Buying Kids' Headphones

                     

               You won’t find them for sale in most stores.  Sales staff at your local retail outlet won’t know what you are talking about.  Still, there really are some safer alternatives when it comes to kids’ headphones and sound products. Consider this; one in five kids will have some degree of noise induced hearing loss by the time they are teens.  MP3 players, loud videogames, and other noisy entertainments are all culprits.

What features should you look for when buying kids’ headphones?

·        Don’t let appearances fool you.  Just because a product is being marketed to kids doesn’t mean it is safe for kids.  One national chain with several Denver retail outlets targets teen and preteen girls exclusively.  They sell headphones that don’t stint on the rhinestones but lack safety features.  One of the most popular brands of teen headphones boasts model names like Crusher and Slayer and that’s what they do to young ears without the proper education.

·        At the very least, headphones should be noise cancelling.  One reason kids turn the volume up is to drown out environmental noise around them. If you must buy over the counter headsets, “ear can” style headphones that fit over the ear are preferable to earbuds. 

·        Even better are decibel-limiting headphones.  They have a maximum volume of 85 decibels, the upper limit of safe listening.  Above 85 decibels, permanent hearing loss is possible.  The higher the decibels, the less the exposure time needed for permanent hearing loss to occur.  Etymotic, a leader in safe technology, makes the ETY Kids brand.  Kidzsafe by SMS Audio is another good brand.  Vic Firth, has long been a crusader for hearing conservation.  The company’s founder did a lot of research to create a headphone that would be safe for his own child to use.  Kidphones by Vic Firth are decibel limiting and also sound pressure reducing.

·        “Bone phones” are another alternative. Delicate ear structures conduct sound, of course, but hard, study bone also does a great job.  Luckily, the best bone in your body, your skull, is handy! These high tech headphones bypass the ear canal entirely without affecting sound quality.  iHeadbones is compatible with all devices that have an audio jack.  If  you order online use the event code “DOUGLAS” for free shipping.

Ordering information:

iHeadbones--order online http://iheadbones.com/products.html(use code DOUGLAS for free shipping)  phone: 888-866-0807

Vic Firth—order online http://www.vicfirth.com/products/headphones.php phone: 617-364-6869

Etymotic—order online http://www.etymotic.com phone: 1-888-etymotic

SMS Audio http://www.smsaccessgranted.com phone: 561-278-2323

Whistle While You Work? Maybe Not

               Every day Americans head off to work to clock in at some very risky occupations.  Firefighting, storm chasing, smoke jumping, refereeing peewee soccer, and mowing the lawn are a few.  A recent study found that coaches and referees who use whistles are more likely to suffer from symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss than people in the general population. Regular exposure, even briefly, to sounds above 85 decibels can lead to permanent hearing loss. Nearly half of the referees who participated in the survey reported ringing in their ears after a game, which is a symptom of damage to sensitive inner ear cells that can lead to irreversible damage. “During fast paced games or rival matches my ears would hurt from the whistle,” says one Highlands Ranch coach. That’s a warning that the sound is too loud and potentially harmful.

               Your kids were right all along. Chores are bad for their health.  Many teens find themselves on lawnmower detail at home or take lawn jobs during the summer to earn extra money.  A lawnmower emits 90 decibels of noise.  That’s not bad compared to a jet engine which emits 150 decibels.  Still, prolonged and repeated exposure can cause permanent hearing loss. Power tools, video games, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and MP3 players are other common household items that pack a wallop.  “It really doesn’t take much to accumulate a decibel load,” says composer and music producer Janis Page.   “Add traffic, planes, sirens, and other environmental sounds to the offending noise source and it really adds up.”  If you want to measure the noise around you yourself, there is a free app for android and iPhones called SPL Meter.

               “Most parents don’t realize the decibels their kids are exposed to each day,” says Tobey Stein of the Douglas County Parenting Coalition, “And hearing protection is a topic many people don’t know much about. I used to think I was the cool mom because I took my kid to hear his favorite rock bands with the amps cranked up.”  While researching the topic of hearing protection, she went to her local electronics store to check out headphones for kids and teens.  “The salesmen there could talk about sound balance and other features of their products but when I asked them about safety, they looked at me like I had just landed from outer space,” Stein recalls.
   

