Child Safety: Being Aware Of Your Surroundings
by Shanna R. Cox, M.D., F.A.A.P.
June 21, 2010
During routine childhood examinations there are many complex topics that are discussed. We always start with the basics of growth and development.
An important aspect of childhood development deals with social awareness and response. In young children we watch the interaction with family and peers. This is to see how young patients initiate behaviors and also how their reactions change in response to other’s actions and a variable environment. This type of assessment does not drop off from the list of discussion topics as children age and attend school. Rather it becomes a more complex conversation as children interact more and more with the external world and are not in circumstances under the protective control of concerned adults.
Cell phones, iPOD and other multimedia devices dominate many youngster’s days. It is not uncommon for children or teens to walk into their visit with me having headphones on, or be actively texting on a cell phone. I immediately ask kids to put these aside for the visit. It’s important that I have their attention for their examination, be it a sick or a well visit. I am surprised how often this request is met with resistance. In order to bridge this gap in understanding, I share with the kids my concern for their level of alertness and ability to respond to their surroundings.
The skill of having both self and surrounding awareness is one that parents can teach children from early on. Parents should encourage children of all ages to watch what is happening in front and on the sides of them. They should be aware of their personal space, and should take stock of the people near them, and of the things going on around them. Being tuned in to a device can have a negative impact on a child that may not hear a car coming or notice a person walking closely behind them.
It is very concrete to express this concern with a physical exam as I try to involve children in how their bodies feel both during healthy and unhealthy time. This sense of self, body, and environment is a constantly changing balance that we all must respond to.
Next time we till present several common environments and exercises that parents can use to emphasize and develop a child’s sense of their surroundings.
Copyright © 1997-2009 Intermag Productions | Website design: Copy & Design
THE INFORMED PARENT is published by Intermag Productions, 23546 Coyote Springs Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Contributions to the magazine are welcomed; please address them to the Editor and include return postage. All submissions to THE INFORMED PARENT will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyrighting purposes and subject to Informed Parent's unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially.
The publisher assumes no responsibility for return or safety of artwork, photos or manuscripts, that all rights are currently available, and that the material in no way infringes upon the rights of any person. All columns are stories by the writer for the entertainment of the reader and neither reflect the position of THE INFORMED PARENT nor have they been checked for accuracy.
WARNING: THE INFORMED PARENT or its writers assume no liability for information or advice contained in advertisements, articles, departments, lists, stories, e-mail question/answers, etc. within any issue or e-mail transmissions. www.informedparent.com is copyright © Intermag Productions.
Search Our Article Archives
The Informed Parent Book of the Month
WHERE IS MY MOMMY?
by Mary Kilgore, MSW Mitchell Kilgore, MSW
How do young children cope when a parent leaves? Doesn't she love me anymore? Is she lost? Was it my fault? This 32 page booklet is a valuable tool designed to understand and aid the grieving child.
SOMETHING IS WRONG AT MY HOUSE
b
y Diane Davis
The subject matter is parents fighting. Do they have any idea how destructive this behavior is on their children? And, what is a kid suppose to do about it?
Both booklets are written for the 3 to 10 year olds.