Even if it’s a little icky, many people let their dogs lick their faces. Of course, there’s an obvious yuck factor, but are there actual health reasons to refrain from dog kisses?
The answer turns out to be more complex than we expected.
Dogs lick their owners for a variety of reasons. They may be playing, tasting, or seeking attention. Though there are many possibilities, Patty Khuly VMD told Vetstreet, “The bottom line is that most of the time, dogs will lick their people as a sign of affection.”
There are certain situations in which face-licking is definitely not okay.
There are a few instances in which experts agree that it’s not a good idea to kiss your dog. Shelly Rankin, PhD, an associate professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, warned that babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and people receiving chemotherapy should beware of puppy kisses.
These groups all have compromised or underdeveloped immune systems and may be more susceptible to disease transmission.
Rankin added, “Anywhere the skin is broken, there’s potentially a risk,” which means if anyone in your family is struggling with acne, your pooch’s face-licking needs to be strictly discouraged.
Certain diseases can spread easily from dogs to humans.
A study published in the Archives of Oral Biology found that periodontopathic bacteria (which are basically disease-causing germs in the mouth) are transmitted between dogs and humans. Veterinarian Francoise Tyler told MSN that “If a pet has medical issues such as periodontal disease or intestinal parasites, there is a risk for cross-infection.”
In an interview with People, Dr. Mehmet Oz pointed out that through scavenging, a dog could pick up giardia, hookworm, tapeworm, or salmonella. If you smooch your dog right after a walk, those germs could make their way onto your face or into your mouth.
That being said, there may be some benefits from trading germs with your pets. A 2012 study showed that babies who lived with dogs had lower instances of respiratory illness.
Of course, the dogs weren’t necessarily licking the babies in the study, so canine kisses still aren’t exactly vindicated.
Whether their kisses are dangerous or not, dogs’ mouths are grody.
“There is a myth that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than human’s mouths, and this is blatantly untrue,” Dr. Katy Nelson toldReader’s Digest. “The average American human brushes and flosses their teeth twice daily and I don’t know too many canines that live up to that.”
Anyone who’s taken a dog on a walk knows that they stick their snouts in less-than-sanitary places. A garbage can that other dogs have peed on is one of the most desired sniffing spots, which should tell you a lot about dogs and hygiene.
But sometimes, a little dose of ick is a good thing.
Kim Kelly, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studies the possible health benefits of microbe transfer from dogs to humans. She believes that contact with dogs could have a probiotic effect on humans.
In the course of her research, Kelly has found that adults who had contact with dogs had better immune systems and improved emotional well-being. However, it’s not clear exactly what causes those benefits.
Kelly has heard anecdotes claiming that dog kisses have healed people but is also aware of cases in which dog saliva caused serious illness. She hopes to learn more about the health effects of trading microbes with canines, but for now she remains skeptical when it comes to whether kissing your pup is a good idea.
“People need to be cautious,” she toldUSA Today. “We just don’t know enough at this point.”
When I bought my wedding dress, I knew I had broken a big rule of wedding dress shopping.
Even though the consultants at David’s Bridal had warned me to do otherwise, I left with a dress that was two sizes too small.
In the end, it worked out in my favor: I lost 20 pounds and was thrilled about how I looked in my dress on my wedding day.
Still, I can’t help but laugh when I look back on the dress shopping experience. I was 19 years old, newly engaged, and completely clueless when it came to the “dos” and “don’ts” of wedding dress shopping.
Half an hour into my fitting, my consultants were visibly annoyed with my lack of dress knowledge, the fact that I had done zero research, and especially that I was wearing the “wrong” undergarments. (Apparently a sports bra is not the ideal choice for a sweetheart neckline. Who knew?) istock.com/Bosca78
Despite all that, I had to be one of the easier brides in the store. I tried on four dresses and was was on my way with my chosen gown in under 60 minutes.
Still, a wedding dress just might be the biggest clothing purchase of a woman’s life, and there are a lot of dress-shopping expectations most brides-to-be don’t know or understand.
