It’s that time of year again, when tombstones and ghouls invade the neighborhood, replacing the cheerful colors of the summer past with death’s darker theme in orange and black. I have not celebrated Halloween for twenty-six years, and I barely endured the holiday before that. When my children were very young, I thought I’d be a good mommy and do the deed. I sewed cute costumes for them. The kindergartner was a rabbit, the four-year-old a lion, and the toddler was a teddy bear. I bought candy for my husband to hand out to the neighborhood, while I trudged through freshly fallen snow with my small troop. My son wouldn’t keep his jacket zippered, though, because lions don’t wear jackets. The next day, all three were sick in bed, and my son wound up with pneumonia.

Personal views aside, just what is Halloween, and what does it teach our children? Is it really a harmless custom, allowing the children to dress up and engage in make-believe? Or could it be more sinister? If I were to write a lesson plan for Halloween, what concepts would the children be learning? Perhaps, my list might include…

Concepts Children May Learn from Halloween

• People die and are buried in the ground.
• We put tombstones on the grave to mark the place.
• We write irreverent poems on the tombstones.
• Ghosts and goblins haunt cemeteries.
• Black cats are a sign something bad is going to happen.
• Some people turn into vampires when they die, and drink blood.
• Witches are ugly and cast spells on us.
• Some witches eat children. (Remember Hansel and Gretel?)
• It’s okay to knock on the doors of strangers and beg.
• It’s okay to take candy from a stranger.

Now, is there anything on that list that you actually want your child to learn?

Research Suggests Halloween is Scarier Than You Think

Dr. Cynthia Dell Clark, Associate and Fellow of the Center for Children and Childhood Studies, conducted a three-year study on the effects of Halloween on young children. She writes that parents underestimate the effect of Halloween horror on young children. While we realize that it is all just make-believe, young children have a harder time differentiating between imaginary and real.

And Halloween is definitely getting scarier! When we were children, costumes were usually home-made. We dressed up like characters in books or cartoons. You might have met Superman, Snow White, and Rin Tin Tin knocking on your door. These days, vampires and zombies far outnumber the more benign beings. That young children even know what vampires or zombies are, is something I find unbelievably tragic.

The CDC reports that children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other time of the year. Children have also been known to suffer eye injuries from their costumes, or burns from flammable costumes. Some face paints have been found to be toxic, yet masks pose a greater threat by obstructing the child’s vision.

When I taught in public school, children start anticipating Halloween as soon as the costumes and candy went on display – around the middle of September. The school encouraged it, with teaching Halloween songs and poems, writing and reading Halloween stories, and talking about what to be for the party. By the time the last week of October rolled around, the children were so wound up, that very little education actually took place. Finally, we dismissed them on Friday afternoon, so they could spend the weekend on a sugar-high, often with the non-custodial parent.

Then, right away in November, we began the cycle again with Thanksgiving songs and poems, Thanksgiving stories to read or write, and a Thanksgiving party to plan. When December arrived, no one had much enthusiasm or energy left to handle Christmas. Santa Claus got a little attention, Jesus got none, and we all looked forward to January when “life could return to normal”.

So before you do your share to contribute to the shaky economy by purchasing quantities of candy and costumes, just step back and reflect for a few moments. Is this something you really want your child to learn?

Relating Reading Material:

• Who Is Raising Your Child: Battling the Marketeers for Your Child’s Heart and Soul by Laura J. Buddenburg, Kathleen M. McGee
• “Mommy, I’m Scared”: How TV and Movies Frighten Children and What We Can Do to Protect Them by Joanne Cantor PH.D.
  
• Satan, You Can;t Have My Children: The spiritual warfare guide for every parent by Iris Delgado
  
• The Anxiety Cure for Kids: A Guide for Parents by Elizabeth DuPont Spencer, Robert L. Dupon, Caroline M. DuPont

Photo Credits:
Top: photo by Dkprincess6
Middle: photo by Paul Stumper
Bottom: photo by Andre Chinn

Thumbs are such cute little digits! They are not straight and boney like fingers, or scrawny and wrinkly like toes. Thumbs are nice and plump and rounded, and shaped almost exactly like a pacifier! They just naturally seem to fit in the mouth. Frankly, at times, I’m sorry that I ever gave up thumb-sucking, as it can have such a calming effect. Instead, many adults opt to rely on medication, alcohol or cigarette smoking to deal with life’s stressful bumps.

