In a Brazilian Town, a Rogue Gene and a Boom in Twins

In a Brazilian Town, a Rogue Gene and a Boom in Twins - For years, so many twins have been born in the small southern Brazilian town of Cândido Godói that residents wonder whether something mysterious lurks in the water, or even if Josef Mengele, the Nazi physician known as the Angel of Death, conducted experiments on the women there.

But a group of scientists now says it can rule out such long-rumored possibilities. Ursula Matte, a geneticist in Porto Alegre, Brazil, said a series of DNA tests conducted on about 30 families since 2009 found that a specific gene in the population of Cândido Godói appears more frequently in mothers of twins than in those without. The phenomenon is compounded by a high level of inbreeding among the population, which is composed almost entirely of German-speaking immigrants, she said.

Tânia Moelmann, in 2009, with her 3-month-old twins, Kiara, left, and Yasmin, in the Brazilian village of São Pedro in Cândido Godói.

“We analyzed six genes and found one gene that confirms, in this population, a predisposition to the birth of twins,” Dr. Matte said.

She was the first scientist to document, in a study published in the 1990s, that the rate of twin births in the town was unusually high. It was especially high in São Pedro, a village of about 350 residents that is part of Cândido Godói. Dr. Matte found that from 1990 to 1994, 10 percent of the births in São Pedro were twins, compared with less than 1 percent for Brazil as a whole.

The high concentration of twins has stirred outlandish theories. Residents say Mengele moved around southern Brazil in the 1960s, posing as a veterinarian, at about the time the twin births were thought to have really taken off. An Argentine journalist suggested in a 2008 book that Mengele conducted experiments on women in Cândido Godói that resulted in a baby boom of twins, many of whom have blond hair and light-colored eyes.

Mengele, who died in Brazil in 1979, was notorious for his often-deadly experiments on twins at Auschwitz, ostensibly in an effort to produce a master Aryan race for Hitler.

But the study led by Dr. Matte analyzed 6,615 baptism certificates dating back 80 years in the predominantly Roman Catholic town and found that the twins phenomenon existed in the 1930s, “long before Mengele’s period,” she said.

“In the initial stages of our research we immediately disproved any involvement with Mengele,” Dr. Matte said.

Her team of 20 researchers also analyzed the town’s water supply — residents believe a mysterious mineral may be responsible for the high rate of twin births — and uncovered no abnormalities.

While studying the baptism certificates, the scientists confirmed that the highest concentration of twins has been in São Pedro, with 33 pairs out of 436 births from 1959 to 2008, all living in a one-and-a-half-square-mile area.

In São Pedro, they concluded their research by analyzing last names and conducting genetic tests on women. “With a small population of about 80 families, it was a challenge to find women that did not have twins within a first-degree relation,” Dr. Matte said.

The scientists believe that a small number of immigrant families living in São Pedro may have brought the variant gene to the region. “This does not mean that it is a universal gene,” Dr. Matte said. “If I take twins from New Zealand and test them, it will probably generate a different result.”

Dr. Matte has yet to publish the results of her findings but was set to present them in Cândido Godói on Friday.

“The entire city supports this study, and they have great hopes of finding out why they have so many twins, and to better understand what is behind their story,” said Daniela Junzvier, the culture coordinator at the mayor’s office. ( nytimes.com )

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What To Do About Gender Identity Issues in Young Kids

What To Do About Gender Identity Issues in Young Kids - For most parents, their child's identification with their gender is not a matter of concern.

Even though we've seen a gradual loosening of stereotypical gender behaviors over the past few decades, most little boys still play with trucks and little girls with dolls. For a very small number of children, however, their gender identity is not as clear-cut; they identify more with the opposite sex than with their own. In the simplest terms, they are little boys who want to be like girls, and little girls who want to be like boys.

Years ago, this behavior would have signaled a serious psychological problem best dealt with by intensive psychotherapy and behavior modification. Today, particularly in more liberal urban areas of the United States, transgender advocates argue that we should let these children "be who they want to be."

The alternative, they say, is to doom them to a life of depression, suicidal ideation, and self-loathing as has been reported in studies of transgendered people. A few states have passed laws protecting the rights of transgendered persons, and New York City is currently considering legislation that will allow them to change the sex on their birth certificates.

Not everyone agrees with this view of gender-variant behavior. Quoted in a recent article in The New York Times, Dr. Kenneth Zucker, Director of the Gender Identity Service of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, opposes the so-called "free to be" approach in which children are allowed to dress and adopt other behaviors more appropriate to the opposite sex, supported by their parents and others in their social circle.

Zucker has treated hundreds of gender-variant preadolescent children. In his experience, about 80 percent of these children "grow out" of their gender-conflicted behavior and do well. His approach is to help them develop a greater acceptance of their natural biology until they grow older and have developed a more stable platform on which to establish their identity.

Many professionals argue and I agree that encouraging a "free to be" approach reinforces gender confusion and encourages behavior that runs completely counter to the mainstream, making these children the object of mockery, derision, and isolation by their peers.

In my opinion, the most important issue in this debate has to do with the fact that children's self-concepts and role behaviors are not really set and can vary until they reach late adolescence. Allowing children to adopt the behaviors of the opposite sex and reinforcing that choice early on may help to minimize their distress over the short term.

But it could also prevent them from dealing with a core conflict that may continue to haunt them for the rest of their lives. By affirming a "diagnosis" of gender dysphoria (the term used by medical professionals to describe this behavior) early on, we may be subtly encouraging the gender-confused child to blame all of his or her unhappiness and disappointments on the transgender issue instead of tackling and working through what may be relatively normal conflicts of growing up. ( lifestyle.yahoo.com )

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Breastfeeding may not be best after four months

Breastfeeding may not be best after four months - Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months is not necessarily best for a baby's health, British researchers said Friday, calling into question advice given to new mothers.

The team led by a paediatrician from University College London said babies fed only breast milk could suffer iron deficiency and may be more prone to allergies.

The study says babies could start to be weaned on to solids as early as four months, although other experts advised sticking to the existing guidelines.

channelnewsasia.com

Ten years ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that infants should be exclusively breastfed for six months.

"Many Western countries, including 65 percent of European member states and the United States, elected not to follow this recommendation fully, or at all," the authors said, although Britain did.

The WHO recommendation "rested largely" on a review of 16 studies, including seven from developing countries.

It concluded that babies given only breast milk for six months had fewer infections and experienced no growth problems.

