Raise confident kids

Self –confidence is a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, judgment, and value. Some children seem to be born with coyness and a lack of self-confidence. Dr Arti Anand, consultant psychologist with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital says, “A shy child will hesitate to make new friends and clings to the mother when she meets new people or in new situations. She will not talk to people who come at home.” Regardless of the cause, you can help your child build a healthy level of self-confidence. It helps your child to develop mentally and emotionally.

Positive parenting means responsibility of a parent to help a child grow with self-confidence. Dr Anand points out, “Such children become back benchers and resist to respond to teachers because they are afraid of any spot light shining on them.”

Road to confidence

1. Be proud parents. Be proud of your kids and show that pride. Be proud of what your child is and express that pride. Knowing that you’re proud of her, she will always refrain herself from going on a wrong path and will never hurt your expectations. This will definitely build her self-esteem.
2. Trust her! Trust, as we all know is “earned”. You must start building trust between you and your children. Nothing builds confidence in human beings like trust. Though it is not always easy for a parent to feel sure of their children’s abilities, start with small and realistic steps that are agreed upon and carried out.
3. Praise her. Appreciation works more than criticism. Parents often speak without thinking. Statements such as, “You’ll never get it right,” or “Don’t be so stupid,” may seem harmless when spoken, but they send a negative message to your child that contributes to a low self-image. Dr. Anand advises, “Build your child’s self-confidence by providing frequent, genuine statements of praise. Tell your children they are special, that you love them even when they fail.”
4. Perfect role model. Children learn a great deal by watching the role models in their lives. Parents are the first and the most important role models. Do not put yourself or your spouse down in front of your children. Be the perfect role model for your little angel.
5. Help them to choose right. Give your child choices. Being able to make decisions is something that your child will have to do all throughout life. Such decision-making skills will give your child confidence in her ability to make her own choices, as she gets older.
6. Admire your toddler. Respect your child's interests, even if they seem boring to you - take a genuine interest in your child's friends, and what's happening at school, and comment to show you're listening. “All the children should be given a chance to participate in plays, sports etc. Teachers should be polite and kind while expressing a failure rather than shouting and screaming at them,” suggests Dr. Anand.
7. Self-dependent kids. Don’t do things for your child that he or she can do alone. Children need to learn to take care of themselves and they learn this through hands-on experience. By knowing appropriate developmental stages of your toddler, you can identify which tasks he or she can safely do without your help. In the end, this will help build self-confidence.

My ear hurts.....

It can be difficult to tell, but if your child has a cough or runny nose and then suddenly develops a fever for three to five days, it may be caused by an ear infection. Ear infections are among the most common illnesses of early childhood. Three out of four children have had at least one ear infection by age 3, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Dr KD Gupta, Consultant ENT Surgeon with Sir Gangaram Hospital discloses, “The ear cavity internally opens into the upper part of the mouth cavity - one on each side by a tube like structure. This tube allows ventilation of the ear cavity. In young children the tube is short, wide and straight and this allows easy spread of infection from nose, nasopharynx (upper part of mouth cavity). This is the reason that young children are prone to ear infections.”

However he is quick to mention that children most affected are between 3 to 7 years of age. This is because babies are often fed improperly (whether breast fed or bottle fed). Dr. Gupta even points out, “ During feeding a baby's head should be raised. If babies are fed lying flat, milk regurgitates easily from the mouth into the ear and an infection sets in.”

Symptoms

Ear infections can be hard to detect, especially if your child is too young to say, "My ear hurts." Children with ear infections may:

• Tug or pull at their ears
• Cry more than usual
• Have trouble sleeping
• Fail to respond to sounds
• Be unusually irritable
• Develop a fever
• Develop fluid that drains from the ears
• Have headaches

Treatment options

Your child's treatment decision depends on several factors including:

• Your child's age
• History of previous infections
• Whether your child has any underlying medical problems

Most ear infections safely clear up on their own without any antibiotics.

“By 7-10 years of your baby the Eustachian tube (the tube mentioned earlier) becomes larger, narrower and less straight. Hence there is a less chance of ear infections,” Dr Gupta adds.

Normally, treating the pain, steam inhalation and allowing the body time to heal itself suffice. Curing the infection may need a dose of antibiotics. When giving antibiotics to young kids, follow the dosage, schedule and your doctor’s advice strictly.

Watch out

Dr. K.D. Gupta warns that recurrent infections can impact hearing. He says, “Children with persistent ear infections do run the risk of hearing loss. If a child turns the volume of TV high and does not respond properly are warning signs for parents warranting an evaluation of the ears of the child by an ENT specialist.”

Prevention

• Protect your child from secondhand smoke. Keep your child at bay from smoke. Stay in smoke-free environment.
• Breast-feed your baby for at least six months. Breast milk contains antibodies that offer protection from ear infections.
• Ask your child's doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar). Studies indicate that it slightly reduces the risk of ear infections as well.
• Try to limit the use of any group childcare. Children in childcare settings can easily spread germs to each other.
• Washing your hands often. Hand-washing stops infection from spreading by killing germs.