When do Children Start Thumb-Sucking?

Some babies begin sucking their thumb in the womb. Most infants will suck a thumb of finger between birth and about six months of age. Parents may prefer to encourage the child to suck on a pacifier instead, as they think that it is less likely to cause dental problems, and it will be easier to break the habit one day. After all, you can’t just throw the thumb out, like you can do with the collection of pacifiers.

Why Children Suck Their Thumbs

Babies have a natural urge to suck. It’s part of their survival instinct, along with their instinct to cry. No one has to teach them these behaviors, it just comes naturally. When they cry, a basic need is met. They are fed, or changed, or held, or made more comfortable by adding or removing clothing. When babies suck, they receive nourishment from either a breast or bottle, but they also receive comfort. A parent or caregiver holds the baby (propping the bottle is not a safe or recommended practice) while feeding them, often rocking the child, and maybe singing softly. As the child is fed, the child becomes calm, and may even fall asleep. So some children, when they are anxious, suck a thumb to self-calm themselves. Even though they do not receive nourishment, they still feel comforted.

Is Thumb-Sucking Wrong?

No! There is absolutely nothing wrong with a young child sucking his or her thumb! Doctors and dentists agree that it is best not to try to break the child of the habit before age five. After kindergarten, it may be a good idea to work with the child to help him or her break the habit themselves, but only if the child is willing. Most children quit sucking their thumbs on their own by the time they are seven or eight years old.

Won’t Thumb-Sucking Damage My Child’s Teeth?

Maybe. Not necessarily. The child can generally suck his thumb for four or five years without causing permanent damage. Some children are very aggressive suckers, so much so that they rub blisters on their thumbs and the roof of their mouth. They are more at risk for creating dental problems. Even then, sometimes the dental problem fixes itself as soon as the sucking stops.

Thumb suckers may also develop a lisp when talking, having difficulty pronouncing certain letters, like “T” or “D”. However, lisping also occurs among children who do not suck their thumbs.

Won’t The Other Children Poke Fun of My Child?

Preschool children are still in the learning stage when it comes to behavior. They won’t poke fun of a child for sucking his thumb, unless someone has taught them to do so. It is up to the parent or caregiver to teach the young child to respect the feelings of others. You can talk with your child about his thumb-sucking habit. You can encourage him to suck his thumb only at home, but in the end, you may not always be around him to remind him of the rule. It is at the times when he is away from you – visiting a friend or going to a new Preschool – when he is more likely to need the comfort his thumb provides.

But Thumb-Sucking is Such a Dirty Habit!

If you’ve read my posts before, you know how I feel about dirt. Children need it. They should be allowed to dig in it, roll in it, play in it, maybe even eat a little of it. That is how they learn. I also believe that young children need to be taught how to wash their hands, and when to wash them. If your little thumb-sucker’s dirty thumb bothers you, keep a bottle of handi-wipes around and periodically swab the offending digit.

My Friends and Relatives Keep Telling Me My Child is Too Old to Suck His Thumb

How you raise your child is your affair. Telling friends and family to keep their opinion to themselves can be difficult, but it is better to hurt their feelings than your child’s. They are grown-ups, after all, and will get over it. If they don’t, you might suggest they try sucking their thumb, too.

Photo Credits:
Top: photo by Angie M. Photography
Middle: photo by Dawnzy58
Bottom: photo by Spiritinme

We live in a technological society. A generation ago might have seen a computer in the home, but today’s families may have multiple desktops, laptops, and handheld devices, along with cellphones, iphones, ipads, and ebook readers. Today’s preschool child can even get his picture books on a Nook Color. When is progress no longer a step forward? Could there be a time when we advance too far, that it hampers our natural development?

How Children Learn

All of the great philosophers, educators, psychiatrists and caregivers of young children agree that children learn best by doing. They explore the world through their five senses. They touch, taste, see, smell, and hear everything, to gain understanding. When a child has touched, tasted, smelled, heard, and seen something long enough, then he is no longer interested in it. We adults see that as a “short attention span”. Instead, we should praise the child for having discovered so much so quickly!

How then, do computers fit in the Early Childhood program? A child can touch a computer, certainly. He can see it, although most of the type on the screen is far too small, causing eye strain and potential damage to his young eyes. Some programs have sounds, although few children are listening to symphonies, but rather a series of silly bleeps and bops of whatever simplistic game a developer created who may not have any idea what really appeals to children. Computers don’t taste very good, and if your computer smells, then it might be time to replace it.