Perhaps one of the biggest misunderstandings out there is that working in bridal sales is a magical experience in which fairytale moments take place every day.
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But—you guessed it—that isn’t the reality.
In fact, bridal store employee and Reddit user quesaritoqueen recently started an Ask Me Anything (AMA) thread to set the record straight. Like many Reddit users, we were intrigued, so we dug into the industry to verify her claims.
Here’s the best advice we got from insiders.
1. Leave your bridesmaids at home.
For some brides, shopping for a wedding dress quickly transforms into in all-day event, complete with lattes, a restaurant reservation, and the attendance of every member of their wedding party.
Although it might be common practice to bring your bridesmaids along for a fitting, Sharon Miller, owner of the Gown Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri, suggests brides-to-be leave the crowd behind.
“You should limit the number of people that you bring to your appointment,” she says. “You want to bring close knit family members and maybe a close friend if you really value their opinion and know they’re going to give you the very best advice.” istock.com/Tomwang112
Outside of those few people, it’s probably best to meet for lunch with the rest of the crew after the shopping is through, since Miller revealed that there simply isn’t enough room for a large crowd to fit politely in most bridal salons.
2. Don’t just show up.
Here’s a dress shopping faux pas newly engaged me certainly committed: showing up at a bridal store and expecting to be seen the same day.
According to Miller, the best approach is the opposite of that: Make your appointment as far out as possible, especially if you are dealing with schedule limitations. istock.com/kokouu
“Once you are engaged, quickly make your appointment with your bridal salon,” she advises. “A lot of bridal salons fill up really fast for the weekends and if there is a certain day you want to shop, say if a close family member lives out of town, it is good to make your appointment far in advance so you can be sure you can shop on the day and time that is convenient for you. A lot the time, stores can’t get you in at the last minute.”
3. Have a vision in mind…
A stylist’s job is to help you find a dress that matches your overall vision for your wedding, according to Miller. She suggests that brides come to the appointment prepared.
Do some research and make a few decisions in advance. Be prepared to discuss your venue (or the ones you have in mind) and other specific design elements you love, whether those are colors, accessories, or the shoes you’re dead set on wearing down the aisle.
“When you sit down with your consultant at your appointment, the consultant is going to ask you questions about fabrics that you like or necklines that you love. Do you like an interesting back? Beading or no beading? All of the information that you can share with the consultant at your first meeting is going to help that consultant to be able to pull the gowns that you love,” she advises.
4. …but don’t be stubborn.
Knowing what you want before your appointment will give your stylist a lot of information to work with when they start pulling gowns, but don’t have your heart so set on a style that you aren’t willing to consider your stylist’s advice. istock.com/PeopleImages
“Brides should always try on multiple styles of dresses,” said Shannon Whitney Anson, founder and principal planner at Destination Upstate. “Even if they love the look of a mermaid dress, they may find out that a mermaid dress just isn’t flattering for their figure. Being open minded to try on a few dresses that might not look as good on the hanger may turn out to be the perfect dress on their body.”
5. Know when to say no.
If you are going to avoid any one mistake while being fitted for a dress, make it this one.
Don’t try on dresses you can’t afford!
Many bridal shops have gowns intended for a broad spectrum of budgets and it is important that you let your stylists know up front what you can and can’t spend, Miller shares.
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“A lot of salons might have price points from $1,500 and up. If you have a $2,000 budget, you want to let that consultant know that so she’s not pulling gowns and you fall in love with something that’s not in your budget and become unhappy because you can’t have that gown.”
So what about the claims that bridal store employees are trying to coerce you to break your budget? That may depend on where you’re shopping. istock.com/IPGGutenbergUKLtd
No store openly advertises a policy of pushing brides beyond their budgets, but remember, the power to stay out of an overpriced dress (No—you shouldn’t even try it on!) is in your hands.
6. Realize you’re not the only one feeling the pressure.
As a bride-to-be, you’re feeling pressured to find the perfect dress, stay within a reasonable budget, and dodge the awkwardness of winding up in something that makes you feel, well, awkward.
