4 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO TO PREPARE FOR H1N1

Prepare for Kids staying at home:

Since there's a strong chance that some schools could be forced to close for a time because of the flu, start getting your child-care plans ready in advance.

Practice Proper Hygiene:

It sounds positively 19th century, but one of the best ways to keep yourself safe from the flu-or any infectious disease- is to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. Clean surfaces at home and at the office as well-flu viruses can survive on them for up to 48 hours.

Stay Home if you're Sick:

Workplaces and schools are nexuses of infection. One sick worker or student can come in and spread the flu to all his or her colleagues. If you or your child has flu like symptoms, stay home and stop the chain of infections.

Don't Panic:

Virologists like to say the only thing predictable about the flu is its unpredictability. At this point, we can't be sure how severe H1N1 will be in the fall. But overreaction will only make it worse.

Source: Time magazine

If you have any comments or would like to share your parenting experience, please email: youandchildren@gmail.com.

Visit: www.youandchildren.blogspot.com for more articles on parenting.

Help Young Children recognize and avoid sexual abuse

Young children are more susceptible to sexual abuse as they may not be able distinguish right from wrong. We have to accept that even in countries like Singapore manipulators and child abusers do exist. It is one of the important duty of the parents to make sure that their children are well informed and are less likely to become victim of sexual abuse.

Young children need to be aware of the differences between good and bad touch. If you’re too uncomfortable discussing aspects of sexual abuse with your youngsters, there are videos and booklets on safe touch available from most public libraries and pediatricians.

The most important component to protecting your child from any form of abuse is frequent and open communication. Parents are now finding difficulties in communicating with their children due to various reasons like no time to spend with their children as they are busy with their work
or they don't try to come down to the level of their children's interests and topics of common interests between them etc.

Through regular communication with your children, you develop and maintain a trusting relationship and they become more comfortable sharing their problems with you. As a parent, you must also be vigilant. Stay in tune with your children’s feelings and be aware of any dramatic changes in their mood or behavior.

For any comments or to share your parenting experience, send email to: youandchildren@gmail.com.