Crisp winter air, brisk exercise and rosy cheeks; cold-weather activities like skiing, sledding, snowboarding and ice hockey seem to epitomize wholesome winter fun. It’s true; these activities promote fitness and allow kids to burn off pent-up winter energy. But according to Kevin D. Walter, M.D., a sports medicine program director at a children’s hospital, parents are often shocked to learn about the dangers involved. With rates for winter sports injuries climbing, Walter and other health experts are now warning parents to take precautions to keep their children safe when they participate in time-honored winter pastimes like skiing and sledding.
Spending more time indoors means kids, and adults, are exposed to more pesky germs, viruses and bacteria. Getting sufficient sleep, staying hydrated and active are important to maintaining good health over the winter months, but making small dietary changes can help prevent winter colds and keep your family healthy all year long.
As a new mother and optometrist, I understand the important role parents play in the eye and vision development of their infant. Healthy eyes and good vision contribute to helping infants see well and prevent developmental delays. There are three steps I encourage parents to take when it comes to vision.
As a parent, you are an expert at scaring away the monsters under the bed or vaporizing the boogieman in the bedroom closet, but have you banished the dangers in your seemingly benign medicine cabinet? Beyond the obvious advice that all medicine should be stored securely out of reach of children, here are some potential dangers you may not have considered.
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