But another review of 33 studies found "no compelling evidence" not to introduce solids at four to six months, the experts said.

Some studies have also shown that breastfeeding for six months fails to give babies all the nutrition they need.

One US study from 2007 found that babies exclusively breastfed for six months were more likely to develop anaemia than those introduced to solids at four to six months.

On the issue of allergies, the British study said researchers in Sweden found that the incidence of early onset coeliac disease increased after a recommendation to delay introduction of gluten until age six months, "and it fell to previous levels after the recommendation reverted to four months".

The authors said however that exclusively breastfeeding for six months remains the best recommendation for developing countries, which have higher death rates from infection.

But in developed countries, it could lead to adverse health outcomes and may "reduce the window for introducing new tastes".

"Bitter tastes, in particular, may be important in the later acceptance of green leafy vegetables, which may potentially affect later food preferences with influence on health outcomes such as obesity."

The researchers said the European Food Safety Authority's panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies has concluded that for infants across the EU, complementary foods may be introduced safely between four to six months.

Experts in Britain challenged the findings of the new study.

Janet Fyle, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, said: "I really must challenge the suggestion from the review that the UK should reconsider its current advice on exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

"I believe that this is a retrograde step and plays into the hands of the baby food industry which has failed to support the six-month exclusive breastfeeding policy in the UK." ( channelnewsasia.com )

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Does Your Child “Really” Have Attention Deficient Disorder?

Does Your Child “Really” Have Attention Deficient Disorder?. Who do you trust and depend on for your health needs? Let’s take a look at just one issue in the field of health and find out. Where do you stand concerning you and your child’s health?

Did you know that closed mindedness could be detrimental to your family’s health?

For an example: if a teacher told you that your son had Attention Deficient Disorder would you take their word for it? Would you rush your child to a doctor so he can be put on medications for this syndrome, or do you wonder if maybe all the sugar and processed foods might have something to do with his short attention span and hyperactivity?

Don’t get me wrong, we NEED doctors for certain physical conditions, but we do not NEED to act as if doctors are responsible for our total health. If you think like that, then why not call your doctor and ask him if it is ok every time you want to eat a candy bar or some ice cream?

Most people don’t realize how easily they can be made to believe a certain way because they have heard the same dogma about Attention Deficient Disorder over and over in the media. Pretty soon they begin to believe like the masses in that this syndrome called ADDS is a disease that cannot be cured and can only be suppressed with medications. This is incorrect information.

What is the correct information? The correct information is not usually what you would watch on the news or read in some magazines. Some of its true but it’s not the whole picture, and a lot of it is media hype. All you really have to do to discover the truth for yourself is to wipe your mind clean of what it has been conditioned into believing in for years and do your own research.

Step back and take a look into the world and tell me what you see. We see a world overloaded with sugar-laced foods everywhere you turn! Public schools have vending machines with all kinds of junk food to satisfy the taste buds. Kids and adults, alike are addicted to caffeine-laden beverages and other sugary soda pops.

And then parents wonder why their children cannot focus on their studies or why they have emotional outbursts, or why they are hyperactive and doing things without thinking. This dilemma is not just the cause of sugar but white flour, processed dairy products, hormones, chemicals, and the deficiency of nutrients in the body.

I certainly will not blame a deficient disorder on just sugar, but sugar has a lot to do with it. This syndrome should be Labeled NDD (Nutrient Deficient Disorder). Or better yet, SOD (Sugar Overload Disorder.)

Most children are deficient in the same minerals and vitamins because they are difficult to obtain from the foods we eat, such as zinc, magnesium, and iron. Did you know that a tablespoon of black strap molasses would supply your child with the daily iron and calcium his or her body needs? It must be “black strap”. Did you know that soda pops depletes the body of calcium and magnesium?

And then there is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. What’s that? Well it is the same thing we have been talking about except throw in a bit more hyperactivity into the mix. Our bodies just cannot take the constant punishment we put into them. After awhile our body and mind is going to tell us there is something wrong with our way of eating. These are our bodies warning signals telling us to beware of what we are eating on a consistent basis.

I know these things first hand because I have hyperglycemia (low blood sugar). I know when I overload myself with sugary treats, white breads and floury processed foods for just two or three days in a row because I get overly emotional, cranky, headachy, and unable to focus my thoughts properly – I just want to go lay down and sleep. Should I go see a doctor because I am deficient in attention or because I am hyperactive?

No, I’m not going to go see a doctor. I can listen to my bodies warning signals, which tell me there is something wrong so I can change it. I don’t need a doctor to tell me I have a syndrome and then put me on medication – that would be wrong. I think I’d rather take responsibility for my health, and as a parent, I’d rather take responsibility for my children’s health too.

About 85 percent of the population has some form of blood sugar problem and do not know it. Instead they are running to the doctor not knowing what is wrong with them. They are told they are depressed, hypertensive, anxiety ridden, alcoholic, deficient in attention, too hyper, restless in the legs, impotent, insomniac, diabetic, overweight, bi-polar, and mentally insufficient, etc. “Here Take This Drug.”

Does your child really have Attention Deficient Disorder or could it be the foods he or she is eating on a daily basis? You certainly do not have to take my word for it, do your own research on the effects of sugar on the body using these keywords together: depression and sugar and attention deficient disorder and diet and symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Become knowledgeable about your health and your children’s health by opening your mind to other possibilities. Take responsibility and be healthy! ( heavenministries.com )

READ MORE - Does Your Child “Really” Have Attention Deficient Disorder?

The Newlywed Fight Club

The Newlywed Fight Club. Came back from your honeymoon and found out that -- surprise! -- the honeymoon really is over? Here are some common fightin’ words and how to make nice again.

Photo by Veer

"You never nuke the burrito long enough!"

Yeah, you're probably right. But are soggy beans really worth bitching over? Or how they drive, hog the remote, or fold the towels? When you feel like blurting something out, take a deep breath and count to twenty or chill out in another room. Chances are your annoyance will fade (or you'll just realize that it's better to pick your battles). If you attack everything your spouse does, they may just tune you out when you have something that's actually worth discussing.

“I didn’t know you were going out tonight…”

You share an address, a bed, and maybe even a last name. That’s reason enough to give each other space once in a while. After getting married, years of ingrained behavior isn’t going to suddenly stop, and trying to give up independence ain’t gonna work. If one of you wants to take off with friends on a Friday night, give your spouse an early heads up and come home when you say you’re going to come home.

“That’s going in the basement.”