On the other side of the equation is your consultant, who, depending on the setting, might be working under an oppressive commission structure that has them more stressed out about their next paycheck than charmed by your vision for the big day. istock.com/kkshepel
The fact of the matter is, some big bridal chains really do operate under intense commission models.
In her AMA thread, quesaritoqueen shared that the pressure to make a sale, no matter what it took, was a common expectation from management. istock.com/M_a_y_a
According to another former bridal chain employee, consultants at the store where she worked are paid minimum wage plus a 20 percent commission on all their sales. However, they don’t make a penny in commission unless they have met a sales goal of $10,000 within their two-week pay period.
Since the average dress at at this particular insider’s chain cost $500, a consultant would have to sell at least 20 dresses every two weeks to make more than minimum wage. istock.com/shironosov
“If you don’t hit that threshold, you get zero commission. ZERO,” the former employee explained. “You could make $9,999 in sales, but you would only get paid your minimum wage for the hours you had put in. The ‘best’ part is that if you didn’t hit your target, you would get a warning or reprimand. If you got three of those in a row—so after six weeks of not hitting your target—you could lose your job!”
The result of this type of high-pressure environment is lower quality customer service for brides-to-be and maybe the feeling that you can’t trust your consultant’s seemingly helpful intentions. istock.com/FurmanAnna
This former employee confesses that ultimately brides with higher budgets got the most attention from sales consultants.
“It is true what others said on [the Reddit] thread, that a lot of consultants will mentally check out once they find out a bride has a super low budget, especially if they have a more promising appointment going on across the store.”
7. Shopping local might pay off.
While the thought of getting inferior treatment due to your budget is disconcerting, brides should know that not everyone in the industry is thinking dollar signs as they zip you up, especially not in smaller boutiques.
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Vanessa Diaz, who spent her college years working in bridal sales and now works as a creative consultant, says that her experience in an independently owned bridal store was much more positive.
“I didn’t work for [a] corporate store, so I am not able to speak on their experiences,” she says. “Of course, all stores want you to sell. You make commission off it in many cases. Since I was an independently owned store…I was able to make the customer experience less sales driven.”
Some stores, like the Gown Gallery, which is independently owned and has a reputation for exceptional customer service, eschew the commission-based model altogether. istock.com/SbytovaMN
“We don’t work on commission,” Miller tells HealthyWay. “We never have. I had one bride say, ‘I knew this was what wedding shopping was supposed to be like.’ That’s what counts to us.”
Takeaway: Between researching silhouettes and booking your first appointment, do a little digging to find out which salon in your area has the most personable staff and a business model that will support your shopping experience.
8. Pay attention to the details.
If staying within budget is a big concern, it is a good idea to pay attention to what you’re spending after you’ve found your dress. According to another former bridal chain employee, consultants weren’t explicitly told to push brides to break their budget on a dress, but they were expected to upsell once dress selection had taken place. istock.com/TatianaNurieva
“We were pressured more to sell the ‘extras’ in addition to the dress, stuff that adds up fast… A sash, a veil, a tiara, shoes, all that jazz.”
9. Don’t put it off.
If you are waiting to shop for your wedding dress, maybe until you lose a few more pounds or have nailed down your venue, you could be putting yourself at risk for a wedding dress emergency. A few months might feel like all the time in the world to order your dress and have alterations made, but the truth is, shopping for a wedding gown is completely different from typical clothing shopping. istock.com/sjharmon
“The biggest thing women do not realize is they need to order their dress six months in advance,” says Diaz. “Many manufacturers have them made abroad to your measurements and some will have more custom measurements than others.”
She also suggested that once you have ordered your dress you make your first fitting appointment for two months before your wedding day, just in case you need more than one fitting. istock.com/cglade
Your final fitting should be roughly a month before your wedding day.
10. Consider staying home on Saturdays.
Brides who are looking for a one-on-one experience with a consultant should consider making a weekday appointment, since most bridal stores are swamped on Saturdays. Even independent store Gown Gallery is typically completely booked on weekends. istock.com/jacoblund
“When I’ve had friends thinking about shopping there, I always tell them ‘Do not go on a Saturday,’ because the place is an absolute zoo,” shared a former bridal chain employee. “As a consultant I had three bridal appointments at the same time one Saturday because we were so busy and it was a nightmare for all of us—my three brides, their entourages, and me!”
