Health Parenting
by gleefulblogger

Motivating Your Child for Healthy Oral Health

November 13, 2018
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Motivating Your Child for Healthy Oral Health – The oral health is one of the greatest assets that we have as it has a great impact on the overall health apart from contributing massively to the creation of first impressions.

As it is such an important aspect of our daily lives, the oral health should be taken care of and the earlier it starts the better. It is for this reason that oral care should start right from an early age.

But do kids understand the significance of oral health? Does the very sight of the toothbrush make them run away?

It is a challenge to motivate the kids to take care of their oral health. To the youngsters, even a couple of minutes of lost playtime seems to be a huge sacrifice.

So if your kids absolutely despise to care for their pearly whites, here are some of the ways in which you can motivate them to do so. Just read on.

Let the Kids Choose their Toothpaste and Toothbrush –

Make the toothbrushing fun by letting the kids pick their toothpaste and toothbrush. There are a plethora of different kinds of toothpaste and colorful toothbrushes available that your kids will love. To make the oral care more fun toothpaste are available in various flavors. That along with a toothbrush inspired by their favorite cartoons can motivate the little takers to take care of their oral health and keep their mouth healthy. They are more likely to brush sincerely when they get the toothbrush and toothpaste that they have chosen for themselves and know they like.

Brush the Teeth Together –

oral health care

You should make brushing a family activity. It is a general tendency for kids to imitate whatever their parents do blindly. Thus, an effective way to make the kids brush their teeth is by making the act of brushing a practise that the entire family does together. You should represent the good oral hygiene by practising brushing and flossing in front of the kids. Then encourage them to try the same themselves. The kids will be compelled to emulate the oral hygiene practices depicted by their parents for the same reason that they tend to dress up like their parents. Once you start doing this routine together with the kids you can also keep an eye on whether the kids are brushing properly or not.

Turn the Toothbrushing into a Game –

dental care kids dentists
Photo by Eddie Kopp on Unsplash

Kids enjoy playing games and so you can turn the toothbrushing into games. You can tell stories about why toothbrushing is important for the kids. You can also make up stories about how the plaque monsters are killed by the superhero toothbrush. So, make them excited about taking care of their teeth by using your imagination.

Purchase the Hand-held Flossers in the Fun Colours –

The colourful hand-held flossers are quite eye-catching and can encourage the kids to floss at night post brushing. Anything that can inspire the kids to practise their oral hygiene in a fun way can assist them to establish the healthy habits that are for life and which will help them to take care of their oral and overall health.

Create Reward Systems –

At times, the little ones may just need some rewards for brushing their teeth. To help make the process easier, you can opt for incentives. You can devise a sticker chart and make the kid pick a sticker and put it on the chart once they have brushed twice for a month in the right way. Your kid can be convinced by the prospect of a reward.

Use the Educational Tools –

oral health among kids

Kids have a tendency to pay closer attention to the messages that arrive from sources other than the parents. The educational tools play a crucial role in the implementation of healthy habits. The oral hygiene becomes more important to the little ones when they play mobile games, watch videos regarding why brushing and taking care of the oral health is important. As a result, through them, they realise the significance of oral hygiene tasks and why they should learn them.

Apart from the above, you should also consult with the pediatric dentist of your kids so that you can make them more aware about their oral health and teach them to take care of it in a proper manner so that they can flaunt a beautiful smile with confidence whenever they want.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE –

© Dipika Singh. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dipika Singh (Gleefulblogger). With the right and specific direction to the original content.

DISCLAIMER –

The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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How to Deal with Personal Grief

August 16, 2021
18

How to process grief – Grief is the emotional pain and suffering you feel when you lose something or someone you love. It is one’s natural response to loss.

The pain that comes with grief and loss can be overwhelming as a person goes through many emotions, like anger, denial, disbelief, sadness, guilt, and more! Suffice it to say that coping with grief is probably one of life’s toughest challenges.

“Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.”

Earl Grollman

No matter what your loss is, there is no right or wrong when it comes to how you can grieve for them.

Talking about grief, we often relate the word with our feelings after losing someone we love dearly. However, grief is way more than that! It is how your mind handles the loss of many things such as:

  • Loss of job
  • Miscarriage
  • Death of a pet
  • Constant health issues
  • Retirement
  • Loss of financial stability
  • Selling your family home and many more

Each of these reasons will trigger different levels of grief within you, and there are many ways to handle it effectively and move forward in life.

Me, My Grief and I – Understanding how to process Grief

The past few months have been tough on me, both on the personal and professional front. Issues with my health, the loss of my parents-in-law, and the final nail in the coffin, the recent pandemic. Like most of us out there, I have also been grieving, and it has taken a toll on me, both mentally and physically.

So here I was, looking up different methods and strategies to deal with personal grief. That is when I saw this interesting video on YouTube, a talk by Nora McInerny, a writer, and podcaster. McInerny spoke a great deal about how important it is to change our approach to dealing with grief in the video.

Source – YouTube TED Channel

Her approach to managing grief is simple enough to say in words but is quite difficult to follow through with all the obstacles laid out for us. But what she said in the video changed me completely and inspired me to stop wallowing in my own self-pity and get on with my life.

“We do not get over grief by moving on, but by moving forward with it.”

“Not all wounds are meant to heal.”

It’s incredible how a few lines by a complete stranger can touch your heart and soul, right?

Let us now look at the five stages of grief and discuss a few pointers to help you deal with grief more effectively.

An Insight Into the Five Stages of Grief

As someone looking to overcome their grief and get back to normal (well, almost!) or medical professionals attempting to heal the aggrieved, you must first understand the typical trajectories or phases of grief. The five-stage model by Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is one of the most commonly referenced grief stage theories.

According to Dr. Kubler-Ross, there are five stages of grief.

Denial: This stage helps buffer the shocks and numbness that you would go through when the individual refuses to accept the loss and come to terms with it.

Anger: Once the initial denial wears off and the reality sets in, it would cause individuals to get angered fast and lash out at anyone and everyone.

Bargaining: This stage is about trying to reason or negotiate this loss with falsities using specific statements, especially ones that begin with “what if”.

Depression: This stage happens when grief starts creeping into your life, leaving you more sad and depressed.

Acceptance: Once your emotions are sorted out and stabilized, you can enter the real world so you could come to terms with the loss.

PS: Remember, you do not have to go through each of these stages in precise order, but consider it as a reference point to figure out what exactly goes on in the mind while you are grieving.

“There is no typical response to loss, as each one’s grieving is as individual as their lives.”

Ways to Cope with Personal Grief

Grief, like loss, is an inevitable part of your life. It is essential to know how to overcome the pain of losing something or someone and come to terms with what is grieving you.

Let us talk about tips that can help you pick up the pieces and get on with your life.

  1. Acknowledge that you are in pain
  2. Accept that grief can make you feel different
  3. Understand that each individual comprehends grief differently
  4. Seek out help from professionals over loved ones
  5. Take good care of yourself both physically and mentally
  6. Understand the differentiation between grief and depression

The grieving process is like taking a rollercoaster ride (with ups and downs, highs and lows!!)

Easy steps to follow to feel better while grieving

how to process grief

1. Cry it out!

As opposed to some people (who insist on suppressing their tears), bawling your eyes out can be pretty cathartic. Studies indicate that crying is a self-soothing behavior and suggests that tears can release stress hormones and set you back on the path to psychological homeostasis.

2. Do not assume that grief can be quantified

There is no one way to deal with grief. Each one of us handles grief differently. Just accept this fact and try to work around it to move on.

3. Ask for help for coping with grief

Well, this is pretty obvious, right? If you can’t fix the problem yourself, you can always seek help from professionals or even loved ones keen on lending their support while you are grieving. Have you heard about grief counseling, check more details here.