               Fortunately, hearing loss is very preventable.  “The very best headphones are the ones that aren’t anywhere near your ears,” says Stein. Still, some sound products for kids and teens are much safer than others. “Don’t be fooled,” says Claudette Anderson of Prescriptions For Success, “Just because an MP3 player has fuzzy bunnies on it, that doesn’t mean it’s safe for kids.” Technology has made hearing protection cool. There are some good high fidelity music earplugs on the market for very little money. They dial down the decibels at concerts or clubs without distorting the sound.  “Girls will think the guy with the ear gear is with the band so it has added advantages,” laughs Stein.

Mothers' Day

Stacy Hladek is a counselor at Families First

Mother’s Day is this Sunday.  There are likely to be lots of articles to suggest ways to honor your mom or help your children honor their mom.  I would like to take a different approach and speak to moms directly.  Give yourself permission to pat yourself on the back and to take a break.  Parenting is both the toughest and most rewarding job in the world.  This is a good time to remind moms (fathers too) that you have to fill your own bucket before you can fill up others.  Remember the example given on airplanes, you must put your own oxygen mask on before you help others.  If you do not, you are going to pass out and not be helpful to anyone.  In fact, you could hinder someone else as they try to care for you.  Please don’t “pass out” figuratively.  

The emotional temperature in a home is usually set by mom.  “If momma, ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy!”  Often times this phrase is taken to mean mom is in charge and things will go her way or there will be issues for the whole house.  However, I would like to suggest that what it really means, or should mean, is that mom is the barometer in the home.  Research shows that children learn about emotions and how to express them by reflecting how their primary caregiver handles emotions.  Just think about the last time you were tired, isn’t that just the time your toddler decides to throw a huge fit or your teenager was moody for no apparent reason?  It is time for you to take care of you so that you are able to take the best care of the rest of the family.  

Pat yourself on the back and give yourself permission to take a break; it is worth repeating .  Often times, moms have a hard time doing this for themselves.  Treat yourself the way you would your best friend.  Tell your “best friend” to take a break or not to be so hard on herself.  This is also a great way to model self-care for your children. I can hear the collective, “yes, but”, now.  Yes, but I don’t have childcare or I don’t have the money.  Try swapping childcare with another mom.  “I will take your kids this Monday, if you will take mine next Monday.”  Just establish the rule that this is for down time, not to go do your spring cleaning or run errands.  Use the extended family.  Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and god parents, are great mentors for our kids and are often more than willing to keep the kids for an hour or two.  Take a nap or hot bath while the kids are napping.  Make an arrangement with your partner for one night a week to be their night to care for the kids or one weekend day a month for you to get to sleep in while the rest of the family goes to get donuts.  Check with your local churches and community centers, they often have a mother’s day out program that is free or very low cost.  

Figure out what your favorite way to re-charge is and then work on a plan to make that happen at least once a month.  In doing so, you will be and even better mom.  Healthy, happy moms tend to raise healthy, happy children.  Happy Mother’s Day and thank you for all the little things you do each day to raise our future!

When Toddlers Attack!

Stacy Hladek

Families First

 

I recently spent an afternoon with a good friend, who has a toddler.  While we were talking about parenting she told me her son has started biting his baby brother.  My friend said nothing she or her husband had tried is working.  Her son bit another child at childcare this week for the first time

Biting is a behavior that many toddlers display at one time or another.  It can be something that makes the adults feel frustrated and helpless.  There is hope! 

Whenever a child is having a behavioral issue adults should start by increasing positive interactions with the child, such as catching them being good, increasing affection, and increased praise.  Often times this will be all that is needed to decrease the negative behaviors.

If the biting continues to be an issue the next step is to try to prevent the biting.  Give the child a teething toy that can be used to bite on when needed.  Also increase adult supervision when the child is around other children.  Do not keep the child from interacting with other children, but make sure the adult is close and can help with the interactions.

What to do when a child does bite someone else:

1.)    The child who was hurt gets the attention.  Make a big deal about their owwie, hug them, give them an ice pack, or wash the hurt body part.  The child that was aggressive should be kept in eye sight so that he is not going off and hurting another child, family pet, or himself.

