Doctors For Kids– Happy Halloween Contents: Halloween Things That Scare Us Winner Healthy Lunch Photo Contest Scary Halloween Photo Contest Do you know that Doctors get scared too, One of the things that scares us the most, as doctors and parents, is the cyberworld.  Technology can be far worse for a child's mental and physical health than anything in the real world.  It is a daunting task for parents.  Here are some tips from our Resident Psychologist – Dr. Jessica Osburn Things That Scare Us in the Digital World Cyberbullying, videogame addition, internet trolling, Oh my! Over the last two decades, cell phones, tablets and other devices have proliferated many aspects of our daily lives. While the influence of technology can be helpful in many ways, striking a balance in our personal lives and helping our children do the same, has become increasingly difficult. In a recent study published by Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, limited screen time, sleep and exercise were identified as key factors contributing to kids’ brainpower. While these results many not be surprising, accomplishing the recommended hours of sleep, exercise, and limited screen time can seem daunting. According to this year’s results from the American Psychological Association’s annual Stress in America survey, 94 percent of parents say they take at least one action to manage their child’s technology usage during the school year. Yet despite the effort, nearly half of those parents report that regulating their child’s screen time is a constant battle, and 58 percent say they worry about the influence of social media on their child’s physical and mental health. Doctors for Kids 940 W. Avon Road, Suite 10 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 Phone: (248) 650-5009 Fax: (248) 652-9557 Web Site: www.drmavani.org Doctors For Kids Wellness Center: www.drmavani.org to sign up online for Wellness Center Courses, Classes and Special Events or email: patient.concierge@docsforkids.org Halloween 2018 – Doctors For Kids A Patient Centered Medical Home

Doctors For Kids – Happy Halloween In other words, many parents are looking for better ways to handle their children’s technology use. So, what’s a concerned parent to do? Here are some pointers to keep in mind as you establish your own family guidelines for safe, satisfying technology use. Moderation. Like it or not, technology use is an important part of our world. In the long run, it won’t help your child to set overly restrictive limits. Instead, focus on teaching healthy habits while openly communicating about technology. It is recommended to set the boundaries early and to frame technology use as a privilege. Protect Bedtime. Several studies reveal that screen time at night can interfere with sleep quality. Consider having a “shut down” time at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Think twice about allowing phones and tablets to be charged in your child’s bedroom overnight. Pay Attention. It is fairly easy to see what your younger children are doing online. However, as they get older, it’s not so easy to monitor. Have open, honest discussions about the sites and type of content that are off-limits. Consider using a contract approach that outlines how you will be monitoring them (it’s not snooping if you tell them what you are doing) and the consequences for not following the contract. While there are a lot of options in terms of software to filter or restrict access to content and amount of usage, teenagers can be amazingly resourceful and it can be hard to stay ahead of their knowledge. Teach Respectful Online Behavior. According to a study by McAfee (2014), 87 percent of teens have witnessed cyberbullying. Talk to your children about being respectful in their digital interactions. Encourage them to come to you if they witness cyberbullying or other troubling information. And by all means, periodically monitor their interactions. Emphasize Safe Digital Decision Making. Be sure to explain why they can’t download unfamiliar programs, clink on suspicious links or share personal information. Also, be sure to teach your children not to respond to unsolicited messages from strangers- and be sure to tell you if they get them. Keep Learning. Technology changes quickly. It can be hard to stay on top of all the apps and sites your children use. Common Sense Media is a very helpful resource to help you keep up with the ever-changing tech landscape.   Contents: Halloween Things That Scare Us Winner Healthy Lunch Photo Contest Scary Halloween Photo Contest Doctors for Kids 940 W. Avon Road, Suite 10 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 Phone: (248) 650-5009 Fax: (248) 652-9557 Web Site: www.drmavani.org Doctors For Kids Wellness Center: www.drmavani.org to sign up online for Wellness Center Courses, Classes and Special Events or email: patient.concierge@docsforkids.org Halloween 2018 – Doctors For Kids A Patient Centered Medical Home

Doctors For Kids – Happy Halloween Winner – Healthy School Lunch Award A $25.00 LEGO® Gift Card Contents: Halloween Things That Scare Us Winner Healthy Lunch Photo Contest Scary Halloween Photo Contest Thank you everyone for sending us your entries. They were all adorable, we are so happy that the children are making good choices for their lunches. It was very difficult to select a winner, but we finally did. Anna Moore is our winner for this year. Anna loves learning about foods and helps pack her lunch. Her favorite food is Broccoli because “it’s full of healthy vitamins for your body!” She also likes to stay hydrated because “water keeps you healthy.” Congratulations Anna! Keep going strong and have fun with Legos. Doctors for Kids 940 W. Avon Road, Suite 10 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 Phone: (248) 650-5009 Fax: (248) 652-9557 Web Site: www.drmavani.org Cute/Scary Halloween Photo Contest Enter to Win a $25.00 LEGO® Gift Card Please send entries for our Scary Halloween photo contest by email to: patient.concierge@docsforkids.org Please attach a completed photographic waiver to all entries (available at www.docsforkids.org under forms) Criteria: Picture is of your child with their costume. Doctors For Kids Wellness Center: www.drmavani.org to sign up online for Wellness Center Courses, Classes and Special Events or email: patient.concierge@docsforkids.org Halloween 2018 – Doctors For Kids A Patient Centered Medical Home