Each year, a whole slew of brand new baby and pregnancy products are released—so many that sorting through every product on the market can be overwhelming!
Parents have to consider their budgets, child safety, and how much space they can afford to dedicate to baby gear based on the sizes and layouts of their homes. It’s a lot of research for new parents to take on, so we did the work for you.
We interviewed baby safety experts, seasoned parents, and well-known baby-product testers. If you’re expecting a new baby this year—or if you’ve just welcomed one into your family—these are the products that just might change your parenting game.
This easy-install car seat will keep your baby safer than ever.
In order for a car seat to be as safe in reality as it is in the manufacturer’s claims, it has to be correctly installed. Unfortunately, a lot of parents are failing to properly hook up their new seats before hitting the road with their most precious cargo.
In fact, nearly half of infant car seats aren’t installed correctly, according to a recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That’s where the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 DLX Infant Car Seat, can be a big problem-solver, according to Child Passenger Safety Technician Liz Tan.
“The new Graco SnugRide SnugLock Infant Car Seat will surely help reduce this statistic with a hassle-free installation process that uses either a vehicle seat belt or LATCH,” which stands for lower anchors and tethers, Tan explains to HealthyWay. “In three simple steps, parents will hear the ‘click’ and feel confident their car seat has been securely installed.”
The right baby gear can help you survive the witching hour.
Those hours leading up to dinner time just might be the hardest part of the day for moms of new babes. Getting dinner on the table with a baby whose heart is set on cluster feeding and a toddler running underfoot is a hair-raising experience, but in our house we’ve found a few tricks for making it a little easier.
For starters, a good baby carrier is my saving grace as a mom of three with a lot on my plate. Once I get dinner in the oven, I strap my sleeping baby onto my chest (or on my back now that he’s sitting on his own) and dance around the house, playing with my big kids or starting to pick up toys.
But not all baby carriers are created equal. New parents should always look for something ergonomic that will allow them to safely carry their baby and avoid back pain that can be caused by poor distribution of weight.
New to the baby carrier market this summer is the Omni 360 by Ergobaby, which is an all-in-one carrier that can be used for babies as small as 7 pounds and as big as 33 pounds.
If minimalism is your goal, the Omni 360 is perfect because it is literally the only baby carrier you will need from birth to 36 months.
Finally, a healthy, mess-free baby food has arrived.
Speaking of life as a busy mom of three, feeding a new baby and caring for two preschoolers isn’t easy. We spend a lot of time on the go—at the park or running to gymnastics, and I need baby food options for my youngest that I can feel good about and aren’t super messy.
In our house, we love Plum Organics for exactly this reason. Of course, Plum isn’t new in 2017, but the company did release some fresh products I am really excited about.
Their Mighty Colors Tot Pouches are packed full of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
Each pouch is created by grouping together like-colored foods, which is fun for my baby and easy for me since I can just grab a brightly colored pouch without needing to read the ingredient list each time I shop.
Pick a toy your baby can gum on without worry.
Babies put their mouths on just about everything, so it makes sense that so many parents worry about the toys their new babies are playing with.
The new rattle buddies by Finn + Emma are super fun for little ones but also give parents the peace of mind they need. Let’s face it, there is enough to worry about without adding toxin anxiety to playtime.
These toys are beyond cute. The rattle buddies are soft animals and characters with a quiet rattle inside. My littlest has been trying out the Zoe the Flamingo rattle buddy and just loves shaking it all over the place.
I like it because Finn + Emma has high standards for their toys. They use organic cotton and are stuffed with 100 percent wool. All their toys are free of lead, phthalates, mercury, formaldehyde, nickel, and PVC, so I know my baby can safely teethe on their toys as much as his heart desires.
Now you can invest in safe co-sleeping and comfier playtime.