2.)    Once the above is completed, the adult should take the child who was aggressive gently but firmly by the hand and remove him from the situation.  One brief statement such as “teeth are not for biting” and then no other words or attention should be given to the child.  The adult should use a firm voice, but not yell or raise their voice.

3.)    The child should be away from everyone else for a minute or two, but in eye sight of an adult. 

4.)    Once he is calm, the adult will give him a hug or pat. 

5.)    As soon as the child who was hurt is ready and the child who was aggressive is being safe, and adult should help the two make-up. 

 

For more ideas on aggressive behaviors in children of all ages, ways to support your family, and other parenting tips call the Family Support Line at 1-800-CHILDREN (800-244-5373) OR 1-866-Las-Familias (866-527-3264) for Spanish speakers. You can also e-mail stacy@FamiliesFirstColorado.org with questions or concerns. The Family Support Line offers parenting tips, resources and information only and does not serve as legal or mental health advice. We believe the adult(s) raising the child is the expert on that child and knows what is best for their family. Comments provided by non-Families First individuals are not the opinion of Families First.

 

Kids And Technology

Kids and Technology

By Stacy Hladek

Did you know that you could have a stranger in your home right at this moment that you are completely unaware is present?  If you or anyone in your home is communicating online or through texting with someone you do not know personally, then you are opening your home to a stranger.  Technology can be a wonderful tool, but it also can open our families, our children included, to new dangers.

A recent poll indicated that 90 percent of middle and high school student have a cell phone.  With the growth in technology and the growth in the number of youth using the technology, parents need to add new parenting tools to their tool box.  It is important that parents are teaching their children the appropriate way to use the technology and then to routinely monitor to ensure their children are doing so.  A local principal sent out an email with great parenting tips regarding cell phone usage, I have added a few ideas of my own.     

• Technology contract- Prior to the child being given a device let them know what the expectations are and how you plan to monitor their usage.  It might be helpful to put this agreement in writing and get signatures from your child.  If they already have one of these items you can still implement a contract.    
• Technology schedules- Devices, including cell phones, should be checked in with parents at bedtime to prevent children communicating through the night.  Often times it may not be your child that is initiating contact after bedtime, but if a friend does it may still disrupt your child’s sleep. 
• Building Accountability-Parents should have username and passwords for all of their kid’s devices and accounts.  This should be checked routinely to ensure that your child has not changed the passwords without telling you. Randomly monitor all of their technology.  Make sure you are reviewing their text messages, emails, etc.  Check the time they send them, who they are corresponding with, and what they are messaging.  Check the browser history on the internet browser.  See what web sites your child has been visiting.  If your child is checking their devices in at night, parents can easily check the daily activity. 
• Social networking- Check their social network accounts.  If your child tells you they don’t have a Facebook account, it is possible they are not telling you the truth.  Almost every middle school and high school student has a Facebook account, Instagram account, or some other social network account that we may not have heard of.  Review their postings, get your own account and use the parent controls. 
• Photos and videos- Check the photos and video files on your child’s devices.  Make sure there is nothing inappropriate.  And if there is, discuss with them the ramifications of taking some of the photos/videos they might be taking.  Check their Instagram photos.  This is where kids post pictures on the web and make comments about photos.  It is important that kids understand that once a photo is posted online or sent in a text message it is in cyberspace forever. 
• Apps- Check the Apps they download.  Make sure they are appropriate apps, and take the time to know what the apps do.  Many apps that kids download are for adults and have tracking devices on them.  There are social network apps and dating apps that track the location of the phone.  There are no filters or restrictions when kids download an app.  It is important to ensure no one is tracking your child. 
• IPods and gaming systems- Did you know that iPods now have a camera that takes photos and videos?  IPods and many gaming systems, including the hand held ones, are also able to make phone calls and access the internet now.  Make sure to check all their devices. 

