navigating Developmental Delays

1) Find the right doctor

2) Do a pre visit if possible (request one to see if you can get to meet the doctor before hand or speak to them before visit)

3) Find out how much time is allotted by the office (usually standard for each office, for a well visit and for sick visits)

  Most offices allot 15 minutes for each well visit, and 15 minutes for sick.

  Some offices allow 30 minutes for well visit (sometimes longer time is allotted for teens)

If your child requires more time than the standard time allotted by the office, ask for extra time to be given when scheduling appt

4) Preparing for the visit:  how to get your child prepared

5) How to get yourself prepared for the visit.

6) Consider splitting your appts into two.  For example, could do a well visit with discussion of some issues.  Consider doing a separate sick visit or follow up visit to consider other issues.  

7) Most large hospital systems use electronic medical records (often a system called EPIC).  Consider putting together a one page sheet about your child's medical history and other helpful information for their physician and other healthcare providers.  It may have their interests on it (for example, loves talking about trucks), and other helpful things that you want each person seeing your child to know.  You can ask for that note to be added as part of their chart, so it's visible to everyone.

1) different type of COVID-19 Vaccines

  * Pfizer

  * Moderna

  * J&J

2) Vaccine & COVID-19 variants

3) Vaccine trials in kids

4) What does it mean when adults are vaccinated and kids are not?



Helpful articles/resources about COVID-19 vaccines and infections in your area:  (see nytimes bottom link for interactive guide)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/03/vaccine-breakthrough-cases/618330/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/29/world/pfizer-moderna-covid-vaccines-infection.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-risk-map.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

Self Care for Parents:  Links to articles mentioned in the episode

Self-compassion:  helpful articles

* https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/parenting/self-care-moms.html

* https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/parenting/burnout-boundaries.html

* https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/well/live/why-self-care-isnt-selfish.html



https://www.gemmawomen.com

Virtual course founded by psychiatrist Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD



Great article by psychologist Maryam Abdullah that we quoted in the podcast that mentions this study:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29119672

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/self_compassion_for_parents  

(the article we quoted on podcast) 



Meditations and meditation apps:

* Loving kindness meditation (mentioned in greater good article above)

* Visualizing presence of someone important to you when you need parenting support (mentioned in greater good article above)



Helpful apps:

Mindspace

Calm 




Helpful Journals:

5 minute gratitude journal

5 minute journal for kids



https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/30/well/move/can-4-seconds-of-exercise-make-a-difference.html



Let's be less critical of ourselves as parents, and use some of the time we often spend feeling guilty and channel it into some self care strategies.  

We wanted to get a Kids' Perspective on online learning and the pandemic.  This week we speak to two children, a middle school student and an elementary school student on their thoughts on online learning and the pandemic.  We really enjoyed hearing their thoughtful and insightful (and fun) comments and hope you will too.  

It is so important to check in with all the kids to see how they are feeling and coping with all the new changes this year has brought.   Please see our previous episode webpage "How to support kids' mental health during the pandemic"  to access some helpful resources on supporting Kids'  Emotional Health during this difficult time. 

Please stay safe this holiday season.  

We are so stressed out with the pandemic as adults. Imagine how stressed  kids are!  Here are some ways to find out how kids are feeling and how to help them.

Part 1:  

How to find out what kids are feeling:

1) Open ended interviewing with children:  a more effective way to get information about how they are feeling

2) Make it part of your daily routine to ask open-ended questions about how their day way.

3) Short-term questions vs. Long-term questions:  often simple questions can help you gauge their perspective on things in a very meaningful way.

Part 2:

How to help support kids' mental health:

Resources: 

Books:

 * Mark R. Dixon:  ACT:  Acceptance and commitment therapy;  ACT for Children with Autism and Emotional Challenges

(available from Shawnee scientific)

* Anger Anger Management Workbook for Kids: 50 Fun Activities to Help Children Stay Calm and Make Better Choices When They Feel Mad by Samantha Snowden MA and Andrew Hill PhD 

* CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents:  Over 200 Worksheets & Exercises for Trauma, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression & Conduct Disorders.  Lisa Weed Phifer, Amanda K. Crowder, Tracy Elsenraat, Robert Hull.

* Coping Skills for Kids Workbook:  Over 75 Coping Skills for Kids Workbook: Over 75 Coping Strategies to Help Kids Deal with Stress, Anxietey and Anger.  By Janine Halloran.

* Wilma Jean the Worry Machine.  

Helpful Apps:  

* Calm Counter 

* Stop, Breathe & Think Kids

* Calm

* Cosmic Kids Yoga (YouTube)

Articles:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/31/well/family/children-coronavirus-grandparents-grief.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/well/family/children-anxiety-stress-pandemic.html

https://coc.unm.edu/common/manual/grief.pdf

Signs of concern:

Typical versus Atypical Depression

Remember, depression is a medical illness just like diabetes, and high blood pressure.  It needs to be treated the same way!  Take it seriously!!

Mourning loss of "typical in-person school experience:"   Let's take the guilt out of it

  * Remember that school socialization is not the same as last year

  * Your kids are not missing out on the same social experience as school had in the past, as there are new social distance rules in place now



Learning Environments:

* realistic expectations:  clear desk, less clutter

* setting alarms on Devices for specific log in times for specific school sessions

* Visual schedules



Logging in to Online classes:

* organized way to keep Zoom/Google classroom/Online learning passwords 

* Whiteboard with password for kids who are reading

* Kids who are not readers yet:  embed password in word document for children

* have a plan with children:  what is backup plan if zoom or other link is not working?

* when are movement breaks built into online schedule?  

* give your kids specific instructions for movement breaks when class schedule has breaks 



NYT:  How to protect children's eyes during remote learning

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/17/parenting/kids-eyesight-distance-learning-coronavirus.html

* Screen time rules for kids:

* 20-20-20 rule:  after every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away,  for 20 seconds

* Keep devices at least 2 feet away and preferably at eye level OR below eye level to minimize eye strain

* do not skip vision screenings and regular vision testing

IEP Issues:

* if your child is struggling now, do NOT wait for IEP meeting, reach out to school now, document issues in emails

* do not be afraid to suggest a solution if you have one

* do not be afraid to call more IEP meetings if you need

* schools often short-staffed and schools and parents still figuring out what IEP looks like for remote learning

* streamlining homework assignments, technological decluttering:

* If multiple programs and apps utilized by school districts:

      * Ask teachers to make a list of daily homework and what programs homework is due in:

       * example:  request DAILY WORK DUE TODAY LIST (and list each program work is due in)

       * WORK DUE TODAY  1. turn in video on book cat in the hat (flipgrid) .    2.  turn in math fraction homework (google classroom). etc. 



Technology Adaptations if needed in IEP:

* consider Assistive Technology evaluation

* need someone at IEP program that is familiar with the technology

* do you need simple technology adaptations:  perhaps a keyboard with the iPad? 

* put all requests for evaluations  in writing, emails etc.  (No phone calls: phone calls do not count)



Typing and technology resources: 

   * dance mat typing (great program to teach kids typing).  

https://toybox.tools.bbc.co.uk/activities/id/activity-dance-mat-typing/exitGameUrl/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fguides%2Fz3c6tfr 

* voice dictation programs

* snap type pro app (converts worksheets to editable documents so can type instead of writing)



Privacy issues:  

* some schools are not allowing children to turn off the camera 

* ask schools for a copy of their online policy in writing

Fun video: as promised, ending with a fun video about cyber school from the ladies of "#IMOMSOHARD"

https://youtu.be/ETqrzcF_ef8