All you need to do is reach out to the right people, and you will be well on your road to recovery.

4. Join a support group

“We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world — the company of those who have known suffering.”

— Helen Keller

Grief can make you feel upset and lonely even if you are surrounded by people who love and care for you. And no one deserves to endure grief all by themselves. Sharing your thoughts and worries to people who have gone through the grief you feel can help immensely.

Joining a support group can help you do that.

5. Keep your mind occupied

You can try out some fun activities or pursue hobbies to keep your mind busy and eventually make you feel a lot better, even if you are grieving.

A fixed ritual like drawing, art journaling or reading, can help you cope with the pesky emotions that drag you down and stop you from letting go.

6. Remember your loved ones

One of the most insensitive things people say to others who have lost someone they love is to forget what happened and move on, this is not how to process grief. However, a better approach to handling grieving people is to talk and share positive thoughts about the person you lost or go through their photographs to remember them long after they are gone.

This eventually helps the grieving process and ensures that the individual feels better.

7. Get some me-time

People who are grieving often end up lazing around or binging, negatively impacting their mental and physical health. A healthy dose of me-time can help you take care of yourself better.

Parting thoughts:

Grief is associated with the loss of something or someone, and it is part and parcel of our life. However, all of us handle grief differently.

In this post, we have discussed grief and how to process grief so you can move through it and carry on with your life.

This post is part of Blogchatter Half Marathon challenge and CauseAChatter.‘

To read the previous posts from the challenge, click here.

Copyright

©Dipika Singh. This article is the property of the site’s author. Any unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links are used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dipika Singh (Gleefulblogger). With the right and specific direction to the original content.

how to talk to kids about periods

How to Talk to Your Child About Periods – A Short Story

January 8, 2017
0

Talking to kids about the inevitable physical change in their bodies makes most parents and kids uncomfortable, but it is the most crucial task assigned to parents. As kids need to be trusted and should be provided with the right and reliable information, who better than parents can do this job righteously! Talking to your child about periods for the very first time could be a tricky thing, but with little help and confidence, one can achieve it well.

A short story on Talking to your child about Periods for the very first time

Shantini was in the middle of her phone conversation when she saw her 9-year-old daughter Sumedha fiddling with a tampon packet. The same packet shopkeeper has just delivered promptly by wrapping it in a newspaper and then in a brown bag (as if it’s a weapon of mass destruction being smuggled through a border to destruct the peace and harmony of a nation) pun-intended.

Shantini took the packet from Sumedha’s hands and hid it under her Saree’s aanchal to take it inside the confines of her room. Stunned by her mom’s reactions Sumedha asked her granny –

“Dadi uss packet kya that?” (What was in that packet, grandmom?)

“Teri mummy ki davai”, her grandmother replied without blinking an eye from her favorite daily television drama. B

But now this little brain is racing at the speed of an F1 sports car engine equipped with extreme concern she went to Shantini’s room, and with teary eyes, she asked her mother, ‘Mumma aapko kya hua hai; why do you need medicine’. (mother, what is wrong with you, why do you need medicines)

‘Nothing child; let me go to the kitchen, it is late already and grandmom is waiting for her dinner.’ replied Shantini, dodging the little interrogator’s eyes.

With a whirlpool of questions inside her brain and concern for her mother’s health, Sumedha went to bed, but her curiosity made her restless.

In the morning she asked her father; “Papa what is wrong with mom, why is she taking medicine please tell me I love mom so much”. Riteish (her Dad) could not understand the origin of the question and hence look for some help from his wife.

Shantini came forward and told Sumedha – ‘nothing is wrong with me beta, I am all right. We will talk about this later when you come back from school, TRUST ME!‘ Shantini looked at her little daughter- who was eagerly finishing her cereal to catch up on the school bus, and thought how she’s grown so fast, it was like just yesterday when she conducted a home pregnancy test and when the two red lines shyly, swiftly confirmed her happiness. How she went to labor and got her own bundle of joy wrapped in pink happiness.