Sleep is a sensitive topic among new parents. Whether you are getting any (or not) and how you are (or aren’t) sleep training your baby are among the sleep-related conversations you can expect to have over and over again during your first year as a parent.
Sometimes babies simply don’t sleep, but there are products out there that make this aspect of having a newborn a little easier. The DockATot had a lot of people talking in 2017. It serves as a safe and snug sleeping option for young babies and is especially great for travel.
“The DockATot was hands down my favorite baby item. It was great for traveling—taking for naps on the go at the grandparents—and for just keeping our little one cozy, comfy and secure,” Lauren Hartmann, mom of three, tells HealthyWay.
“She loved it so much she squished herself in it until she was 10 months old!”
This year, DockATot is back at it with a safe and snug playtime accessory. Their Mobile Toy Arch hooks directly to the original DockATot and was created as a response to parents’ reports that their babies loved spending waking time in the cozy little nest provided by their bed. DockATot
According to Lisa Furuland, the founder of DockATot, the toy arch encourages newborn to engage in activities that build upper body strength by stimulating use of their necks and engages their fine motor skills, which will lead to important milestones during their first few months of life and beyond.
Reach for the easiest way to ease your stairway fears.
In the United States, preventable injury is the the leading killer of kids, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, and each year some 8,000 families in the States lose a child after a preventable injury. These facts alone should make baby proofing a top priority for expectant and new parents.
“We try to encourage people to baby proof before they have their baby,” explained Stuart Babb, a home safety expert at Safety 1st.
“Ideally, you don’t want to wait to do it after three to six months. That is when the baby can start … sitting up, maybe starting to move a little on their own, and we find that a lot of people tend to be reactive, and that is where a lot of kids start to get injured.”
Instead of waiting for something to happen and then beginning to baby proof your home, parents should add this to their “to-do” list before their baby arrives.
Making baby proofing easier than ever is a new product released this year: theReady to Install Everywhere Gate by Safety 1st, which can be fully assembled in a third of the time as comparable competitor gates.
The Kid Transport Solution for Adventurous Parents
Being part of a family that does a lot of hiking with friends, I find myself using the phrase “stroller friendly” an awful lot. That’s because as much as we love our stroller for family walks and days at the zoo, I have yet to find an option that works well for our more adventurous outings.
The Veer Cruiser is the new baby product that is changing the kid transport game for adventurous parents. It’s an all-terrain wagon that can be used for children ages 0 to 5. Armed with cupholders and easily folded for storage, this wagon is every parent’s dream.
“This thing is built to last,” MariClaire, a 34-year-old mom of three and Veer Cruiser owner tells HealthyWay.
“There’s nothing like three boys to stress-test a new product. It feels indestructible, which translates to some serious safety features, which is priority number one. I’m also a big fan of its adaptability. The option to push, pull, or pull-along combined with the array of attachments and accessories make[s] it suitable for any outing.”
Sleep more soundly with this anxiety-easing mattress.
Bringing a new baby home from the hospital is nerve-wracking for parents. There are so many things to worry about, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) finds itself at the top of the list. Although research is still inconclusive on exactly what causes SIDS, parents today benefit from clearer guidelines for safe sleep than ever before.
Still, crib mattresses are a concern for many parents. They are known for not allowing proper air ventilation, and many are covered with potentially toxic flame retardants.
This fall, Baby Trend is releasing a mattress called the Respiro, which they hope will allow for safer sleep for infants and increased peace of mind for their parents. Constructed from mesh fabric that is stretched tightly across a frame, it is the only mattress option designed to offer 100 percent ventilation.
“It’s kind of a game changer in the mattress category,” Meg Collins of Lucie’s List tells HealthyWay. “Most crib mattresses have be[en] a miniaturized version of an adult mattress but with what we are learning about what causes SIDs, Baby Trend created this mattress that is totally breathable.”
Ultimately, the very best pregnancy and baby products are going to be the ones that work best for your family and support whatever lifestyle you want to create for your children and yourself.
Once you have the basics—like car seat safety and baby proofing your home—under control, the remaining choices are fun details you get to explore as part of your new-parent learning process.
