There’s nothing quite like quality family time, says pediatric primary and urgent care facility, Just Kids Pediatrics. Working specifically with children, their practitioners see first hand how a strong family foundation can affect a child’s health. Just Kids Pediatrics has four clinics through the metro in Moore, South OKC, North OKC, and Mustang.
In their practice, they encourage their patient’s parents to get involved with their children. Just Kids Pediatrics suggests finding family-focused activities to take part in together. Here are some fun ways their providers recommend parents can get their families moving.
Bike Rides
Bike rides mix physical activity and quality time, making it the perfect activity for getting to know one another better. Kids grow quickly, so Just Kids Pediatrics encourages parents to take advantage of the early adolescent ages while they can.
Movie Night
Many parents can remember the days growing up when their family took a trip to Blockbuster to pick out the latest releases. While the days of Blockbuster are over, movie night doesn’t have to be. Take your kids to your local Redbox and let each child pick out their own movie.
Video Games
For children that are at the proper age for a limited amount of screen time, getting involved in something they are interested in such as video games is a fun way to bond. Parents might find that they enjoy video games more than they thought — after all, we’re all kids at heart. If video games aren’t quite your speed, consider an amusement center like Andy Alligators or Main Event.
Crafts
Almost everyone has a camera-phone in their hand the majority of the day, and if you’re a parent, your photo album is likely full of pictures of your children. Just Kids Pediatrics says to take a moment from behind the lens to reflect on the memories you’ve already made with your family by building a scrapbook. Print out the photos and allow each family member to create their own page in the book. It’s a perfect craft for children of all ages.
Cooking Dinner
Parents have to cook dinner anyway, why not get the whole family involved? Just Kids Pediatrics says there are countless sources on the internet for family-friendly recipes. Find one that everyone will enjoy eating and making together.
To learn more about Just Kids Pediatrics and to schedule an appointment to consult with a practitioner, visit justkidspeds.com or one of their four locations. Parents can also follow Just Kids Pediatrics on Facebook at justkidspeds for more tips.
Between general curiosity and trial and error, kids are prone to finding themselves in trouble. Full-service primary and urgent care facility, Just Kids Pediatrics, shares general safety tips with their patient families to keep them out of trouble. Just Kids Pediatrics makes it a priority to ensure their nurses and providers have the training and knowledge to handle almost any problem. Here are the tips they say keep their patients healthy.
Bug Safety Tips
To avoid bug bites and stings, wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks – especially at night. They suggest it’s also important to avoid bright or floral clothes and bring bug repellent when you are outdoors for an extended period of time.
Car Seat Safety Tips
As a certified child passenger safety technician, Just Kids Pediatrics’ lead nurse at their Moore clinic, says she often finds many parents are securing their child’s car seat improperly, and do not even realize it. Click here to view Just Kids Pediatrics’ car seat safety tutorial and learn how to install your child’s car seat correctly.
Immunization & Vaccination Tips
To ensure the safety of your children and the people around them, providers recommend keeping your child current on all of their immunization and vaccinations. Medical professionals have seen different disease outbreaks resurface in recent years due to the lack of vaccines in children such as measles, mumps, and polio.
Sanitization Tips
Kids touch everything, and usually, their hands end up in their mouths at some point throughout the day. Children are exposed to common colds, strep, and other illnesses, which is why parents should teach their children to wash their hands regularly. Any activities that could spread germs, such as eating, playing with friends, coughing, and sneezing, should be surrounded by hand washing. Just Kids Pediatrics says while sharing is generally celebrated, parents must educate their children on when it’s appropriate. Sharing food and chapstick is not recommended.
CPR Tips
In the event an incident does occur, Just Kids Pediatrics recommends parents are CPR certified. Parents should also hold such standards to any caregiver their child is alone with for extended periods of time.
Heat Stress Tips
With hot Oklahoma summers, temperatures reach incredibly high levels. Just Kids Pediatrics says the best practices for heat safety to prevent heat stress are to ensure your children stay hydrated. “ Never, ever leave children in the car. Leave your bag, phone, or shoes in the back seat to remind you to check in the back seat before you leave your car. Lock your car doors when parked so children cannot get in without supervision,” says providers.
Playground Safety Tips
It’s suggested to ensure your children never go barefoot on the playground and to test the temperature of slides and other surfaces for coolness to prevent children from being burned.
To keep their families protected, parents can schedule an appointment to consult with a provider by visiting justkidspeds.com, or one of their four locations in Moore, South OKC, North OKC, and Mustang. Parents can also follow Just Kids Pediatrics on Facebook at justkidspeds for more tips.