Whether you lived together or not before you got hitched, merging your stuff can be a total buzzkill. You want your grandmother’s candle set on the table; he wants to hang his Raging Bull poster in the living room. The common denominator? Neither of you wants to lose who you are. So compromise. Instead of immediately vetoing each other's stuff, both agree to keep half of your fave items in question, and donate the rejects charity (hey, it's a tax write-off!).

“What the hell is this charge on your AMEX?”

You’re used to spending whatever you want, whenever you want (even if you didn’t have it). Not anymore. What one person may see as a necessity, another may see as a waste. That’s why it’s key to agree on how to spend and save. How much do you want to sock away for retirement? How much do you want to spend together, be it on a couch or a vacay to Hawaii? And finally, how much do you each get as "fun money"? Get started with our handy budgeter.

“It’s your mom again; I’m not answering.”

Hate to break it to you, but when you tied the knot, you also married each other’s families. The key is to tell each other what you expect from your in-laws and figure out what you can tolerate. Then raise your tolerance level 10 degrees. Once boundaries are established, you’ll be able to put your foot down without starting an argument. ( thenest.com )

READ MORE - The Newlywed Fight Club

No Time for Good Sex?

No Time for Good Sex?. Now you may be wondering: Why the heck am I reading this? After all, aren’t newlyweds supposed to have scorching sex all the time? Truth is, even at this amazing stage, you can have an unexpected sex stall. Here are some common culprits:

Your libidos are out of sync.

You’re supposed to be soul mates…so why is it that you want it slow and sensual at night but he wants it fast and furious in the morning? Well, guys wake up with high levels of testosterone and energy and crave sex first thing in the a.m. But at night, testosterone levels dip right when you’re revved up.

Sexy solution: If he’s never in the mood after dinner, grab him before you open the take-out. If you dislike a.m. sex, join him in his morning shower.

Long workweeks leave you both sapped.

His afternoon meeting ran late and he’s exhausted; your boss yelled at you (again). By the time you make it through the front door, your sex drives are MIA.

Sexy solution: Studies show that lovemaking boosts levels of brain chemicals that trigger desire. So the more you push past your tiredness and get busy, the more you’ll want to do it. You can start by trading five-minute massages (no, you aren’t too tired). Conjure up an erotic scenario—research shows women who fantasize often have more frequent and satisfying sex.

The honeymoon is over.

Why can’t sex be as hot as it was during those 10 days in Anguilla? Was it the plush mattress? The sound of the ocean at night? Now sex feels like a letdown.

Sexy solution: Start turning things around when you’re not in the sack. Devote the weekends to reconnecting. Unplug from the world and fantasize about that sexy anniversary trip you’ll be booking in the Bahamas. Anticipation in itself can be a surprising aphrodisiac.

You’re trying to get pregnant.

When you’re in baby-making mode, sex can start to feel methodical, even frustrating—especially if you’ve been trying for a while.

Sexy solution: Make the rest of the month (i.e., your nonpeak-fertility days) all about pleasure. For starters, zip your lips on the baby topic so your minds are clear and sex can be more fun. Your next steamy step? Try a new position or grab your partner for a quickie before you head out to a party—everyone will wonder what that smirk is on your faces. ( thenest.com )

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Five Ways to Get in the Mood

Date Idea 1: Call in Sick

Never underestimate the power of spending an entire day alone with your significant other, especially when you're supposed to be somewhere else. Park yourselves in the living room and hibernate in your pj's. Order takeout, watch movies, and get busy.

Date Idea 2: Start a Tradition

While cooking together might be something you do every day, there's no reason it can't be special (think: French bistro night, or ragin' Cajun cuisine). Start the tradition now and it'll become your go-to sexy dinner on Saturday nights.

Date Idea 3: Put on a Show

Buy three new lingerie outfits in totally different styles and use your shopping spree as an excuse for a predinner fashion show. Model each in a private performance and have your hubby pick his favorite for you to don after the meal.

Date Idea 4: Get a Rubdown

Book a couples massage at a local spa or set the mood at home with candles, scented oils, and your imagination.

Date Idea 5: Send an Office Surprise

Send your spouse a pizza at lunchtime or have coffee and treats delivered in the afternoon. You'll get kudos from everyone in the office, especially from your mate when they come home. ( thenest.com )

READ MORE - Five Ways to Get in the Mood

Bless you, baby

Bless you, baby. It is normal to worry when your little ones come down with coughs and colds but, as Dr Mel Bates explains, it’s all part and parcel of building up their immune system. Carmel Doyle reports

It's natural for babies and young children to get sniffles and coughs. This is because their immune systems are not yet developed to fight off the more than 200 different viruses that can cause the common cold.

However, it doesn’t stop parents from being extra vigilant, especia­lly if it’s the first time their baby has symptoms. According to Dr Mel Bates, spokesperson for the Irish College of General Practitioners, it’s common for bab­ies to get between six and eight colds a year between the months of September and May, with each one last­ing between two to four weeks.

He says as their baby develops a pattern to their illness, parents will become more confident, so they can treat their child at home. If you’re concerned, however, you should talk to your GP.

“If your baby has an unusual rash or a fever that won’t settle with simple methods, then these are valid reasons for bringing him or her to your GP,” says Bates.

So what are the best ways to treat your child’s cold? He says parents can treat a fever immediately in any child regardless of age. “However, in very small children, particularly those under three months, problem for colds, but it is a worry that parents have.”

Other illnesses to watch out for include colds that have a cough as the main complaint. If an asthma diagnosis has already been made, Bates says this could be an indicator that your child’s asthma is wors­ening. So, if this is the case he says parents should restart their child’s inhalers to determine if this will settle the cough.

And with the additional threat of swine flu this year, what are the symptoms to look for if you think your child might have something different to a cold?

Because it is very difficult to distinguish swine flu from the common cold, Bates’s advice is for parents to go to their GP if they have any suspicions at all about the matter.

“The at-risk groups would be the under-fives and, particularly, the under-twos.”

Childhood coughs

The cough is a life-saving reflex that helps protect the airways of the throat and chest. Bates says most GPs won’t recommend cough bottles because there is no evidence to back up their efficacy (ie that they work).

There are a variety of have. One is a mucus-like, impressive cough. “Usually the child will have snuffles. Theirs is a viral infection of the nasal passages. The mucus drips backwards as well, and as it drips it is caught by the cough reflex. This makes sure the mucus doesn’t go down onto the chest.”

Therefore, he says most of the time when GPs listen to a child, their chest will be clear, as the cough is happening in the throat and not the lungs.

