Featured this morning on Great Day St. Louis
July 30, 2010
July 14, 2010
Psychological Effects After A Child Abduction
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Alisa Maier was safely returned home after being abducted by a stranger. It was an even bigger relief to learn she hadn't been physically harmed.
Children are resilient but even when children are recovered and reunited with their family the trauma does not necessarily end. There can be long-lasting effects psychological effects on the child such as anxiety, fear of being around strangers, nightmares, and even mistrust of familiar adults and family members. Some children may stop growing emotionally, socially and academically and regressive behaviors may appear.
Due to all the media attention psychological effects can extend beyond the victim and family to children and adults not even connected to the crime. Parents are fearful it could happen to their child and children may fear they too could be abducted. This fear and the emotional stress it brings on can stay with parents and children for long periods of time.
Pay attention to any changes in your child after such a trauma and be open to discussing your child's concerns. Validate any feelings they may have and reassure them that you will help keep them safe. If their fear escalates you may want to consult with a mental health professional.
Children are resilient but even when children are recovered and reunited with their family the trauma does not necessarily end. There can be long-lasting effects psychological effects on the child such as anxiety, fear of being around strangers, nightmares, and even mistrust of familiar adults and family members. Some children may stop growing emotionally, socially and academically and regressive behaviors may appear.
Due to all the media attention psychological effects can extend beyond the victim and family to children and adults not even connected to the crime. Parents are fearful it could happen to their child and children may fear they too could be abducted. This fear and the emotional stress it brings on can stay with parents and children for long periods of time.
Pay attention to any changes in your child after such a trauma and be open to discussing your child's concerns. Validate any feelings they may have and reassure them that you will help keep them safe. If their fear escalates you may want to consult with a mental health professional.
July 7, 2010
Pam's Parenting Tip of the Month
How to Help an Anxious or Stressed-Out Child
How often have you said to your child, "You need to calm down!" How often have you given that same child a suggestion on how to calm down? Self-calming doesn't come naturally to children. It needs to be taught.
Purchase a pump bottle of lavender scented hand and body cream. Lavender has a soothing, relaxing quality. Make a label for it that reads "Calming Cream."
When you find your child is feeling anxious or stressed put a small amount into your hands and rub it into your child's hands, arms and legs. It not only serves as a distraction from whatever is going on in the moment it's also a nurturing gesture. "Calming Cream" can even become a part of your child's bedtime routine to encourage relaxation.
Keep the bottle of "Calming Cream" in a handy location and over time your child will learn to use it when feeling the need to self-soothe. Your child might even become like Austin who, upon seeing his mother looking harried at the end of a busy day, said, "Mom! You want me to rub your hands with some calming cream?"
How often have you said to your child, "You need to calm down!" How often have you given that same child a suggestion on how to calm down? Self-calming doesn't come naturally to children. It needs to be taught.
Purchase a pump bottle of lavender scented hand and body cream. Lavender has a soothing, relaxing quality. Make a label for it that reads "Calming Cream."
When you find your child is feeling anxious or stressed put a small amount into your hands and rub it into your child's hands, arms and legs. It not only serves as a distraction from whatever is going on in the moment it's also a nurturing gesture. "Calming Cream" can even become a part of your child's bedtime routine to encourage relaxation.
Keep the bottle of "Calming Cream" in a handy location and over time your child will learn to use it when feeling the need to self-soothe. Your child might even become like Austin who, upon seeing his mother looking harried at the end of a busy day, said, "Mom! You want me to rub your hands with some calming cream?"
June 29, 2010
June 19, 2010
I've Relocated My Office
As of June 21st, 2010, I have moved my office to the Wildwood Plaza Professional Building, just east of the intersection of Baxter & Clayton Roads. View a map HERE
June 3, 2010
June 1, 2010
Five Things To Do With a Cookie Sheet
School’s out and it can be challenging to find easy and affordable activities to keep kids busy. Using things you probably have around the house you can provide your kids some creative opportunities. Head to the kitchen and dig out those old cookie sheets.
1. Grab the magnets from off of the refrigerator and encourage your child to create a picture by arranging them on the cookie sheet. Don’t forget to snap a photo of your little one’s masterpiece.
2. Line the cookie sheet with a layer of rice. Using their finger or an unsharpened pencil they can practice writing letters and words.
3. Finger paint with your child’s favorite flavor of pudding. Clean up is as easy as licking their fingers!
4. Cut a piece of butcher or parchment paper to fit the cookie sheet. Add a few dollops of different colored paint in random places. Have your child place a couple of marbles on the cookie sheet. While holding the cookie sheet in their hands they slowly move it back and forth to allow the marble to roll through the paint. Makes a unique design on the paper that makes a handsome display when dry.
5. Make some homemade play dough (see recipe below) dig out some cookie cutters and a plastic knife and watch your child craft cakes, cookies, pizza and pancakes.
Let’s Make Play Dough!
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
Food coloring
Mix dry ingredients in a saucepan. Add oil, water and food coloring and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when dough begins to pull away from the sides of the saucepan and forms a ball. Pour out and knead a few minutes. Store play-dough in a plastic bag or airtight container.
WARNING: Use of play-dough can cause creativity to go wild!
BONUS TIP: Need a gift idea for a child with a summer birthday? Head to a dollar store and purchase a shiny new cookie sheet, magnets, play dough, plastic utensils, cookie cutters, markers and a pad of paper. Add a gift bag and a card and you’ve created a one-of-a kind gift for under ten dollars.
1. Grab the magnets from off of the refrigerator and encourage your child to create a picture by arranging them on the cookie sheet. Don’t forget to snap a photo of your little one’s masterpiece.
2. Line the cookie sheet with a layer of rice. Using their finger or an unsharpened pencil they can practice writing letters and words.
3. Finger paint with your child’s favorite flavor of pudding. Clean up is as easy as licking their fingers!
4. Cut a piece of butcher or parchment paper to fit the cookie sheet. Add a few dollops of different colored paint in random places. Have your child place a couple of marbles on the cookie sheet. While holding the cookie sheet in their hands they slowly move it back and forth to allow the marble to roll through the paint. Makes a unique design on the paper that makes a handsome display when dry.
5. Make some homemade play dough (see recipe below) dig out some cookie cutters and a plastic knife and watch your child craft cakes, cookies, pizza and pancakes.
Let’s Make Play Dough!
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
Food coloring
Mix dry ingredients in a saucepan. Add oil, water and food coloring and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when dough begins to pull away from the sides of the saucepan and forms a ball. Pour out and knead a few minutes. Store play-dough in a plastic bag or airtight container.
WARNING: Use of play-dough can cause creativity to go wild!
BONUS TIP: Need a gift idea for a child with a summer birthday? Head to a dollar store and purchase a shiny new cookie sheet, magnets, play dough, plastic utensils, cookie cutters, markers and a pad of paper. Add a gift bag and a card and you’ve created a one-of-a kind gift for under ten dollars.
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