Game Developers May Not Be Qualified

Preschool teachers have gone to college. They have a degree, and they have learned something about the young child. They are qualified to prepare lesson plans for your preschooler, that will be educational and beneficial. There is no such regulation for computer software developers. They do not have the qualifications to teach your child. Depending on a computer game to teach your child would be tantamount to hiring a high-school dropout to babysit. The drop-out might do an excellent job, but it is unlikely.

That said, more and more young children are using computers! Public libraries and preschools have computers available for little children. Parents and grandparents are buying laptops and computerized toys. Even gaming systems have latched onto this growing market, creating video games for the younger set. So the question no longer is “Should Young Children Use Computers,” but rather… preschoolers are already using computers, therefore, “What computer and video games are right for them?”

New Games Page Added

I have added a new page to this blog, “Games”. In it, I will list computer games as I find them, play them, and rate them. The top table will list games that are acceptable, and rated on a scale of one to five stars, with three stars being the average. (I have yet to find a five-star game.) The second table lists the game sites that I would not let my granddaughter play, and why. I will continue to add to this page as time permits. If you have a favorite game, please share it in the comments section, and I will review that, as well.

As a final note – keep computer usage to a minimum. Certainly, no more than fifteen minutes a day. Then have your child go outside to play, to relax his eyes, and work his muscles. You will have a healthier child for it.

Related Reading:
Kids and Computers
Backyard Sandbox

Photo Credits:
Top: photo by Oleg1975
Middle: photo by Debora Austin
Bottom: photo by Randen Pederson

How much sleep do you get? How much does your child get? Is it enough? Do you know how much sleep is enough sleep? Why is sleep so important? Once you realize how important this basic need is, you will want to ensure that everyone in your family is getting enough.

Lack of Sleep Linked to Obesity

There are studies that show new moms are able to get into their skinny jeans faster if they get plenty of sleep. There are studies that show a high correlation between infants who sleep only twelve hours a day as opposed to the required 14 or more, are twice as likely to be obese by age three. Not overweight – but obese! Obesity is a major health concern, as being obese increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, gallstones, respiratory problems and certain cancers.

Lack of Sleep Linked to Depression

There is a strong correlation between lack of sleep and depression, although it is not known if insomnia causes depression or is a result of it. Normal sleep is restorative. Lack of sleep causes fatigue, leading to increased tension and irritability. When you are fatigued, you exercise less, which creates a vicious cycle of inactivity and sleep disturbance with resulting poor health.

Lack of Sleep Linked to Heart Disease

People who get less than seven hours of sleep every night have higher levels of plaque in their blood. Too little sleep raises cortisol levels, which fuels inflammation and destabilizes plaque. When plaque ruptures, it can block a blood vessel. If it blocks a blood vessel in the brain, it causes a stroke. If it blocks a blood vessel in the heart, it causes a heart attack. Although sleep deprivation is not the only cause of heart disease, it is important enough that getting adequate sleep should be part of every heart patient’s total health care program.

Lack of Sleep Causes ADHD

A recent study found that children who got less sleep than their peers were twice as likely to have behavior problems in school, including aggression, inability to concentrate or focus – all behaviors of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study also confirmed that while adults tend to act sluggish and groggy when they are overtired, children do the opposite. They speed up. The overactive youngster bouncing off the walls is not one that needs more physical exercise, but one that needs more sleep. This is a growing concern, as American children are getting on average one hour of sleep less per night than thirty years ago.

Lack of Sleep Causes Death

There, that’s pretty blunt! Lack of sleep causes so many health issues, that if you continue to deny yourself the restorative benefits of sleep, you shorten your life significantly. The study used 1.3 million people from all around the world, and found an unequivocal relationship between lack of sleep and premature death.

How Much Sleep We Need

Adults need between 7 – 9 hours of sleep every night. Only one on four Americans gets enough sleep on a week night, while about fifty percent get enough sleep on weekends. Still, for you to achieve the full restorative effect of sleep, you need to get enough of it every night. A new bed won’t make you sleep better. Some people sleep just fine on the floor. It is all about habits. Establish a good sleep habit, and stick to it.