For the under-twos, a dry, repetitive cough is caused by a viral wheeze. For the older child who has been diagnosed with asthma, Bates says parents should be mindful that the cough is often a worsening of their condition. Therefore, the child will have to use their inhaler more or go back on their inhaler, depending on the situation.

“The vast majority of childhood illnesses are caused by viruses and antibiotics are not required. Antibiot­ics will not make them better faster because they do not work on viruses,” he explains.

The type of cough known as croup is not as com­mon, although it does happen, according to Bates. “Croup is distressing. The most important thing to remember is that it’s a viral illness.”

With small children, he says the cough can become to see if they are on the right track. Our job is to reassure and double-check things." ( @ Independent News )

READ MORE - Bless you, baby

When the worst happens...

When the worst happens... Little Sarah Dorney has been in hospital most of her life. And at this stage, her mother Maria feels she has, too. "It feels like I've been in hospital forever," confesses the 37-year-old former lab technician.

Sarah, now 13 months old, has DiGeorge syndrome, a genetic condition which has left her with a number of congenital heart defects, one kidney and a weakened immune system.

Changed woman: Maria Dorney (pictured with her son), whose daughter Sarah has been in hospital since she was three days old, now has the "patience of a saint"

Sarah has been in hospital since she was three days old and has undergone open-heart surgery.

"We have been more or less full-time in hospital with Sarah since she was born," says Maria, who also has a three-year-old son, Sam.

Maria's 13-month vigil by her tiny daughter's cot at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin has had its effect.

"Over the last 13 months I've changed. I used to be a very impatient person but I have the patience of a saint now," she says.

Plus she's not afraid to ask a question -- and that's a big change.

Like many parents new to the hospital scene, Maria was initially reluctant to ask questions of medical staff.

"At first we didn't ask a lot of questions because we didn't want to make waves. I think a lot of parents are like that when they first go into hospital with their child; they're just nervous of saying the wrong thing."

Other things have changed, too. When Sarah's illness was initially diagnosed, Maria was slow to see the doctor.

"Initially I was quite nervous about asking to meet the doctor. You feel you shouldn't impose, but at the same time there's a huge pressure on you to be your child's voice.

"You have to get over yourself and be confident and learn to ask questions without rubbing people up the wrong way."

Back then she was also afraid to leave Sarah's side in case she missed the doctor's visit. These days if she needs a break, Maria leaves her mobile number at the nurses' station along with instructions to be called when the medic appears.

Maria is no different to other parents in a similar position. For many first-timers who don't know the ropes, a children's hospital ward is alien territory.

Stresses

Now, with swine flu raging, many parents are facing the prospect of an emergency hospital visit with all the attendant stresses: childcare may have to be found for other siblings, transport organised, arrangements made with an employer.

Going to hospital with a sick child can be an extremely stressful experience, says Mary O'Connor, CEO of the Children in Hospital Ireland support group.

If it's an emergency -- as many child visits to hospital are -- it can not only be terrifying for parents and child, but leaves parents with no time to make arrangements. "Siblings may have to be brought to the hospital with you or left in the care of a neighbour," says Ms O'Connor.

That's just the beginning. If the stay in hospital is relatively short, that is, up to six days, parents seem to be able to cope reasonably well, but if it goes over that time workplace absence and the organisation of sibling care can become major issues.

"You also have the worry about what is wrong with the child -- parents can be very distraught."

Another challenge faced by parents can be getting information from medical staff. Although this is easier than it used to be, Ms O'Connor says it's still an issue.

"You still have parents who report that they have difficulty in getting doctors to give them information.

"It can be very hit-and-miss. Also parents themselves can be a bit overawed and influenced by the situation.

Frustrated

"In a stressful situation, parents cannot formulate the questions and get them out and then they can feel frustrated afterwards that they don't have the proper information."

Michael O'Mahony, a consultant paediatrician at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, agrees.

"About 99pc of children admitted to hospitals like ours are paediatric emergency cases. A lot of parents in this situation are terrified.

"The scenario is the child gets ill very rapidly and possibly very seriously ill. I find that sometimes parents can be so terrified they may not hear what you say.

"We try to repeat the message because we recognise that parents may block it out so it's important for parents to realise that they must try to hear what they're being told. If they calm down and listen to the news they may find it's better than they think."

Staff at the hospital have a policy of giving out factsheets which parents can peruse once they've calmed down, he says.

"In paediatrics most children get ill very quickly and acutely, and scare the wits out of their parents.

"They're in hospital for two or three days and then they get better. For most parents it is a sharp, short shock and most children bounce back after that."

It's a good idea, when possible, to write down the questions you want to ask the doctor, and to keep a note of what is going on so that you can ask informed questions, says Ms O'Connor. And if you want to meet the doctor, don't sit there by your child's bedside waiting endlessly for one to materialise, she says. Politely inform the ward staff that you need to talk to the doctor and request that a meeting be set up.

"We know of parents who've waited by their child's bedside for up to 10 hours without taking a break in case they would miss the doctor."

Mr O'Mahony agrees. "Find out what time the consultant comes around and if it is a very complex or life-threatening issue it's a good idea to ask the nurses to set up a meeting in the ward office or somewhere they can talk privately."

Don't be afraid to take a break from the bedside. Just give your mobile number to the nurses and ask them to call you if you happen to be absent when the doctor arrives, he advises.

Number

"I certainly wouldn't expect parents to sit by the bedside waiting for me to arrive," he declares. (Remember to check that they have the right mobile phone number written down, advises Maria Dorney. There's always the possibility that it may have been transcribed incorrectly.)

Entertaining a child in hospital is never easy so if your child's visit is a planned admission, decide with them in advance what they'd like to bring as regards favourite toys, blankets, soothers, books and games.

"When children are in hospital their attention span reduces so they need simple activities. Often they may feel happier playing with something for a younger age group," says Ms O'Connor.

However, one of the most important things for a child is having a parent by their side.

"It's really important that one of the parents stays with the child as much as possible. If you can't avoid an absence, try to have another familiar person like a grandparent.

"The key thing is that it's a person the child is comfortable with. If you have to go back to work or home to look after one of the other children, try to arrange for someone to be there. If you must leave for a while, tell your child what you have to do, and also be clear about when you'll be back. It's very important that you do come back when you say you will."

Always be truthful with your child -- if a procedure is going to hurt them don't lie about it, she says, but tell them that it will not last and that you will be there.

