How parents, children should discuss the facts of life

“Mom and dad, where did I come from?”

Every young person will ask that someday, and parents may have a hard time coming up with an appropriate answer.

Dr. Megan Moreno, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, says discussions between parents and children about sex should be open and honest.

She says discussions should be set up a little like business meetings: set aside time and get rid of distractions such as cell phones, computers or television. 

Moreno also advises against “lectures” on sex, and encourages parents to get feedback from their kids on what the young people have learned that may or may not be true.

“Don’t consider this a talk; consider it a series,” she says. “Start having these discussions as soon as your child starts asking questions and add more information to the conversation over time.”

“Ask for their thoughts and opinions, ask what information they have heard from other sources, discuss your family’s values, and why they are important,” she says.

Moreno also recommends parents direct their children to reliable sources such as a teacher, doctor, legitimate Web sites or books that may offer more information.

Sports legend wannabe? Keep it in perspective

So your child has exceptional skills when it comes to hitting a baseball or throwing a football. In today’s world of 24-hour sports channels, these kids may live in a fantasy world where they think following in the footsteps of Derek Jeter or Tom Brady is inevitable.    

An assistant professor of orthopedics and pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health says it is the responsibility of adults and coaches to make sure kids have realistic expectations about their sports “careers.”

Dr. Alison Brooks says there’s nothing wrong with a child being an excellent athlete, but parents and coaches need to clarify that their talents are not an automatic ticket to the major leagues or the NFL. She believes adults should stress other benefits from playing sports.

“Sometimes, we as a society have lost focus on why kids should play sports,” she says.

Brooks adds that sports also get kids into the habit of daily physical activity that could carry on into adulthood.

Avoid the Tipping Point

Children who enjoy the adventure of climbing up furniture, cabinetry and other household fixtures are putting themselves at risk for injury.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 3,000 children younger than five years old were treated in emergency rooms for injuries relating to TV tip-overs in 2005. Eighty percent of deaths caused by television or furniture tip-overs involved young children.

“Children are naturally curious and love to climb on furniture, but our roles as caregivers must include supervision and taking simple steps to decrease the risk of injury from furniture tip-over,” says Nan Peterson, R.N., a child-safety expert at American Family Children’s Hospital.  

Peterson says unstable furniture should be secured to the wall or to the floor with brackets, screws and straps.  Also, items that may tempt kids to climb such as remote controls or toys should be removed from tops of televisions or pieces of furniture. Electrical cords that may be used to pull TV’s, stereos, and other devices off furniture should be kept out of the
child’s reach.