Infants need 14 or more hours of sleep per day. Toddlers and preschoolers need 12-14 hours of sleep. School age children need about 10-11 hours of sleep, with teens still needing at least nine hours of sleep per night. Count backwards from what time your child needs to get up in the morning, to find the right bedtime – but remember to add a half an hour for falling asleep. So, if your preschooler needs to be up by six, so you can get him dressed, fed, and ready to go wherever, and he gets 11 hours of sleep at night (and a two hour nap), count back eleven and a half hours, which makes six-thirty his bedtime. By going to bed at six-thirty, he should be able to be asleep by seven, giving him his necessary eleven hours.

Do the same for yourself. If you need to get up by five o’clock in order to get everyone up, dressed, fed, and off to wherever they have to be, and you need eight hours of sleep, count backwards eight and a half hours, giving you a bedtime of eight-thirty. Sound absurd? How many grown-ups do you know who go to bed before midnight? Maybe you’re already thinking, “How can I get all my work done, if I spend that much time asleep?”

But instead, maybe you should be thinking, “How much more productive will I be, if I am healthier? If I can concentrate better while I’m at work?” Imagine if you never had to take a sick-day off work because either you or your child was under the weather?

There are five basic steps for optimal health. Getting enough sleep is just the first step. I will cover each one individually over the next few days. This post is for your information. If you want to teach your child about health, check out the activities for Health Week.

Photo Credits:
Top: photo by Linda Aslund
Middle: photo by Brian Fitzgerald
Bottom: photo by Toshimasa Ishibashi

Sources:

• Neihmond, Patti. “Lack of Sleep Linked to Later Weight Gain in Babies”. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. April 11, 2008.
• Stein, Rob. “Scientists Finding Out What Lack of Sleep Does to a Body”. Washington Post. October 9, 2005.
• Park, Alice. “Lack of Sleep Linked to Heart Problems”. Time Magazine. December 23, 2008.

The January Blues is a milder form of depression often referred to as “Cabin Fever”. You and your child may begin to feel trapped inside your home – no matter how lovely it is. You dream of summer beaches, picnics, cook-outs, fishing, and spending time with your family. Guess what? You can do all those things in the winter, too! The main cause of January Blues (If you live in the northern hemisphere) is a lack of sunlight.

I always wonder at people who hate the winter but live where it snows. Seems to me they have two choices: Move someplace warmer, or learn to enjoy the snow. To continue to live where you are unhappy should not even be an option! For your own mental health, and that of your family, do something about this today. This article and the next will help you learn ways to break the chains that imprison you.

Get Outside and Enjoy the Weather

The first rule to enjoying winter is to dress warmly. You cannot enjoy yourself if you are shivering. I covered the importance of long underwear and layering in an earlier article, Getting Ready for Winter. Another tip is to try to stay dry. As soon as your clothing gets wet, you can get chilled. So don’t sit directly on the snow. Sit on a plastic sled or tarp, unless your stay outside will be brief.

The second rule is to get a minimum of 20 minutes of sunshine on as much skin as you can bare, daily, which seems to contrast with rule number 1. You do not want to get chilled, but if it’s not windy and you can take off your hat, scarf or mittens for a little bit, do so. Lift your face to the sun. Go outside at noon, when the sun is brightest – which is the opposite of summer warnings, when you need to avoid the sun’s more direct damaging rays. I was very fortunate in one home to have an inner atrium that was completely protected on four sides. It was a small space – about fourteen feet square – that was exposed to the sun but not the wind. I could sit out there in a swimming suit at noon in February! At least, some of the time. I don’t know why more homes aren’t built like that, other than the fact it was terribly inefficient to heat.

Take Your Child Sledding

This is the most basic winter activity. As soon as a child sees the first snowflakes falling, he’s already dreaming of long sled rides, massive snowmen, incredible snowball fights, playing King of the Mound, or making Snow Ice Cream. Rediscover your own inner joy at the change of the seasons! Get yourself a snowsuit. Next time you take your child to the hill, don’t just stand there and watch. Hop on the sled with him and enjoy yourself! Don’t tell me you’re too old. Norman Vaughn is said to have competed in the Iditarod at the age of 100. Min Bahadur Sherchan climbed Mount Everest at 76, and Sue Oldham swam the English Channel at 61. Age is relative. You’re as old as you think you are. Play with your children, and discover your own fountain of youth.

Picnics Are Great in the Winter Too

Take a picnic! You can get fancy, packing charcoal briquettes and grilling hamburgers, or make it easy and pack thermoses of soup and cocoa. Bring a broom to sweep off the picnic table and slides. Roast marshmallows around the glowing coals. (Bring your own hand wipes, because the park bathrooms are usually closed.) Feed the ducks (cracked corn is better than stale white bread). Slides are just as much fun in the winter, and even slippery-er with snowpants on.


