Saturday, March 16, 2013

creative and inexpesive things to do with your child



I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said good parenting requires Twice as much time and half as much money.
I agree!!  Below is one of the hand outs from my parenting class.


Nurse Judy’s Inexpensive and creative activity list

  • Collect and decorate rocks with colorful paints and glitter for a rock garden.
This is a great one to use as a reward for good behavior. When they see the pretty rocks, they will remember that they earned them.

  • Make a collage. Old magazines and old photos are great for this activity.

  • Make an musical instrument... Use your imagination: a shoe box with rubber bands can be a guitar; Glasses filled with different levels of water make different tones; Tapping different surfaces with chopsticks makes different sounds.

  • Go on a ‘use all your senses’ walk. What do they see, smell, hear, and feel?

  • Create a scavenger hunt walk. Plan a list ahead of time of thing to find…like a dog, an airplane, or even a girl with purple hair.

  • Go on an ABC walk. Find things that start with all the different letters…or find the actual letters on signs and license plates. This is a great game in a supermarket.

  • Download Free coloring pages from the internet. With a little searching, you can get a picture of just about anything.

  • Draw with chalk. Make a hopscotch board.

  • Make your own play dough. You can find the recipe on line

  • Make a fort using the couch cushions

  • Write a story and illustrate it together.

  • Decide on a recipe and bake or cook something. Kids will often try foods more eagerly if they helped with the cooking. Let them help sprinkle in different spices and be the taste-tester.

  • Have a Tea party. Invite the dolls, and get out the good china that you never use.

  • Trace your hands and feet and color them in.

  • Have some down time while watching a video or a special TV program. There are some lovely educational TV programs and videos out there.

  • Play a computer game. Don’t be afraid of controlled use. Children that don’t learn how to be comfortable on computers at a young age are at a distinct disadvantage in this high tech culture.

  • Blow bubbles

  • There is little out there that is as much fun as a big appliance box to get inside of . If you buy a new appliance or see a neighbor buying one, ask for the box.
  • Wash the car!

  • Read!


Nurse Judy' Blog

Welcome to my blog.


When I was the pediatric advice nurse at Noe Valley Pediatrics in San Francisco,  I answered questions about a huge variety of topics. I also soon recognized that I got the same questions over and over again.

I started writing these posts in order to save myself from repeating the same answers constantly.


I combine 40 years of being a pediatric nurse with my experience of raising children (and now grandchildren) of my own. My approach combines the desire to treat things as naturally as possible, staying on top of the current data and a large dollop of common sense.


I understand that there are SO many opinions out there about just about every topic.

 It can be confusing and overwhelming!


My suggestion is that you  gather all of the various suggestions, sift through them and then figure out what instinctively feels right to you. If you try something and it doesn't work, learn the lesson, go back to the well and try one of the other choices.

I am just one more opinion to add to the list (but my batting average is pretty high)


If you are looking for advice about a  particular topic, You can put the title in the search bar and see if I have covered that.

You can also skim through the list at the bottom. Once you know when the post was written, it is fairly easy to scroll down on the right and click on the month and year


I send out an email to folks on my list  when I do a new post. If you would like to be added,just send me an email to nursejudysf@gmail.com or find me on substack.


Over time I have covered a wide and odd assortment of subjects, but  I am happy to get comments or requests on topics that you would like me to address.


I hope you find these posts helpful.



~Nurse Judy



March 2013
Creative things to do with your child

June 2013
Blocked tear ducts
How much sugar is too much ( Nurse Jen)

August 2013
Tylenol before vaccines?

October 2013
Nurse Charity on biting

December 2013
Vick vaporub on your feet?

February 2014
Impetigo

March 2014
Charity on warm weather nursing

April 2014
Roseola

May 2014
Your baby's weight/growth chart
spitting up
Nurse Jen blogs on how words matter

June 2014
Is it a Urinary Tract infection?