In a way, modern parents have it easier than any generation of parents before them. Thanks to advancing technology, we can keep track of our kids, schedule our responsibilities, and even get our groceries delivered to our front doors.
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At the same time, we have more to worry about than ever before. Thanks to the internet, just like most parents my age I have access to more information than any previous generation of parents—helpful things like the dangers my children could be exposed to or how I could totally screw up their childhood with one bad decision.
With just a few minutes spent on social media, I can learn about the risks of letting my child sleep on his belly, I can read the statistics on window blind–related injuries, and I can discover that screen time might be turning my kids into digital addicts.
I try not to get sucked into alarmist articles related to how I raise my kids. I don’t need anything more to worry about, to be perfectly honest. But when I read a recent New York Post article claiming that the amount of time our kids spend looking at screens is turning them into addicts, I couldn’t help but feel concerned.
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We limit screen time in our home, but we definitely don’t avoid it altogether. If I need to get a few things done, I often fall back on a little screen time as a “digital babysitter.” My kids hang out with Daniel Tiger while I get dinner ready or catch up on email; it is one of the conveniences I employ to make my mom life a little simpler.
After I read this article, which likened screen dependence to a substance addiction, I couldn’t help but feel like I have made terrible mistakes exposing my kids to technology so early on and allowing them to use it so regularly.
At the same time, I found myself wondering if this article was extreme, blowing the dangers associated with screen use out of proportion. So I decided to do some research on my own.
Here’s what I found out.
The risks are real.
An article like this is written with a very specific purpose. With its shocking headline and bold claims, the publishers are trying their hardest to get more clicks from internet users. Although he acknowledges that the New York Post used a clickbait headline to grab readers’ attention, Dr. Adam Pletter, a licensed psychologist specializing in screen addiction in children, is clear that the risks associated with overexposure to devices are very real for today’s children.
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“Kids are truly at risk for significant impairment due to the pull of electronic devices in their lives,” he says. “Screen-based activities feel good, releasing dopamine in very similar ways to many other addictive substances and [they] reward us in a compulsive loop.”
According to Pletter, children who use devices too frequently are at risk for experiencing a number of consequences. In general, the most common effects of screen addiction are being highly distractible, experiencing sleep deprivation, or becoming obsessed with thoughts of what they could be missing when they are not using a device.
Some children will begin to use devices compulsively, checking their phone excessively or posting above and beyond what is considered normal.
Screen use is now the norm in many public schools, and teachers see a wide range of consequences from this change. Jace Alphin, an art teacher at Reeds Spring Middle School in Branson, Missouri, tells HealthyWay he has mixed feelings about teaching in a school that provides laptops or tablets to each of their students.
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“I don’t believe it is that aggressive of an addiction or a problem where I am teaching,” Alphin says. “However, I do think parents need to be aware of the issues it can cause. …Most students will respect the teacher enough to put away the device when asked even when they don’t want to (even if they pull it out as soon as the bell rings). On the flip side, there are those students who, with a sense of entitlement will not let go of their device.”
Addiction isn’t the right word…yet.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, is the go-to handbook for diagnosing mental illnesses, including all forms of addiction. At this time, screen addiction has not been added to this manual, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future.
Although the risks of overuse of devices are very concerning, calling it an addiction isn’t technically accurate. According to Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization “dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology,” the truth is that psychologists are still working to agree on a definition of screen addiction.
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Many experts believe that what parents are experiencing in their homes may not be addiction but instead is excessive use that can be expected in an age group known for struggling with self-regulation.
Others believe it is
only a matter of time before current research allows for an official designation of screen addiction along with more revealing information about the relationships that both adults and children have with their screens.
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“The symptoms of feeling uneasy or anxious when apart from the device (withdrawal) and requiring a higher involvement in the digital world to feel satisfied (tolerance) certainly sounds like an addiction profile,” Pletter notes.
The Symptoms That Should Alarm Parents
Whether it is an addiction or simply problematic behavior, we know that excessive use of screens can keep children from devoting time to the things in their life that matter most. It is important for parents to be on the lookout early on so they can address problematic screen use when it arises.