Take Up a Winter Sport As a Family

Discuss the possibilities in your area, and chose at least one as a family. There is a lot to chose from, including ice skating, snowboarding, cross-country or downhill skiing, mushing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, and winter camping. If its skating, get everyone skates. Once a week, minimum, head out to the skating rink together and practice. You can read picture books to your youngsters about ice skating. Watch skating movies. Get yourself a cute little skating outfit. Enjoy it!

Continue Your Summer Sports Training with a Club Membership

If you have a summer sport you really enjoy, such as cycling or swimming, you can keep that up, thanks to the spread of indoor gym facilities. We recently joined the YMCA in our city, which is very reasonably priced. They have swimming lessons all winter long, and plenty of open-swim times so we can practice between lessons. There are cycling classes, badminton classes, even family karate classes. The benefit to training all winter long, is that you’ll be in shape to enjoy your summer sport that much more once the snow melts.

Air Out Your Home Frequently

We make our homes air-tight to save on heating costs in the winter, but that can lead to poor indoor air quality. Periodically open a window for a bit to bring in fresh air. Vacuum often, replace furnace filters, wash sheets and bedding at least once a week and use dust mite covers, air out or clean mold-prone areas of the home, and keep plenty of houseplants. Not only will they freshen the air, but they might give you an emotional boost as well with their fresh, spring-like colors. Take a Vacation Someplace Warm If your blues get really bad, or happen every year about the same time, you might consider making a vacation to a sunny beach part of your family tradition. Whether you chose a condo in Miami, or a local motel with a heated swimming pool and water slides, do something warm, wet and wonderful together.

Houseplants Help Improve Indoor Air Quality

Fix Up the Cabin

Finally, if you just have to be stuck inside your “cabin” during the height of cabin fever, then fix it up. Make a change. Paint some walls or rearrange the furniture. Get rid of stuff to create more space. Sew some new curtains. Shampoo the carpets. Hang some new artwork. Anything you can do to spruce up your home will help you to enjoy the time you spend there. And if you’re happy, your entire family will be happier.

Related Reading
Getting Ready for Winter
Ten Snow Day Activities for Children
Ten Rainy Day Activities for Children

Credits:
Sad Boy: photo by Kevin Pack
Sledding: photo by Chris Sampson
Winter Picnic: photo by Timo Newton-Syms
Houseplants: photo by Jennifer Feuchter

Many people suffer depression in the winter months, and children are not immune. Some call it “Seasonal Adjustment Disorder”, a type of depression believed to be caused by the shortened days and a lack of sunshine. Others may be suffering from post-holiday stress. Any prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness or worthlessness should be treated by a health care professional.

Depression in Early Childhood

Prior to the 1980s, psychiatrists did not believe that depression could affect teenagers. They believed that teens were too “psychologically immature” to suffer from adult feelings of guilt and worthlessness. Now teenage depression is widely accepted. In the early 1990s some psychiatrists began to wonder if preschoolers could suffer depression, but it wasn’t until the Clinton Administration’s Conference on Early Childhood Development and Learning that interest in studying preschool depression increased.

The sad truth is that preschoolers can be clinically depressed. Depression is characterized by feeling sad. According to an article by the National Institute of Mental Health, “Children who are depressed may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school or cling to a parent.” I’m thinking – “And how is this different from any normal three-year-old?” As a preschool teacher, I often saw young children cling to their parents in the morning. Some would cry or complain of stomach aches, and they didn’t want to go to preschool! Since I doubt they all were suffering from depression, how can parents tell the difference?

Whether a child is just feeling sad or suffering from depression is a matter of degree. The blues will pass after a few days or up to a week. The term depression is for extended periods of sadness lasting two weeks or more. Other symptoms of depression may include:

• Irritability or anger
• continual feelings of sadness or hopelessness
• social withdrawal
• increased sensitivity to rejection
• changes in appetite- increased or decreased
• changes in sleep – increased or decreased
• vocal outbursts and crying
• difficulty concentrating
• fatigue and low energy
• physical complaints – stomach ache, headache, that do not respond to treatment
• reduced ability to function during events, with friends and family
• feelings of worthlessness and guilt
• impaired thinking or concentration
• thoughts of death or suicide