July 2014
Travel tips
Thrush (Nurse Charity)

August 2014
infant acne
Hep B/your first vaccination opportunity

September 2014
Pacifiers: Friend or foe
Tech time: how much is too much
Keeping play dates safe (Nurse Jen)

October 2014
Enterovirus D68

November 2014
Temper Tantrums
problem solving skills


January  2015
Febrile seizures

February 2015
Charity blogs about nipple wounds

May 2015
Sleep tidbits part 1 infant
Sleep tidbits toddler/ shifting naps
Sleep tidbits  leaving the crib behind

June 2015
Head aches
travel tips (updated)

July 2015
Cord care

November 2015
parapertussis


January 2016
cradle cap

February 2016
Vicks vaporub on the feet (update)

May 2016
Night Terrors (update)
Bed wetting

June 2016
Fathers Day post ( Mr Nurse Judy)
Talking to your kids about horrible headlines

July 2016
Travel tips (update)
Eye health/vision

September 2016
Achieving a healthy weight (update)


November 2016
Antibiotic considerations
taking your baby out into this germy world ( update)
story telling ( update)

February 2017
Zika (update)

March 2017
Flat heads/PT options

May 2017
Mothers Day musings

June 2017
Father's Day
Water safety/ Dry Drowning

July 2017
Swimming ( update)


August 2017
Food Heroes and Villians
Problem solving skills (update)
First aid kit


September 2017
Organizing your stuff ( update)

October 2017
Smoke and air quality

November 2017
The Impact of a single sentence

December 2017
Inhaler tips/Reactive airway
The best Present is your presence 2017
Will the real Santa please stand up 2017

January 2018
Building and protecting your immune system
Old letters and pictures

February 2018
The Misadventure of Nurse Judy/Managing stress 2018
We could all use a little bit more Mr Rogers

March 2018
The Back to work transition 2018
Dealing with Altitude 2018
Travel 2018
Attitude
Vision Health 2018

April 2018
Urgent care options 2018
Constipation 2018
TemperTantrums 2018
Warts and Molluscum

May 2018
Diaper changing tips
Lessons from my Mom

June 2018
Talking to your kids about homelessness
The Partners Job
My Fathers Influence

July 2018
July 4th safety tips (2018)
Speech milestones ( 2018)
Drowning/appoint a water guardian

August 2018
Motion sickness ( 2018)
Epipen/anaphylaxis ( 2018)

September 2018
Mental illness
Attention
Time outs

October 2018
Acute Flaccid Myelitis

November 2018
Pie Theory/Finding balance 2018
Air Quality
Impact of the recent smoke/radical acceptance 2018

December 2018
Keep a journal 2018

January 2019
Vaporizers/humidifiers 2019
Pertussis 2019
Four month sleep regression

February 2019
Head injury 2019
Hepatitis A 2019
Talking to your kids about sex 2019
Tech time/how much is too much 2019

March 2019
Urgent care options 2019
Cleaning up made simple 2019
Chicken Pox/Shingles exposure guide 2019

April 2019
There is no such thing as a silly question
Poisonous plants 2019

May 2019
The amazing Nanya/Mother in Law
Nurse Judy the mom
Bath time 2019

June 2019
Measles by the numbers
Fathers day Post
Travel safety

July 2019
Allergy alternative 2019
Lead exposure 2019


August 2019
When kids play favorites
Sleep tips/ insomnia

October 2019
Branching out from English only

November 2019
The Power of story telling 2019
Election time

December 2019
The Best Present is your presence 2019
Holiday safety 2019
The World can use more Mr Rogers 2019

January 2020
Habits update 2020
Flat head/ tummy time update 2020
Building and protecting your immune system

February 2020
Novel Corona Virus
Selling the family home/the end of an era
Covid-19 update
Adverse Childhood experiences

March 2020
social networking
Quarantine tips
Assessing Priorities

April 2020
Too much togetherness
It is okay not to be right all of the time
Poison Oak ( update)
Finding Humor in the time of Quarantine

May 2020
The science of hair loss
The impact of a single sentence ( update)
Vitamin D (update)
Rashes/when to worry ( Update)
Talking to your child about sex ( update)

June 2020
In Memory of Uncle Landshark
Stop feeling guilty for finding moments of joy 
 Decisions about the quarantine
 Drowning

 July 2020 
 Dealing and managing emotion
 Blink my baby is turning 30 
Dietary guidelines 2020 

August 2020 
Ergonomics 
Happy Birthday Lauren 
How trivial choices can make a huge impact

 September 2020 
 Mosquito bites 
 A story of the mysterious socks 
 Talking to your child about Loss

October 2020
 Family tree info
Happy birthday to Frida the lamp
Dealing with the time change

November 2020
Teach your child how to be a good winner or loser
Thanksgiving/food safety ( update)
Holiday safety checklist 2020 (update)

December 2020
Talking Barbie takes a bath
Santa and Covid (update)
The christmas Cactus

January 2021
Give your kids the gift of music
I am a Grandma!
Car Seat Guide 2021 ( update)
Having a baby is HARD
Basic Butt Care (update)