Try to do as much as possible for your child yourself, so that young children, and babies especially, learn to distinguish between you and the nurses, says Maria.

If you're going to be in hospital with your child, be sure to keep in touch with siblings at home, says Maria, who stays in the Ronald McDonald House on the grounds of Our Lady's Children's Hospital.

The facility, which has 16 bedrooms, allows families from across the country to stay close to their hospitalised children.

Maria makes regular video-calls to Sam at the family home in Carrigaline, Co Cork, and she never, ever fails to check in and say goodnight.

For More information visit www.childreninhospital.ie, Tel: 1890 252682 or email info@childreninhospital.ie

A home from home for parents

The general consensus within the health service is that the practice of allowing parents to stay with sick children in hospital should be encouraged where possible. However facilities and resources vary in different hospitals, according to a spokesman for the Health Service Executive. Here's a sample of what's available around the country.

• At Temple Street Children's University Hospital, the Sherry FitzGerald 'Your Home Away From Home 2006' fund-raising project resulted in the purchase of a house on Fontenoy St in Dublin 7 for use as accommodation for families from outside Dublin. It can accommodate two families at a time and is within walking distance of the hospital. Within the hospital there are 15 rooms available to parents. And as part of the redevelopment of the hospital's neo-natal unit, in partnership with Tesco Ireland, new individual patient units have a built-in bed so that parents can remain right beside their sick infant. www.templestreet.ie

• Situated in the grounds of Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, The Ronald McDonald House is also geared towards families who have to travel to visit their children in hospital in Dublin. It has 16 en-suite family bedrooms; a room that sleeps four costs €10 per night.

McDonald's restaurants will sell Ronald McDonald House shopping trolley tokens and car stickers throughout November and December to help raise money for the charity. www.rmhc.ie

• Cork University Hospital provides recliner chairs for parents of young patients in the paediatric wards. There is also a parents' room and shower facilities at their disposal.

Located within walking distance of the hospital is Bru Columbanus, providing free accommodation for families of critically ill patients, particularly children. It consists of 24 individual en-suite bedrooms and communal living areas. A counselling room, church, library, playroom, teenagers' room, five communal kitchens, laundry facilities and garden area are also available. Tel: 021 4345754 .

• The Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick has a modern 57-bed paediatric unit called The Children's Ark. Beds for parents are provided if required. "The unit is bright and modern. The objective is to make it as unlike a traditional hospital setting as possible," said a spokesman.

How to make their visit comfortable

• If it's a planned admission, make life easier for yourself by calling ahead and getting information about parental sleeping arrangements, canteen opening times and what the treatment will involve, eg, blood test, x-rays.
• Bring a favourite toy or blanket (no matter how scruffy) and soother or bottle (if used).
• Tell the nurse special names for food, the potty etc.
• Help with everyday care of your child.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions -- write them down in advance if you can.
• Try to concentrate on what you're being told by the doctor or nurse.
• Don't be afraid to request a meeting with the doctor if you feel it's necessary.
• Explain to your child what is going to happen during examinations and injections.
• Your child will need you especially before and after an operation.
• Reassurance and lots of love is often the most important medicine.
• Encourage your child to get involved with the other children, and in the hospital playgroup.

( @ Independent News )

READ MORE - When the worst happens...

What is flat head syndrome?

What is flat head syndrome?. The ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign, begun in the early Nineties, has been credited with reducing cot deaths by a huge number. However, it has led to a rather bizarre, non-harmful side effect in some babies. Grainne Rothery reports.

One notable side effect of the highly successful ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign – which recommends that parents lie their babies on their backs to sleep in order to reduce the risk of cot death – has been an increase in the incidence of positional plagio­cephaly, or flat head syndrome.

The condition – where the back or side of the baby’s head appears to be flattened – is caused by the baby resting its head for long periods against flat surfaces, including cot mattresses. Because babies’ skulls are made up of several different plates that are not yet cemented together, they are much more susceptible to external pressures and are therefore prone to the condition.

As far as the medical profession is concerned, flat head syndrome is primarily cosmetic and almost alw­ays a temporary problem that will sort itself out. The overriding advice is that babies should always be put sleeping on their backs and that the reduced risk of cot death is far more important than the cosmetic problem of flat head syndrome. However, parents are advised to consult a doctor for diagnosis and advice.

In general, the problem can be easily prevented and treated by putting babies on their tummies for short periods when they are being supervised, says Dr John Murphy, consultant paediatrician at Holles Street. “Plagiocephaly is very much predicated on the back­to-sleep position,” he explains. “One thing that perhaps hasn’t been emphasised enough is giving the babies tummy time.

“Tummy time really means to lie the baby on his tummy for a few minutes under supervision when he’s being changed or fed and is wide awake,” he says.

“That tends to strengthen the neck muscles and I think would help prevent many of the cases. There’s now good evidence to show that this is helpful.”

Other tips for helping to correct the problem, accord­ing to Murphy, include feeding the baby on the oppo­site arm to encourage him to turn away from the flat­tened side. “And you can talk a bit more from that side and make things a bit more interesting on the side you want to get him to turn to,” he adds. “That increases the rotation of the neck.”

While treatment for the condition is also available with specially customised orthotic helmets – usually costing several thousand euro and worn by the baby for 23 hours a day – doctors are sceptical.

“It’s not really a medical intervention and most doc­tors wouldn’t recommend them,” says Murphy. “Hel­mets may restrict the head and body movements of a baby and that would be a cause of concern. The whole business of being ‘back to sleep’ is that the baby is in a position where he’s unrestricted and not likely to get into difficulty.”

Elsewhere, Irish brand Clevamama’s memory-foam pillow is being marketed as a way of helping to sig­nificantly reduce flat head syndrome: tests carried out at Trinity College Dublin’s Centre for Bioengineering found that the pillow can reduce pressure on the baby’s skull by almost 50pc, while allowing the baby’s head to rest in a position that does not restrict the airways.

Clevamama developed the memory foam especially for babies as it is lighter and more breathable than the standard version but offers the same benefits, says Martina Delaney, founder of Handybaby.com, which sells the Clevamama range.

If you would like to find out more about the memory-foam pillow, go to www.handybaby.com.