Recognizing depression in preschoolers is much trickier than the older child or adult. Preschoolers are more naturally buoyant. Their moods swing frequently throughout the day, and they are unable to express their thoughts and feelings. Often, the depressed preschooler is the “good” child, the “wheel that doesn’t squeak”. One four-year-old, who was later diagnosed with depression, was that good child. He was empathetic and obedient, but he didn’t seem to find much enjoyment. He didn’t run around like other children. He didn’t get excited about going to Disney Land, and said, “Mickey lies. Dreams don’t come true.” He didn’t like to do anything if he couldn’t do it perfectly and got very upset when he made mistakes. He was often bored, and complained that nothing was fun. He was often draggy, super whiny, and seemed like he was in pain. Again, this is a matter of degree, as many preschoolers will have days like this!

Preschoolers can experience feelings of sadness, even though they may not yet understand emotions. Depression affects the degree to which this sadness is expressed. Imagine two young children trying to tie their shoes without success. One preschooler struggles, then asks a teacher for help. The other preschooler, frustrated, throws his shoe across the room. He may hit himself, or degrade himself, saying things like, “I’m stupid.”

Depressed preschoolers are often misdiagnosed. They may respond to depression differently than adults, becoming restless, hyperactive or irritable, and misdiagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) or ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). The risk of depression in preschoolers is much higher if one or both parents are depressed.

Treatment for Depression in Preschoolers

Young children should NOT be given medication for depression. The drugs have not been tested for them. However, depression can have serious effects on their development if left untreated. A child with low self-esteem and low energy will not push himself to do well in school. Psychotherapy may be the best option. For preschoolers, this would be “play therapy”. Using toys and puppets, the mental health care professional can help the young child learn to express himself, and improve his negative emotions.

It is important to realize that no one is to blame. Parents cannot blame their child’s depression on something they did or did not do. Preschoolers are seldom depressed about bad things or stressful events. Depression is a mental disorder that is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The causes of the chemical imbalance are not fully known, but can be linked to certain personality traits, medical conditions, and diet. Children who are obese, or deficient in vitamins B 12 and folic acid are more at risk for depression.

To depression-proof your child, help him to develop a positive self image. Teach him how to express his feelings, and reassure him that negative feelings are “okay”. Teach him how to deal with his feelings. Make sure he has a well-balanced diet that is high in fresh raw fruits and vegetables, and that he gets adequate exercise to prevent obesity. Teach him that it is okay to ask for help. And most of all, if you believe that you may be depressed, get the help you need now, before it affects your child.

Related Articles:
Breaking the Nail Biting Habit
Laughter, the Best Medicine
When to Say “No!”

Photo Credits:
Top: photo by Mike Krzeszak
Middle: photo by Woodley Wonderworks
Bottom: photo by Nicholas Kennedy Sitton

Sources:
* “Depression in Children”, www.Medicine.net, accessed January 5, 2011

* “Child Depression and Adolescent Depression,” The National Institute of Mental Health. Accessed January 6, 2011.

Winter is nearly upon us – and some are already shoveling out from the first of many winter storms. Those of us who have always lived in the northern climes may be old hands at preparations, but in this mobile society, there are some who do not really know how to prepare for the cold season ahead. So for them, or as a “refresher checklist” for the rest of us, here are some suggestions:

Wear Long Underwear

Unpack the long johns, or stock up on them if you don’t have any. Also called “long underwear” or “thermal underwear”, these should be standard garb for anyone who doesn’t like to be cold. You can buy them in cotton blends, which is okay if you are mostly going to be wearing them around the house. Cotton isn’t good for outdoor winter sports, though, as cotton absorbs the sweat and holds it next to your skin, which will make you cold. For outdoor sports enthusiasts, invest in either wool (some find it scratchy) or nylon thermal underwear. You can find both at sports stores like Dick’s Sports, Gander Mountain, and Bass Pro shops. The more common cotton long johns can be found at most major department stores, and in a variety of colors and cute prints. I’ll add that the silk ones are very thin, and don’t make you look ten pounds heavier, but they will keep you toasty warm even if your home is drafty or your spouse insists on setting the thermostat lower than you’d like. It is MUCH cheaper to wear long johns than to heat your house to 72 degrees, and another benefit – if you’re wearing long johns, then every time you have to run out to the car, you don’t get as chilled. I love winter, but I hate feeling chilled.

Dress smart – layer clothes.