For more suggestions on using technology safely, additional ways to support your family and for other great parenting tips call the Family Support Line at 1-800-CHILDREN (800-244-5373) OR 1-866-Las-Familias (866-527-3264) for Spanish speakers. You can also e-mail Sarah@FamiliesFirstColorado.org with questions or concerns. The Family Support Line offers parenting tips, resources and information only and does not serve as legal or mental health advice. We believe you are the paramount person to decide what is best for your family. Comments provided by non-Families First individuals are not the opinion of Families First.

We Will Never Have All The Answers

Talking to your kids about violence, trauma and loss:

 Many, many people have and will be affected from this horrific morning in Conneticut where our most precious, our most innocent have been slain. No words are entirely adequate, however here are a few tips to support parents and caregivers during these extremely difficult times.
     All people experience trauma and hearing about trauma differently. Here some suggestions for talking to your kids about what they hear on the news and from friends and how to address common fears and concerns: “The American Humane Association offers these tips for parents and other caregivers to help children cope with the fear and uncertainty caused by the Connecticut school shootings: 

* Keep an eye on children’s emotional reactions. Talk to children – and just as important – listen to them. Encourage kids to express how they feel and ask if anything is worrying them.
* Regardless of age, reassure them frequently of their safety and security, and reinforce that you, local officials, and their communities are working to keep them safe. Older children may seem more capable, but can also be affected.
* Keep your descriptions to children simple and limit their exposure to graphic information. Keep to the basic facts that something bad happened but that they are safe. Use words they can understand and avoid technical details and terms such as “smoke grenades” and “sniper.”
 * Limit their access to television and radio news reports since young children may have trouble processing the enormity of the experience, and sometimes believe that each news report may be a new attack. * Be prepared for children to ask if such violence can occur to them. Do not lie but repeat that it is very unlikely and that you are there to keep them safe.
* Watch for symptoms of stress, including clinging, stomachaches, headaches, nightmares, trouble eating or sleeping, or changes in behavior.
* If you are concerned about the way your children are responding, consult your doctor, school counselor or local mental health professional.”

Sarah Senst
Families First


For more ideas on talking to your children about violence, tragedy and loss and for  more ways to support your family and for other parenting tips call the Family Support Line at 1-800-CHILDREN (800-244-5373) OR 1-866-Las-Familias (866-527-3264) for Spanish speakers. You can also e-mail Sarah@FamiliesFirstColorado.org with questions or concerns. The Family Support Line offers parenting tips, resources and information only and does not serve as legal or mental health advice. We believe you are the paramount person to decide what is best for your family.

Letting The Gini Out of the Bottle

 

The front page headline of the March 2, 2012 edition of Parker Chronicle proclaimed the fact that Douglas County has one of the highest median incomes in the United States. It’s true that both median and mean income is well and away above average but that is only part of the story. Per capita and other indexes paint a more complex picture. Per capita income is a measure of what everyone would receive if all income were divided equally among everyone in the county. The disparity between the much higher median income and much lower per capita income indicate a particularly uneven distribution of wealth in Douglas County. For example, in Arapahoe County median minus per capita income was about $9,000. In Douglas County the difference was in the ballpark of $54,000. The Gini Index is a tool specifically designed to measure income inequality in communities.

Another column in the same issue of the paper illustrates why we cannot afford to simply stuff the Gini back in the bottle. This piece was a mention of the Empty Bowl fundraiser for the Women’s Crisis Center. It would be difficult to look at one of those empty bowls without thinking of Donna Royer, a Parker woman who was gunned down on Main Street by her spouse. It’s entirely possible that lady was aware of all the domestic violence resources and help available to her and she chose not to take advantage of them. It’s equally possible she was not. Research done by the Omni Institute in 2009 found that many Douglas families did not know how to find help when they needed it or services were not in place when they were needed. Because of the perception that Douglas County folk are economically self-sufficient and doing fine, even the wealthiest families had trouble finding help for challenges such as having a child with a disability, divorce, mental health issues, or substance abuse. The myth of self-sufficiency makes residents reluctant to ask for help, public bodies to mandate it, or private grants to fund it.

As we all know from folktales, genies are sly creatures who can wreak havoc on the unwary. Like those desert wraiths, the Gini can run amok in Douglas County unless we get it firmly by the tail.

 

Article Contributed By:

 

Tobey Stein

Oracles @ Insourced