Tips for avoiding and treating flat head syndrome

Place your baby on his tummy to play
Change the position of the baby’s cot or alternate which end of the cot you place him in
Place toys, mobiles or a light on the side you
want your baby to turn towards
Switch the side you hold your baby for feeding
Where possible, carry your baby or use a sling rather than a buggy.
Back to sleep

In its fact sheet on positional plagiocephaly, the Rotunda Hospital says that the incidence of cot death has fallen by almost 40pc since the Back to Sleep campaign was introduced in the early Nineties. In the UK, meanwhile, the campaign – which was fronted by Anne Diamond, and which also recommended not smoking anywhere near babies, not overheating them, and going to the doctor if they have coughs or colds – resulted in the number of cot deaths dropping from 2,500 to 300 a year.( @ Independent News )

READ MORE - What is flat head syndrome?

Eczema: Under your skin

Eczema: Under your skin. Eczema is quite a common condi­tion in children, with 15–20pc of young people getting some form of it. However, a lot of cases are quite mild and can be managed at home, says Professor Alan Irvine of Trinity College Dublin and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is an allergic and in.ammatory skin disorder. In mild cases the skin is dry, scaly, red and itchy. In more severe cases there may be weeping, crusting and bleeding. Constant scratching causes the skin to split and bleed and also leaves it more open to infection.

“Children begin to present with eczema most commonly around four months of age and 90pc of them will get it before the age of two. The rash initially appears on the face, then the outer parts of the arms and then in the skin folds. The pat­tern changes as the baby grows,” Irvine explains.

“The main symptom is extreme itchiness, discomfort and loss of sleep for the child and par­ents. Babies with severe eczema don’t put weight on and this has a big effect on their development.”

Eczema has a big impact when children go to school, he adds. “Children have been asked to graduate how things affect them and eczema scores higher than epilepsy or diabetes. This is because they feel so uncomfortable they can’t concentrate and they don’t like their skin looking funny.”

Regarding treatment, Irvine says the simple things are the best. “Avoid anything that will agg­ravate the condition such as foamy things in the bath or detergents, as these strip the lipids out of your skin. There are now lots of different soap-free alternatives to conventional shampoos and bath additives. Sometimes you have to try several to .nd one that works for you.”

In addition to this, he recommends using a good moisturiser two or three times a day and adds that you should keep the heating in your house down so the air doesn’t become too dry. He also recommends staying away from rough cloth­ing, such as wool.

Certain types of clothing can actually help too, such as a range by Cotton Comfort, available now in Ireland from www.econatural.ie (pictured right). Made from 100pc organic cotton, this range has natural silver-soothe properties. Silver is recognised as a natural anti-bacterial agent. Natural silver ions have been added to the fabric to soothe the skin, ease night-time itches, remove bacteria overgrowth and help prevent the spread of organisms and the risk of secondary infection.

Irvine says some foods can provoke an outbreak of eczema, so if you think they do, make sure your child avoids them. Dusty environments will also make the condition worse.

Why do children get eczema?

This question has preoccupied health professionals and researchers for many years. Professor Alan Irvine of Trin­ity College Dublin (TCD) says eczema is the result of a combination of genes and environmental factors.

“It runs in families – if parents have it, their children are more likely to have it. Three and a half years ago we found the .rst major gene to in.uence eczema – .laggrin, which protects against environmental insults or bacteria. When you have a mutation of this gene, you’re more likely to get eczema.”

An international collaboration between TCD scien­tists and researchers in Scotland and Japan reached a breakthrough earlier this year in terms of understanding eczema.

The TCD team was led by Professor Padraic Fallon. “I have worked out a mouse model of the .laggrin muta­tion. It develops the features of eczema in the mouse, so we can understand how it can cause the disease in children or adults,” he explains.

“One of the big questions is around why children with eczema have a predisposition to subsequently develop other allergic conditions, particularly asthma. We are using the mouse model to work out why that happens. Ultimately, we hope the characterisation of this model will be a useful tool in the development of new therapies for this major disease.”

Irvine adds that eczema is getting more and more common in urbanised societies. “Nobody knows what factor is most important – it could be anything from central heating to diesel fumes.” ( @ Independent News )

READ MORE - Eczema: Under your skin

How social sites are a hunting ground for people with grudges

How social sites are a hunting ground for people with grudges. Be warned, writes Nikki Walsh, the school-yard bully has gone digital.

Julia*(19) is a business student from Dublin. She and her boyfriend Declan (20) became victims of cyberbullying when photographs of her and Declan were Fotoshopped and uploaded onto Facebook portraying him as a pig.

"It was all done in jest, in a jokey, jokey way, but it was not very nice," admits Julia. "It would have been different if we knew the people involved, but we didn't so it was odd and sinister." Eventually Julia found out that the bully was an admirer of hers, hoping to undermine her boyfriend.

"I see him all the time," she says, "but I have never spoken to him. In fact, I stay well away from him now."

Julia's experience is not unusual. According to a study by the Anti-Bullying Centre at Trinity College, Dublin, one in seven teenagers are victims of cyber-bullying, with most of it occurring on social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo.

It takes many forms -- repeatedly posting insults on people's 'walls'; starting online fights via email or instant messaging; posting embarrassing or humiliating photographs; tricking people into revealing secrets or sharing them online; impersonating people and posting material to damage their reputation; and even creating new sites under a person's name.

When Karen* (28) logged onto Facebook she found a new page under her name, using her original profile photograph. "Someone had created a new page for me, listing a whole new set of activities and interests in my profile, including 'sleeping around'. There were also postings on my wall calling me a slut. I was shocked."

Karen made a complaint and the site was closed down, but she did not know who created it until months later when she split up with her boyfriend and discovered it was the work of his ex-girlfriend. She has left Facebook now.

"It is not worth it," she said. "You have no idea who could be raking through your photographs. It's the perfect hunting ground for people with grudges or jealous exes."

While cyberbullying doesn't happen in person, it can, for that reason, be far more brutal than normal bullying. "People say things online that they would never actually say to each other's faces," says Julia.

"In schools, all fights are conducted through Facebook," she explains.

Frances Sweetman teaches civics in Dublin. "Most of the children I teach believe that if you put your photograph and your personal information on Facebook, you are asking for a bit of flak," she says.

According to A Parent's Guide to Social Networking Sites, some 28pc of teens say they do not know what to do if they are harassed or bullied online. Most do nothing. Julia and her boyfriend did not approach their bully, nor did Karen.

So, what should they be doing? Online experts advise everyone to avoid contact with the bully; block their access to the site; change their online information where necessary; file a report or lodge a complaint with the site and, if need be, to delete their account.