Sumedha became her life’s most precious gift, with her each milestone – her first word, first fallen tooth, her first step, first school, first achievement, her first girly fights, and many such firsts…. now she has to prepare Sumedha for her first PERIOD.

She finished up her daily chores and sat on the computer to search the expert advice on:

How to explain a girl child about her very first menstrual cycle – expert opinion only

talk about periods to your child

She read and researched the topic from reliable medical sites, presented journals, and kid-friendly books, and spoke to her friends to understand their point of view on the subject.

Some write-ups talk about the intense explanations of Uterus and Egg, whereas a few mention the hormonal changes. Taking a cue from the internet she made a mental plan to explain things in her own style and manner.

During their evening stroll by the park, she asked Sumedha to sit next to her by the bench and held her small hands in hers to explain, ‘Beta, you are almost 10 years of age now and you are my princess and dad’s little doll, but our bodies grow with time. See you are already as tall as I am!’ Sumedha felt so proud of the fact that she was going to be as big and smart as her mother.

Shantini added further, ‘When we grow many things happen inside our body, girls get fuller body….ummm… very soon you will notice a change in your body and we will have to buy new dresses for you.‘ As a kid, Sumedha was excited to know her wardrobe will upgrade and she will get to wear better clothes.

‘Not only the clothes, but you will also see a change in your interests, you might like to listen to pop music or start watching new programs on the television. This change is very common and happens to everyone. Even I am Dad went through this phase, and trust me it is a lovely experience.

As your body changes and gets ready for a bigger you, there will be little changes outside too. You will get some blood from your private parts, which is absolutely normal (even Mumma gets it); it’s a sign that our bodies are healthy and ready to enter the new phase of adulthood. Every month, your body will discharge some blood, which needs to be discarded away. So, when you see red spots on your underwear or clothes, don’t panic just tell Mumma, Dad, or your class teacher; if you are in school.

No need to be worried, or scared, this is absolutely normal.

Sumedha: Will it be painful, Mumma?

Shantini: Not that you can’t handle! Remember, when you fell down while playing football, and your knee was bleeding. You didn’t shed a single tear though I was scared. You kept smiling all the while, doctors were bandaging you. So, you are my strong girl, and it will not be painful to you, just a little uncomfortable in the beginning. Always remember, we are always with you – me, Dadi and Dad are always there to help you, sweetheart. 

Sumedha: Dad too!

Shantini: Yes of course, how he takes care of you when you get temperature or cold. Just in 5 days, you will be back in your regular routine. You can do all your regular activities, except only those which make you feel exhausted. You have to take care of your personal hygiene during these days, and I will explain to you how to use Sanitary Napkins/Pads to keep you dry and your clothes clean. You might get dull or feel low on energy, but that’s how our big bodies recharge themselves every month. 

From now on, we will be best friends forever…. you will share all your worries and doubts with me and I will do the same.

Reliving from all her doubts, Sumedha hugged her mother and said…Mumma, I love you. Shantini smiled and said you are my special princess, don’t get troubled by any unnecessary talks about this new change called “Menstruation” whenever you have doubts talk to me. Your mom is always here to help you out and always remember, bleeding is a healthy sign.

Writer’s thought:

It is up to the parents how to make this transformation occur happily and without any confusion for their children. It’s always good to explain and give the right information to our girls before the occurrence of the first Period, as young minds get confused with too much information from unreliable sources.

Thanks for reading, hope you like the idea of making this transition feel hassle-free for kids and parents alike. If you have any feedback please share it in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This blog post is written for MyCity4Kids Mumbai Chapter.

Copyright

©Dipika Singh. This article is the property of the site’s author. Any unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links are used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dipika Singh (Gleefulblogger). With the right and specific direction to the original content.

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