Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Summer 2020

Perhaps you have a youngster who is good at soccer. Or maybe basketball. And that’s the only sport he or she wants to play year-round. Specializing in one sport may seem like a good idea if your child loves the sport and wants to excel at it. But sports specialization can come with a price. When kids—particularly young ones—stick to playing only one sport, they increase their risk for overuse injuries, such as stress fractures or shin splints. They’re also more likely to burn out and stop playing sports altogether. Keep sports fun and healthy What can you do to help your children stay active while minimizing their risk of an overuse injury? The American Academy of Pediatrics and other experts say: » » Wait until your children are at least 15 or 16 years old before you let them play just a single sport. Encourage them to try a variety of sports. » » Keep in mind that kids should not train more hours per week than their age. Children also should take a minimum of one day off per week. » » Even your teenage children should not play any sport year-round. They need at least three month-long breaks from sports they play exclusively. Kids and sports: Variety is best Need a primary care provider (PCP) for your child? Our PCPs are accepting new patients. Call 417-328-6010 for an appointment. Most kids love sweets. That’s a given. But health experts recommend that children (and adults!) limit the amount of sugar in their diet. That can be pretty difficult when you consider how many foods contain added sugars and the fact that sugar comes in many forms, such as: » » Agave syrup. » » Cane juice and cane syrup. » » Corn sweetener and corn syrup. Help your child eat fewer sweets So how can you limit the amount of sugar your child eats? Here’s some advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Read food labels. Look at how many grams of added sugars are listed. (Hint: 4 grams equals 1 teaspoon.) Don’t automatically give so-called health foods a thumbs-up. Carefully check out how much sugar is in things like smoothies, granola bars and yogurt. Be choosy about beverages. Offer your kids milk and water to drink instead of fruit juices and sodas. Avoid using candy as a reward—especially as an incentive to eat healthier foods, like vegetables. Find a balance. If you put a hard ban on sugar, your children won’t learn how to balance their choices when they’re old enough to make their own food decisions. Some sweets in moderation are perfectly fine. » » Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands. In a pinch, cough or sneeze into your elbow. » » Try hard not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth. These are places where germs can enter the body. » » Wear a cloth face mask in public (for kids 2 and older only). BE PREPAREDTO RIGHT ANY RUMORS, XENOPHOBIA AND BLAME As COVID-19 has spread around the globe, so have myths and misplaced blame. Listen to your child’s concerns about COVID-19 and correct any confusion. You can find accurate and current info at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coronavirus disease website. Sadly, some people may say wrong and hurtful things, like blaming groups of people or their products for the virus. If other people say such things, talk to your children about why those things are wrong to say. Remind your kids not to spread rumors. JUST BE THERE FORTHEM It’s always important to give your children lots of love and attention, but they may need a little more of it now. » » Dextrose. » » Fruit juice concentrates. » » High fructose corn syrup. ➜ citizensmemorial.com 7