February 2021
Covid one year later
Heavy metal in Baby Food
Do you know your love language?
Carbon Monoxide (update)

March 2021
Passover musings
Cleaning up made simple (update)
Eczema management (update)

April 2021
Lessons from my mom(update)
Poisonous plants (Update)
Astrological shenanigans

May 2021
Talking to your children about Homelessness ( update)
 
June 2021
Making sense of the changing Covid Guidelines
Air safety in your classrooms and homes
Ghosts and Radios

July 2021
July 4th safety guide (update)
Things we take for granted
The Magic and importance of play
Motion sickness ( update)


September 2021 
A story about strange coincidences
Forgiveness and atonement

October 2021
Fever (update)
Earthquake preparedness
Halloween safety tips (update)
Dealing with Time shift (update)

November 2021
Lead poisoning/prevention (update)
Adverse childhood experience (update)
Covid vaccine children 5-11

December 2021
The best Present is your presence (update)
Travel safety tips ( update)
Travel tips part two (update)
Holliday angst and Joy

January 2022
Keep a journal (update)
Croup ( update)
Pain and Fever reducers with dosage charts ( update)

February 2022
Healthy fish as part of your diet
Head injuries (update)
Talking to your child about differences

March 2022
Horrible headlines (update)
Tick bites (update)
Febrile seizures (update)

April 2022
April Tuesday
Tips for giving medicine (update)
No such thing as a silly question (update)
Slap cheek (update)

June 2022
Hepatitis A (update)
Stories about my dad
Covid Shots for the little ones

July 2022
Sids/crib safety (update)
Melatonin (update)
Swimming guide (update)
Intentional communication (read this if you are bickering with your partner!)
colds and Congestion (update)

August 2022
spotlight on Polio
insect and Mosquito bites (update)
When your child is holding the keys and you are locked out

September 2022
Dealing with stress (semi update)
Flu vaccine 2022/23
hitting/biting/kicking
Grandparents and boundaries
baby poop

October 2022
conjunctivitis (update)
Skinfold irritations (update)

November 2022
sippy cups (update)
RSV (update)
pinworms (update)
Thanksgiving/food safety tips (update)

December 2022
Nothing as fun as a big box
Ear infections (update)
Holiday Safety tips (update)
talking to your child about Santa (update)
Managing tylenol shortage

January 2023
Tummy bugs (update)
Homage to Uncle Bert
Gun safety (update)

February 2023
Potty training (update)
Those wacky parental moments
Milestones/shmilestones
How loud is too loud? (update)

March 2023
The milk transition/calcium (update)
Good Dental habits (update)
Poisoning
Organizing your stuff (update)
Adenovirus

April 2023
Travel stories

May 2023
sunscreen (Update)
speech and language milestones (update)
Mothers Day 2023
Managing seasonal allergies

June 2023
Identify and mange your emotions
Chinese medicine and the summer season
Father's Day 2023
Head Lice (Update)

July 2023
Probiotics
Parent GPT
Measles 2023/global travel info

August 2023
Poop and solid foods (update)
The Pie Theory of life (update)
The enormous impact of seemingly trivial decisions (update)

September 2023
What would you do if?/problem solving pearl ( update)
Understanding medical terminology/How is your Greek and Latin?
Making the most of your doctor's appointment
Flu shot info for the 23/24 season
Forgiveness and Atonement (update)

October 2023
RSV (update)
Earthquakes and natural disasters ( update)
Dealing with Bullies (update)
My favorite piece of advice

November 2023
Strep Throat (update)
Creating healthy Sleep routine
When is your child contagious? (update)

December 2023
Gratitude
They put What in their mouth? (update)
Dealing with the long dark days of winter
Personal musings/end of a start up
What is in your medicine cabinet? (update)

January 2024
Happy Birthday Elliot
Colic and fussiness (update)
Chaos versus  quiet
kids stick things into all sorts of plaes

February 2024
Iron
Introducing allergens to your baby
election/get out to vote

March 2024
introducing a new sibling
hello from the rocking chair at 1 pm
Red hair/story about my grandmother

May 2024
Hotel bathrooms
kids and pets

June 2024
Nursing strikes
Breastfeeding resource
honesty

July 2024
dealing with excessive heat
my covid tale

August 2024
Back to school adjustment
Talking to your child about germs

September 2024
Picky eating
family dinners

October 2024
A Rosh Hashana message from beyond
Solid Foods document
Halloween safety tips 2024