Cold and Flu Myths: Sorting Fact from Fiction

It starts with a sniffle -- next thing you know, the whole household is sneezing, coughing, and passing tissues.  Before long, the common cold, or worse, seasonal flu, is upon you.

 

According to the CDC, up to 20% of the population gets the flu each year. The Mayo Clinic cites the common cold as the number one culprit of stay-home-sick-from-school days in children.

 

While you can't completely germ-proof your child, you can separate fact from fiction to keep your family healthier, and save time, money, and frustration. Start by putting some of the more common myths and misunderstandings to rest by reading about the top 3 cold and flu related myths.

 

Myth #1: The flu vaccine causes the flu

Truth: Getting a flu shot may cause symptoms that feel like the flu, but the viruses contained in the flu shots have been killed, or "inactivated." which means they can't cause infection. While there may be some achy side effects that can sometimes follow the flu shot, it just means your immune system is responding and processing the vaccine.

 

Myth #2: You're more likely to get sick if you're cold

Truth: Despite mom's warnings that you should bundle up, being cold does not cause a cold. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, infections prevail in winter months because they are spread when more people stay indoors for longer periods of time and are in closer contact with each other.

 

Myth #3: Hugging and kissing are great ways to spread cold and flu germs.

Truth: Cold and flu viruses like to enter the body through the nose or eyes, so a hug or a peck on the cheek isn't likely to be dangerous. Don't be afraid to give your sick child plenty of affection, and don't worry that a kiss or hug will spread your germs to him (or vice- versa).

 

Many parents recognize The Little Gym locations as safe and clean gyms for children. We work hard to ensure each and every visit lives up to your expectations. Daily and weekly cleaning and sanitation helps keep our environment sparkly and keeps the germs away. 

 

Here’s where you can help. As with any other illness, we ask that you do not come to class if your child is coughing, sneezing, or has had a fever within the last 24 hours. Our generous make-up policy allows you to attend a make-up class by simply calling us prior to the absence.  Stay well!

 

 

"Parenting Resolutions" for the New Year!

Each New Year is a new opportunity to focus on making positive changes in your life. While this is a great habit for everyone, it’s especially important for parents. Why? Because the choices that you make not only benefit you, they have a direct effect on your child’s health, too!

Here are 3 parenting resolutions to consider for 2012:

1.  Instill a love for physical activity. Physical activity provides countless benefits. So, it’s important to help your child develop healthy habits at an early age. In addition to gymnastics, The Little Gym has several physical activities for kids, such as Sports Skills and Dance, which can help your child develop a love for an active lifestyle.

2.  Establish healthy eating habits. Keep healthy, yummy snacks on hand and set an example for your child with your own food choices.  Planning low fat meals that follow the government's MyPlate guidelines and involve your children in meal planning and shopping is a great place to start. This allows you to reinforce your child’s healthy meal options and helps children discover new foods and flavors.

3.  Focus on your child's positive behaviors. Like adults, children respond to favorable comments and adopt behaviors that gain them attention. Try to get in the habit of catching your children “at their best.” Providing encouragement for good behavior or for achievements in sports or other physical activities is a great way to motivate children to maintain good habits.

While you help your children develop healthy habits, don’t forget to make resolutions for your own health as well. In fact, consider resolving to get some well-deserved “me” time this year. Planning some time away from the kids should be considered a necessity rather than a luxury. Plus, brief separations are beneficial for kids as well. Time away helps foster a feeling of independence and builds bonds with other adults such as grandma, a favorite neighbor, or The Little Gym instructors. And if you need a parents night out, our Parents’ Survival Nights have got you covered!

As we start the New Year, we’re thrilled to have helped so many children to develop an appreciation for fitness and fun with our classes.  We’re still taking enrollment for students that want to join for the 2012 Season. For more information, or to schedule a free introductory class, please contact a team member at 916-625-0185 today!

Halloween can be scary!
This is the first time my child has expressed interest in things that are scary.  It's strange because I'm so used to feeling the squeeze grip on my leg.  I guess she is maturing, she feels more confident and really understands that the scary images are just pretend. 
 
Comforting and lots of explaining ususally helps fears but sometimes Halloween can be especially difficult.  If you can look behind the mask and show them that it is a real person, that will help too.  Don't worry though, it will pass, and then you'll miss that time when they leaped into your arms when they felt frightened.   
 
Join us for a non-scary Halloween event at The Little Gym.  Sunday, October 30 from 4:30-6:30.  It will be a spooktacular time!
 
 
The Number #1 at The Little Gym
The #1 rule at The Little Gym is to be safe.  How do you do that as a parent?  There are so many different levels and answers to that question depending on the age of your child. There is physical safety of course.  When they are so little, we are concerned with keeping them from getting seriously hurt from falling off a bed, climbing the counters in the kitchen, scaling the highest place in the play structure! Of course at The Little Gym we are lucky to have those squishy mats to cushion their fall.  And, we teach them how to fall safely, yes there is such a thing.
 
But when they get older, you have to start thinking about the other ways to keep them safe.  Talking to them about strangers and how to use their instinct, that if something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.  Who's Your Hero is an important camp for children ages 3-8 because we teach children how to be safe in a whole different way.  Rocklin police department helps us teach it in a fun, educational way.  Thanks to Rocklin Fire for helping us educate kids about fire safety too, another safety talk with the children to support all the efforts we as parents make at home. 
 
What do you need to do to teach your children about safety?  What stage are you in? 
How do Father's affect the lives of their children?
It is an interesting question.  My husband has brought something to the table. Well, it is more than just something.  Let me give you some examples.
 
When I think about the boys, I think about how I can turn to my husband to ask questions about their physical energy.  How boys need to wrestle, which helps me understand when they can't keep their hands off each other!  Or how our tickle fights can help release some of that "boy" energy.  How he helps to model success as a productive part of the work force.  The boys look at him and wonder what they will do when they grow up. 
 
When I think about how he interacts with our daughter, I realize how powerful those moments are for her future as she shapes her opinions about men through her father.  How a father/daughter dance one day may reflect how she deserves to be treated by her future boyfriends or husbands.  Of course she is only 4 years old now, but I think about it.
 
I value that time my husband spends with the kids because what he gives is different and will help them grow up to be more balanced.
 
What will you do this weekend to honor your husband or the father of your child?  
Baby Blog
It seems like a lifetime ago that we had our first baby.  Everyone says it.  I didn't really believe it but it is true.  It goes so fast, appreciate every moment, every smile, every giggle.  Soon they won't need you as much, they will become more independent and you'll look at them and wonder where those days went.  For those of you who know me, I have 3 children.  My first baby is now 12 1/2 finishing 6th grade.  He has been counting the days when school is out (which is only today and tomorrow, he reminds me.)  From crawling to walking to running cross country. What is next? 
 
This is my newest baby, my blog.  I'll write my thoughts and share some of yours.  I don't really know what to expect, just like being a new parent. 
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