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Pletter says that it is developmentally typical for children and teens to crave experiences that make them feel included and connected with the world around them, so becoming hooked on screens is a high risk when social media is so readily available.
At the most basic level, parents should be concerned when time with a screen becomes a replacement for other childhood experiences, according to Pletter. If your child or teen prefers to be online instead of being physically active, interacting with their peers or spending time outside in nature, this is a red flag that something is out of balance.
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Aside from this, the symptoms of screen dependence can vary from child to child. Some children may become obsessed, ignoring the boundaries their parents have set for them, according to Common Sense Media.
Additionally, the way children think about sex and gender can be heavily influenced by the media they watch. Kids who are prone to rigid gender stereotyping or mimicking problematic behavior such as aggression may be consuming an excessive amount of media that reinforces these harmful ideas about what it means to be a man or woman in our society.
If your child is struggling to focus or irritable when they cannot watch screens, these are also symptoms that your child is a little too attached to their devices.
Avoiding Screen Addiction in Children of All Ages
When it comes down to it, kids of all ages struggle with self-regulation, and parents should see it as their responsibility to help them maintain a healthy relationship with their devices. Although many parents may choose to eliminate screens entirely for younger children, as they grow older a more balanced approach is what experts suggest. The best method, according to Pletter, is one that doesn’t just provide rigid rules but actually trains children to practice self-control.
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“By [parents] having clear guidelines and limits and then mentoring their child to learn and practice better regulation skills, the child will be motivated to earn more digital access as he or she demonstrates more appropriate, controlled behavior,” he says. “Parents should use the tools available, such as [parental control device] Circle, to turn the internet or specific apps on remotely when the child demonstrates better control over their own screen usage, therefore encouraging and reinforcing better regulation and less ‘addiction.’”
Use of screens at school can leave some parents feeling discouraged, since they may not feel they have control over the choices their children make while they are apart. But many teachers are eager to work with parents to encourage healthy and appropriate screen use during school hours.
“It’s these kinds of situations, as far as the classroom goes, that takes the parent and teacher alike to control the technology addiction,” suggests Alphin. “Overall, I truly believe if parents and teachers both realize the potential problems that technology can bring early on in a child’s life, both can work together to make it less of an issue.”
Here’s what to do if your child is already hooked.
If you suspect your child is hooked on devices, you can take steps to help them create healthier boundaries with screens.
Beginning with a discussion about the new family guidelines for screen use is a good start, according to Pletter, who suggests that parents create very clear expectations that are realistic and easily enforced. Additionally parents should remain involved in their child’s online life, getting to know the apps and social media platforms their child is using so they can have regular discussions with their child about their digital life.
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Once expectations are clear, parents can automate enforcement of the rules, which really makes it easier for both parents and children.
“I use Circle in my home,” shares Pletter, who is a child psychologist and identifies as a Digital Parenting Pioneer. “Circle is
brilliant as it allows parents to easily regulate their child’s digital diet and even set time limits for apps.”
Having clear rules automated by a device like Circle, which controls internet use on all family devices through an app, doesn’t just make it easy to enforce the rules. It gives parents the chance to teach their child to learn how to self-regulate media use by slowly increasing screen time limits as the child begins to exhibit more appropriate use of their devices.
Of course, parents who are struggling to make changes to the way their children use technology should never be afraid to bring up their concerns with their pediatrician, who can connect them with a specialist if it seems the child (and family) needs extra support while learning to regulate their relationship with technology.
From Winnie the Pooh to The Lorax, classic children’s books never get old. But every once in a while, kids need something more current to grab their attention. Here are 10 recent books that deserve a spot on your child’s bookshelf.
1. “The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird” A Picture Book by Kim Smith
Follow pint-sized versions of your favorite FBI agents as they search for the truth.