Sinead* (32) left Facebook last year after an ex began posting notes on her wall. "I am glad I didn't feed it," she says. "It was much more effective to just leave and not get embroiled in anything nasty or emotionally draining. As soon as I left, that was the end of it. I never heard from him again."

There are also measures anyone can take to avoid being bullied, as detailed by Facebook on their site (see below).

Facebook is self-regulating, so users can -- and do -- report content that is questionable or offensive. Any groups that violate its terms of use are removed, while fake profiles are regularly disabled when they're reported. Facebook is keen to stress that social networking, if used safely and correctly, can be fun. Psychologists agree, believing that networking sites develop teenagers' social skills, bridging class and racial divides and providing them with a forum for issues they feel they can't talk about face to face.

So how can parents protect their teens from cyberbulling? Communication is key -- WiredSafety.org research shows that teenagers who discuss social networking websites with their parents behave more cautiously online, so parents should open up a discussion on cyberbullying, educating their teens about how cyberbullies can use their personal information against them and discussing what information is appropriate for them to share online.

Boundaries should also be set. Teens should be wary of anyone who they do not know who wants to join their networks and they should be told not to meet anyone they've met online.

Left unchecked, the effects of cyberbullying can be devastating -- just last month, English-born school girl Holly Grogan jumped to her death after years of being cyberbullied. In a statement her family said: "Holly struggled to cope with the huge pressures placed upon her by the modern complexities of 'friendship groups' and social networking." ( @Independent News )

READ MORE - How social sites are a hunting ground for people with grudges

Why our baby boy died so suddenly in his sleep ?

We'll never know why our baby boy died so suddenly in his sleep. New research into some of the reasons behind cot-deaths has many parents worried, writes Angela McCormick

Almost every parent has done it, fallen asleep next to their tiny bundle of humanity. Babies need to be cuddled and fed in the night hours. Sometimes taking a baby to bed is the only way to soothe a crying infant and get some much-needed parental sleep.

Roisin and Jim Mahony with a picture of their son Shane, who died 7 years ago from cot death, two days after the picture was taken

But a new study linking sudden infant death with parental co-sleeping is casting a dark shadow over what seems like the most natural thing in the world.

The research, published in October's British Medical Journal, showed that 54pc of sudden infant deaths (SIDS) occurred while the baby was co-sleeping with a parent. It found babies were more at risk of SIDS when sleeping with parents who smoked or who had recently used drugs or alcohol (31pc versus 3pc of a control group).

The resulting headlines have caused "great hurt and anxiety" among bereaved parents here, according to Ger O'Brien of the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association.

Breastfeeding mothers' group La Leche League is concerned that the wrong message is being picked up. They maintain that when it comes to taking baby to bed, the research needs a more nuanced analysis.

'People feel very guilty when a baby dies. This research has added to the hurt of the newly bereaved while bringing back pain to older parents. They feel people will make negative assumptions about them," said Ger O'Brien.

One of those parents is Roisin Mahony. The Kildare-based bank official lost her first-born son, Shane, at nine months old. He died in his cot.

"Hearing things on TV and radio saying cot death can be caused by co-sleeping, smoking, drinking or drug taking, really upset me and my mum who was babysitting when Shane died. My son's death ticked none of those boxes. He was never taken into bed and no one in the family smoked. Yet now people will think maybe we did something wrong," said Roisin.

Shane died just a week after Roisin's 21st birthday. "He was a healthy baby and he had just started crawling. The night he died mum put him to sleep in his cot and checked him several times. The last time, just before she went to bed, she noticed he looked very pale. The hospital is just around the corner from our house. Shane was there within minutes but it was too late. The doctors did a detailed autopsy but they could find no reason, that's why it's called sudden infant death," said Roisin.

La Leche League spokeswoman Jan Cromie is an experienced co-sleeper. At one stage mother-of-four Jan had three children under four sharing her bed.

She doesn't necessarily recommend it, but she does say parents who want to bed-share shouldn't be frightened and put off by this research.

"The media coverage prompted UNICEF to issue a statement clarifying the study. It turns out the rate of sudden infant death for a baby sleeping in a parent's bed or in a cot was actually the same at 38pc and no-one is suggesting babies don't sleep in cots.

"What it did highlight was the risk posed by people falling asleep on the sofa with their baby, 17pc of the babies who died were on the sofa. Among those in a bed, the risk was only significant if the parent had drunk more than two units of alcohol or had been taking drugs or medication," said Jan.

"In societies such as Japan, almost all babies sleep with their parents, yet their rate of SIDS is infinitesimal. Why is that?" she asked.

UNICEF's experts agree that bed-sharing helps parents cope with unsettled babies and frequent feeders, adding that bed-sharing helps promote breast-feeding and builds up parental bonds by encouraging intimate contact. They say the four-year study of sudden infant death in the south of England is an attempt to "discuss bed-sharing with parents so that risks can be identified and minimised". It is not, they stressed, an attempt to "promote restrictions which cannot be applied in parents' real worlds".

The co-author of the research Dr Peter Blair is adamant that he is not advocating an absolute ban on taking baby into bed.

"If you demonise the parental bed you're still going to get tired mothers with young infants where the infant has woken up three or four times in the night.

"The mother is walking around thinking they can't take them into bed, so they go onto the sofa and fall asleep. Coming out with a simplistic statement about bed-sharing can do more harm than good." said Dr Blair.

For Temple Street Hospital science researcher Karina Hamilton, the best advice to parents is that they can take baby to bed -- but not for too long.

Karina and Professor Tom Matthew's team at the Dublin children's hospital has been involved in an ongoing study into sudden infant death since 1992, when a campaign telling parents babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep was launched.

"The 'back to sleep' campaign cut the number of SIDS deaths in half almost overnight. It was amazing that something so simply should have such a dramatic effect. And it could be one of the reasons why we are now starting to notice particular trends such as bed-sharing and smoking," said Karina.

The UK research was not news to the Temple Street team. Their 2006 SIDS study came up with broadly similar findings and resulted in the HSE issuing new guidelines.

"The risk is only there if the baby is in the bed for the entire sleep period. You can take a baby into the bed for a short period, settle the child and then return them to their cot," said Karina.

But she stressed there are circumstances when it is absolutely not safe to share a bed with baby, particularly if you smoke or have taken alcohol, drugs or any medication which might make you sleep heavily. "Research shows 68pc of SIDS parents had consumed alcohol on the night their baby died.

"Among babies who died in their parents' bed, 87pc had mothers who smoked during pregnancy," said Karina

Temple Street's studies also confirm that snoozing on the sofa with an infant can be lethal.

