This Grandma has collected Science Daily reported Baby Studies for over a decade and recently wrote a post on six of the best that include easy to incorporate tips during interactions with your baby and toddler grandchildren and to pass along to their parents.
I also collect Science Daily reported studies on preschoolers. There are three preschooler studies that I know will make the parents of our preschool age grandchildren lives better. Please pass this along to the parents of our preschool age grandchildren.
HOW TO PREPARE A PRESCHOOLER FOR A SHOT AND DOCTOR’S VISIT
We grandparents hope that the COVID vaccine will be available for our younger grandchildren soon. When a preschooler receives a shot, knowing what to do and say before and after, what not to do, what not to say is significant, and can prevent needle phobias which start about age 5, according to the study. The study published in Science Daily July 13, 2021 gives “What you say in the first minute after a vaccine can be key in reducing a child’s distress: New study finds it’s not just what say, but when you say it that can keep preschoolers calmer during vaccinations.” This is a very large study, which this Grandma finds more helpful to rely upon.
The good news is that most, about 75% of children will calm down within two minutes of a shot. According to the research, the more distressed the child is before the shot, the more distressed they will be after the shot, so it is important to try to calm and distract children before giving a shot, such as allowing the child to watch a video on a device while staying close to the parent. In the first minute after a shot, parents should physically calm the children by hugging, cuddling or holding them, and not say anything. Only once the preschooler gets over that initial minute of distress, distraction back to the video, or 2coping-promoting statements, such as ‘you can do this’ and ‘it will be over soon’ or trying to distract them with talking about something, such as the video, will work to calm the child.
In the same vein, a previous study published in Science Daily earlier in 2018 on preschoolers fearing doctor visits gives tips and reinforces “[s]teps to educate children ahead of a visit can help them develop expectations about what will happen so the interactions will feel familiar and alleviate fears,”
WHEN INTRODUCING NEW FOODS TO PRESCHOOLERS, MAKE IT A HANDS ON EXPERIENCE
In a May 30, 2018, Science Daily published study, Sensory based introduction to fruits and vegetables: bake with them,
Sensory-based food education given to 3-5 year-old children increases their willingness to choose vegetables, berries and fruit, according to a new study. Sensory-based food education offers new tools for promoting healthy dietary habits in early childhood education and care, which makes use of preschoolers’ natural reliance on all of the five senses when learning new things: by looking at, smelling, tasting, touching and listening to new things.
This study led to “savory sensory learning” tips published by many sources. One of the best is published by Penn State which gives easy methods to follow and recipes to try.
This sensory learning is something we grandparents, in addition to their parents, can easily incorporate in our play with our preschool age grandchildren.
TANTRUMS HAVE MEANING AND SOME TANTRUMS ARE MORE CONCERNING THAN OTHERS
When I was a parent, I hated when my preschoolers had tantrums. As a grandparent, I tend to get down to their level, look them in the eye and say how cute they are and how much I love them. It really confuses them. Tantrums do not bother me. Remind the parents of our grandchildren that temper tantrums are common and normal in young children.
However, an older December 19, 2007, Science Daily reported study, identified five types of tantrum behavior that appeared to be connected with depression or diagnosable disruptive disorders, and are of concern. The study found certain behaviors during tantrums can lead to diagnoses of ADHD and other disorders, and gives detailed information about behaviors during tantrums to be concerned about.
The three preschooler studies I found by reading Science Daily concern common issues and concerns with that age group. I know will make the parents of our preschool age grandchildren lives better. Please share the post.
Joy,
Mema
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