#mind works

Cellphones and screens are both a blessing and a curse.  They can be beneficial in distracting our kids, teenagers, and partners when we are trying to complete a task.  They can keep someone busy on a particularly long car ride.  Or they can be used as a way to reward good behaviors (all smiley faces at school for the week means 30 extra minutes of screen time on the weekend!).  But are we handing our kids the screen and giving them free rein or are we being involved in what they are allowed to watch and what content they are absorbing?

Even though someone is logged onto and watching TV through a site that is labeled for children (Kids YouTube, Cartoon Network, etc.), its important that we continue to monitor what are children are watching instead of setting them loose.  

The Huffington Post outlined a few guidelines for parents to follow when it comes to letting their children use screens/television/social media:

1.       Do you know what services and websites your child is looking at?  If you are unsure how to use the apps or access this information, have your child show you.  Especially with the use of Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media outlets, monitoring who and what are children are looking at is helpful in blocking harmful messages from getting through to them.

2.       Have you set reasonable rules for use of screens, television, and the internet for the house? Consistency and creating limits for how much time is spent on media devices can be key in managing other behaviors and help in developing social skills as well as fostering movement and entertainment outside of media appliances.

3.       Create a space for children and teens to be open about their problems on the internet or otherwise.  If you child comes to you with a concern about their media intake, instead of banning the media altogether, work with them to problem solve and take next steps in order to prevent re-occurrence.

4.       Do you know who your child is visiting online?  Just like we want to know who our child is spending time with in the real world, it is important to get an idea of who and what your child is spending time with online.  

Many parents approach us about concerns that their child may have ADHD.  Parents are sure their child is inattentive and/or hyperactive.  Yet, when they bring their child in for testing, that child often has not eaten prior to coming, brings snacks of chips, candy, and cookies, and have not had the proper amount of rest the night prior.

1. Has your child had a comprehensive vision test? Your child’s lack of attention could be due to not being able to see what the teacher is writing on the board.

2. Has your child had a comprehensive hearing evaluation? What may appear to be ignoring, tuning-out, or day-dreaming may be due to your child not be hearing what is being said.

3. Does your child get a good night/restful sleep? If it takes more than 30 minutes for the morning fog to lift for your child, your child may have poor sleep hygiene or sleep apnea.  Before seeking a sleep study for sleep apnea, implement our suggestions about sleep hygiene.

4. How is your child’s diet? Are they eating mainly processed foods high in simple carbohydrates and artificial ingredients? Try replacing processed grains with whole grains, reducing sugar intake and adding more omega 3′s to your child’s diet.

5. How consistent is your parenting? Is your child receiving different messages from parents and caretakers about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable? How consistent is each parent in what they expect of the child? It is imperative that parents and caretakers communicate a clear and consistent message to their child so that the child is not confused about when and where specific behaviors are permissible.

I've walked thousands of no-one's shoes, only to end up eating feast with the gods and goddesses I created in my own bed.

We sang to the Selena, the Moon, on lonely nights, when even strangers were too woke to listen.

Pulse of magnetism coursed through our bloodless bodies as we created Time as an endless vine, ever ripe with the fruit of our conversation.

Light, as once created, being an illusion for those thought mortal, in need of guidance in desperate loneliness.