But if taking a baby to bed is a fraught issue and parents can't afford to risk nodding off on the sofa, just what are the sleep-deprived supposed to do when their infants won't settle?

From her home in Donegal, La Leche League spokeswoman Jan Cromie proposed an acceptable compromise. There are side-car cribs which attach to the parental bed. "The baby has its own sleeping surface which avoids the dangers of duvets and overheating but they are still within touching distance of their parents."

Jan Cromie maintains that while parents need to be aware of the risk factors, families find their own solutions to the vexed questions of whether or not to bring baby to bed.

For bereaved mothers such as Roisin Mahony, the furore over the SIDS research has provided little comfort. "People hear cot death linked to drink and drugs. The fact is that some babies die for unknown reasons and those parents have nothing to blame themselves for," she stressed. ( @Independent News )

READ MORE - Why our baby boy died so suddenly in his sleep ?

Time to play

Time to play. Playing is vital for cognitive development and emotional expression, and parents who join in with their kids at home or at classes can add an extra dimension. carmel doyle reports

The topic of play and its correlation with child development has long interested psy­chologists and philosophers. In the words of Plato: "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

Many of us recall wistfully the play activities of our childhood when we conjured up magical worlds with our friends, played hide-and-seek, built tree houses in the garden or had an imaginary playmate.

There are many types of play, ranging from free play to games with rules to fantasy play involving the imagination. Then there is constructive play, whereby children experiment with objects and space.

Sarah Rush, a play and filial therapist at the Owen Connolly Counselling Centre, explains how play is an important means for children to learn about the world, as well as being essential for their brain development. She says engaging in free, unstructured, imaginative play helps children develop social skills, contributes to their cognitive and emotional develop­ment and helps them cope with stress.

And while it is vital for children to play with one another, playing with parents is one way for families to engage in a fun yet meaningful way.

explains Rush: “engaging in child-led play with your child is an opportunity to see the world through your child’s eyes and creates a bank of positive feel­ings and experiences to draw upon in more difficult times.”

One way parents can set aside playtime with their children is to switch off the TV and hold a family games night each week.

According to Dr Celine Mullins, psychologist, play­ing board games together is a really focused way for parents and children to have fun together. She says parents can also teach their children values and social skills via board games.

“Playing board games can provide learning opportu­nities for children. They can learn about risk-taking, money, operating within rules, how to think logically, problem-solving and planning.”

Mullins says adults are role models for behaviour that children will emulate when playing board games. For instance, children can learn how to lose gra­ciously, to make decisions while under pressure, to have fun even while in competition with each other and to stay committed – traits that they can carry into adulthood.

Parents can modify the rules of certain board games to suit younger children, as such games will help them to learn to differentiate between colours and shapes, while also building their memory and recognition.

Organised by hasbro, National Game Playing Week is taking place this year from 23–30 October.

The social scene

Parent-and-toddler groups can provide a wonderful environment for parents to bond with their babies, as well as being a social outlet to interact with parents and children and discuss parenting concerns. Cuidiú, the Irish Childbirth Trust, runs mother-and-baby groups around the country. For further information, visit www.cuidiu-ict.ie.

One particular club for children is Jo Jingles, which incorporates singing and movement classes for babies and children aged from three months to five years of age.

According to Caroline Crabbe, head of marketing and public relations at Jo Jingles, classes, which are run in over 500 venues across the UK and Ireland, will always have an educational slant. “Our focus is always on making the classes fun, lively, interactive and progressive.”

She says parents can participate with their children at Jo Jingle classes. “This is the best way to encour­age them to learn and also enables them to repeat Jo Jingles activities at home. It’s also particularly important for first-time parents who may not have any experience of young children.”

Crabbe explains how music and singing aid key aspects of children’s development, helping them to develop communication and numerical skills; imp­rove physical co-ordination; and develop confidence, self-esteem and independence. Music also encourages children to interact and develop social skills. For fur­ther information on Jo Jingles classes in Ireland, visit the website: www.jojingles.ie.

Hydropower

Water therapy is another way for parents to bond with their child. Kelly Robinson, physiotherapist at Children’s University hospital, Temple Street, says the skin-to-skin contact between parents and their babies in the water helps invoke a sense of closeness that they might not get at home.

She says babies can start water therapy as soon as they are born because they will have built up a natu­ral immunity from their mother until they have their first injection.

“Water therapy helps on many levels, from develop­ing head and trunk control and increasing sensory and tactile stimulation by splashing to increasing muscle strength.”

Robinson says water therapy also helps increase your baby’s confidence and independence levels, as you are there to support them as they explore a new environment.

Water Babies is one swim school that is now operat­ing in Ireland. Visit www.waterbabies.ie.

Play therapy

Because play is a child’s natural way of expressing themselves, play therapy is a useful therapeutic intervention for some children.

Play and filial therapist Sarah Rush says play therapy is des­igned to help children resolve and overcome a childhood dif­ficulty that is emotional in origin, such as a parental separation, a bereavement, a trauma or abuse. It is also useful if a child has attachment issues or separation anxiety when starting school.

“Play therapy helps children use their play to open up more than usual, so they are given an opportunity to express strong feel­ings, fears, worries and other emotional concerns.

“It really offers children emotional support to make sense of a difficult life experience and it helps them to deal with and resolve difficult feelings in more appropriate ways,” she explains.

Play therapy is usually used for children aged from three up to 11 or 12 years, with a minimum of six to eight weekly sessions required, depending on the issue that needs to be resolved.

“I would always ask that a parent or guardian stay in the Kindervital counselling centre while I am doing play therapy with the child because that offers the child more emotional security.”

In terms of the outcome of play therapy, Rush says children generally feel more confident, have better self-esteem and develop closer relationships with parents, siblings and their peers.

“Another important outcome is that parents and carers, through the process of their child having play therapy, really seem to understand their child’s world better. As a result, the parent-child relationship is stronger.”

And, in terms of play itself, Rush concludes by stressing the importance of play for helping children learn about the world around them.

“Play helps them develop social skills. It contributes to the development of their thinking skills and their emotional develop­ment and it also helps children cope with stress.”

She says being able to engage in child-led imaginative play with your child can potentially help to strengthen the emotional bond between the two of you.

“If a parent can engage in child-led play and have fun with their child on a regular basis, that does release really important chemi­cals in the child’s brain that build up feelings of comfort, safety and well-being.” ( @indenpendet news )

READ MORE - Time to play