Get it here. Customer Review: “Adorable: that’d be my one word summary of this book. It’s an amusing, light-hearted story that maintains the notable and expected characteristics of Mulder and Scully for parents (or just totally normal adults like me) to reconnect with the original TV series, but also affords the young Mulder and Scully a level of innocence befitting of the children who’d read this book or have it read to them.” – Making Good Stories
2. “Say Zoop!” by Hervé Tullet
The beloved French author/illustrator has created an interactive masterpiece that kids go wild for.
Get it here. Customer Review: “This is a marvelously fun, mesmerizing book that preschoolers will love. As in many of Hervé Tullet’s books, they are a great way to introduce developmental skills to the youngest ‘readers.'” – Deb
3. “Creepy Pair of Underwear!” by Aaron Reynolds
This follow up to the Caldecott Honor–winning Creepy Carrots is just as fun and only a little bit creepy.
Get it here. Customer Review: “My soon to be 4-year-old absolutely loved Creepy Carrots so he has been anxiously awaiting this next story about Jasper Rabbit. We were not disappointed, I’ve lost count how many times we’ve read it since it’s release.” – Amber
4. “Pete the Cat: Out of This World” by James Dean
Our favorite adventuring cat goes to space camp and then to space in the latest installment from New York Times–bestselling author Dean. Even cooler? This book comes with more than 30 space-themed stickers.
Get it here. Customer Review: “Excellent book for early readers. My little girl loves it, and every other book in the series!” – Link
5. “She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World” by Chelsea Clinton
The former first daughter celebrates 13 true stories of women who persisted in the face of adversity. From civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Clinton shares important and fascinating biographies from U.S. history.
Get it here. Customer Review: “I bought this book for my 8 y/o grand-niece. She’s a voracious reader and will love these stories and understand the book’s female power even at her age. It’s well done and engaging to reading. Persistence is so important to achievement. Great topic for young minds.” – BosMA
6. “Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist” by Jess Keating
The true story of a scientist who is anything but boring. Gorgeous illustrations and fast-paced writing keep children engaged in this fun read.
Get it here. Customer Review: “While I’m not necessarily a fan of sharks, I’m a huge fan of Jess’s book! The information she shared through the story she told was spectacular. I paused in quite a few places to just take in the beautiful way it was written. Jess had such a way with words. I can’t wait to show this one to my fourth graders!” – Laura Komos
7. “Quantum Entanglement for Babies” by Chris Ferrie
The perfect book for brainy toddlers. It won’t replace a college education, but it will spark their curiosity and keep parents entertained as well.
Get it here. Customer Review: “I may be an adult but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It gave the difficult concept in quantum mechanics of entanglement, an easy explanation. I wish my college professor had been as clear.” – Carol A. Wagner
8. “Blue Sky White Stars” by Sarvinder Naberhaus
An ode to America’s flag with illustrations from Caldecott Honor–winning artist Kadir Nelson.
Get it here. Customer Review: “BLUE SKY WHITE STARS filled me a sense of pride. Sarvinder Naberhaus’s few but thoughtfully chosen words, paired with Kadir Nelson’s beautiful illustrations, spoke volumes. It will touch children and adults alike. To me, this is a book to share often and is one to remove from the shelves and display in a room. I think anyone who spots it will be drawn to it and be better for reading it. It’s that amazing!” – Penny Parker Klostermann
9. “Nothing Rhymes With Orange” by Adam Rex
An entertaining story about a fruit who feels left out and how his friends come to his rescue.
Get it here. Customer Review: “A delight! I’m always grateful for books that appeal to kids and adults with their humor, and this book fits the bill. Between the ridiculous rhymes (lychee, peachy and Nietzsche) and the running commentary by left-out orange, my kids (2 and 4) and I are still giggling after our eighth reading in a row.” – Ann
10. “What the Dinosaurs Did at School” by Refe and Susan Tuma
The Tumas successfully made the jump from social media to print books with What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night. Now they’re back with a new installment that’s every bit as entertaining as the original.
Get it here. Customer Review: “This book is such a fun idea for kids and I love that the authors began their children’s book writing career staging the dinos for their own children. In fact, my girls are obsessed with dinosaurs in part because of this book. It is also the kind of book I enjoy reading to my kids because of how clever it is.” – Chrystal
