Today’s topic has become a common theme in recent decades, but it’s helpful to talk about what the scientific literature is showing so we can make good choices for our families. Globally, we continue to see a rise in overweight and obese children. This information is pretty well known, but, for me, the interesting part is that children generally grew in a healthy manner, meaning their height and weight increased proportionally so they maintained a healthy weight until age 5. But during the school years, they started to either gain too much weight or too little height for healthy growth.

So, the question that begs to be asked is, why does this trend start after age 5 and not before? We know that a child’s height and weight are indicators of the quality of their diet and living environment, as well as being predictive of future health and well-being. So the answer to this question reinforces the importance of promoting healthy growth across all developmental years.

I’m going to touch on a hot-button issue today that I know is very controversial - vaccines. Before I start, I want to clarify my position as an educator to avoid anyone reading anything into what I want to say about vaccines. As most of my listeners know, I base all my podcasts, books, workshops, programs, and courses on current research, best practice policies by leading health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the European Pediatric Association and a firm understanding of developmental pediatrics. I have no personal gripe with the medical establishment, holistic medicine, or scientific process. My position on vaccines as a PhD prepared researcher and certified pediatric nurse practitioner is guided by top-tier peer-reviewed scientific research and my knowledge of the dangers of childhood illnesses, such as diphtheria, polio, measles, rubella, that are prevented with vaccines. I have no agenda beyond wanting to give accurate, unbiased information so you can make the best decision for your child. So, if you have a different perspective on this issue, that is okay. A human right we all have is the right to use the information we choose to when making decisions. You may choose to use and trust different sources. The information that is going to be discussed here today is based on research that has been published in peer-reviewed journals, that has been replicated and validated multiple times. It is at your discretion to consider this information or ignore it. My goal is to share what is published in the scientific literature so you have the most up-to-date information available.

With that said, I’ll continue...

Research continues to confirm the findings of past studies showing that the measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, vaccine does not raise the risk of autism, even among children who are at increased genetic risk. These recent studies, plus miríada of multiple previous studies, have shown that there is no link between the MMR vaccine, nor any vaccine, and autism.

Today’s topic is for parents of children of every age. We are going to be talking about the exciting and controversial world of highly processed foods. Why we have them, what they are made out of, and what they do in the human body compared to unprocessed foods. So whether you have a 6 month old who you want to introduce their first solid foods, or if you’re tackling the issues of a toddler who is a picky eater, or are trying to find interesting foods to pack in your kiddo’s lunchboxes, or have teens with ravenous appetites, today’s talk will give you more information to make the right choices for your family.

In my time working with parents, a lot of parents have asked if their child is getting enough exercise.

It’s a real and honest question in today’s busy life. Everyone knows exercise is great for weight management, strong bones and muscles, good posture, and heart health. Everyone also knows that exercise is good for our bodies and minds. However, it can be hard to carve out time for exercise, especially when our kids are so busy with school, clubs, and activities. It can be even more difficult to determine how much exercise a child needs to stay healthy when they have so many different activities running simultaneously. The good news is, there are resources available to help parents know how much exercise is needed as well as what type. Together, this helps families create an environment where children are entertained and having fun while getting their appropriate amount of exercise.

Sadly, marketing to children is not limited to just toys or activities anymore. Food manufactures have made children the target of heavy media advertising for nefarious foods. More than half of the foods that are advertised on television to children do not meet government nutritional guidelines.

In an age where most western societies are battling to change the trend in overweight and obese children, this is a concerning issue for many reasons. First, children don’t fully understand what a balance diet consists of and therefore want the bright colored, playful food products they see. And second, the advertising is purposely placed where it will have the most impact - during children’s programming or on channels designed for children.

While we as parents can’t do much about what is advertised, there are ways that we can help reduce the influence of marketing and lower our children’s demands for foods with low nutritional quality.

While reading my scientific journals, I came across some interesting findings published in the MMWR by physician Bryan Stierman and colleagues at Boston Children’s Hospital who used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for patients aged 19 years and younger. Their review of the data found that approximately 1/3 of children and teens are taking dietary supplements. The study sample was quite large, with 3,683 participants. So it gives us a good idea that what they found is quite typical. And in that sample the researchers noticed that 34% of the participants had taken supplements in the past 30 days with girls using supplements slightly more than boys.

And whey they compared their results with the results of previous studies, it appears that dietary supplements may help to mitigate, or lessen, nutrient shortfalls from a unbalanced diet but may also lead to nutrient intake above recommended upper limits for some nutrients. So this tells us that supplements can be a good thing in certain situations but need to be used with caution. A review of literature by pharmacist Edward A. Bell notes that data supporting the use if supplements in otherwise healthy individuals is weak.

So, based on this data, the question that jumps to mind is: Are nutritional supplements safe for kids?

Many of the parents I work with wonder how much sleep their child needs. And, simple said - it depends. But it’s easy to find the answer by considering a few important questions:

The first is, “Does my child receive enough sleep, rest and relaxation so he or she can learn, grow, participate and complete daily activities without becoming tired?”

The next is, “Does my child have a physical space, such as a bedroom, that helps them sleep, rest, and relax?

And the final question is, “Does my child have a social environment, such as a family routine or day care, that helps them sleep, rest and relax?

When put together, these questions answer the larger and more pressing question of whether a child’s sleep, rest and relaxation pattern is contributing to his or her health, growth, and development. Because in the end, that’s what sleep is for. Sleep supports maintaining a healthy body that is strong and resists illness. Sleep also gives the body time to rest so it can build and repair tissue for growth. And, finally, sleep is a time when the brain gets to process, organize and store all the learning that happened that day. So while sleep is a singular activity, it works on many different levels within the body.

I think one of the most difficult things we do to ourselves as parents is to make ourselves appear happy on the outside when we really feel stressed on the inside. The amount of energy it takes to put on a show of happiness is tremendous. Especially when we are already busy working on trying to solve what is making us feel stressed. The extra effort to appear happy taxes our system even more.

Modern life has given us this false idea that we have to be enjoying ourselves on a moment-to-moment basis to be successful or happy. There is a trend to document all the #beautiful, #authentic, #blessings, #whatever to show everyone that we’re making it. This can be as simple as the specialty coffee that drink every morning or sweaty selfies at the gym or even an Amazon haul to show of fashion forward we are.

From the outside our lives can appear to others as a fantasy or dream. Those people looking at our lives from the outside can’t see or feel the daily stress that creeps in just to get by. Jobs can be challenging, children can go through periods that test our patience as parents, illnesses can surprise us, and sometimes there is just bad luck that throws us a curveball. This dissonance between what we actually live and what we present to others to see from the outside can create a social pressure to give people what they expect. It can almost make us feel like we have an unconscious obligation to perform.

There are numerous costs to us, and our families, when we pretend we are fine, even when we’re not.