Over the long johns, wear a turtle neck, flannel or cotton knit long sleeved shirt. Then a vest or pullover sweater, then your coat. Long johns on the legs, then either pants or a skirt, and snow pants if you are going to be outside for any length of time. Boots are best if you get the kind with thick felt inserts. No zippers in boots, as snow gets in the zipper, melts and chills your foot. Also, frozen zippers break.

You must wear a hat, if you don’t want to be cold. We lose a lot of heat through our head. The hat is easy to pull off if you start to feel too warm, or pull on when you feel chilled. Train your children to wear hats. Spoil them with the hats they want, so they’ll wear them. I know it isn’t “cool” to wear hats in high school, but frost bitten ears is so not cool, either.

And finally – mittens! Gloves are okay if you are driving, but your fingers will be warmer if kept all together. Knit mittens are fine for going places, but for outdoor play, you’ll want thicker mittens – leather with liners, or poly-filled nylon. Do not allow yourself to sweat. Remove layers, loosen layers, or button them back up as needed to keep warm without sweating. Be warned! If you plan to do some outdoor camping, that many outdoor clothes are not flame-retardant! The typical nylon ski or snowmobile suit will melt to your skin. Wool is best for camping.

Get a boot dryer.

Unless you have slab heat in your floors, your boots may be wet inside all winter. Boot dryers are cheap and practical. You slip an inverted boot over the the post, which gently circulates warm air to the inside of the boot. Wet boots stink and won’t keep your feet warm.

One -Piece Snowsuits Are Best for Young Children

One-piece snowsuits are better for young children, but harder to find. Most stores now sell snow pants that fit like overalls- coming up over the shoulder, then a separate jacket. That is so the child can wear just the jacket if not going to play outside, but when is that? Schools send children out for recess every day, until the temp is 3 degrees below zero. Then they stay inside. If your child has a one-piece snowsuit, he won’t ever go outside without the pants part.

Wear socks or slippers in your house.

If your feet are warm, you will feel warmer all over. Don’t pad around barefoot like you did in the summer. Winter can be a time to pamper your feet. Slough off the hard callouses, rub in some thick moisturizing cream, and wear slippers. By spring time, your feet will be pretty again.

Putting Clear Plastic Over Your Windows Can Cut Down on Drafts

If your house is drafty (most are), you may want to plastic the windows. This is best done sometime after Halloween and before Thanksgiving in many northern areas. Some plastic goes up on the outside with a staple gun. Some types of plastic go up on the inside with double-stick tape and a hair dryer. The plastic can cut down drastically on drafts, save on your heating costs, and keep you all more comfortable. However, it does cut down somewhat on the light in your house, which affects people with SAD (seasonal adjustment disorder). With the plastic, wearing long johns and slippers, you can be warm inside with the thermostat set somewhere between 65-68 degrees.

Winterize your car.

Check the radiator fluid, the air in the tires, the washer fluid. Cheap washer fluid can ice up and won’t clear your windows once a semi sloshes muddy water on your car. Hardware stores and auto parts stores sell a more expensive washer fluid that won’t freeze. If you can afford it, make sure the undercarriage of your car has been rust-proofed. Road salt chews away at cars in the north. If you can’t afford that, then make sure you wash your car often in the winter. The car wash bays are open except on the coldest days.

You will also want to prepare an emergency kit for your car, in case you become stranded. There are many guides and lists of appropriate items to include, like bottled water, hard sugar candies (for energy), blankets, flash light, first aide kit, and more. Keep this in your car all winter long! And don’t forget the jumper cables. Every car that drives in cold weather should carry a set of jumper cables. You might never need them, but they cost under fifteen dollars at most stores, while a single tow to the garage can run closer to two hundred.

Finally, depending on the type of car you have, you may want to put sand bags in the trunk over the rear axle. You do not do this for front-wheel drive vehicles! But especially in pick-up trucks. The extra weight gives you better traction on slippery roads, and if your tires do become stuck, you can split open the sand bag and sprinkle it under your tires. You can find sand sausages at many garages and auto parts stores for around $7.00 apiece.

Stock Up on Ice-Melt

Get some fertilizer to sprinkle on your front door step to melt the ice. Some homes use salt, which is harmful for the environment. Fertilizer works, too, and won’t damage your lawn. It’s still not great for the environment, but its better than salt. Plain sand works, too, and many people mix sand and fertilizer for ice-melt. You will need a snow shovel and maybe an ice chopper for the sidewalks. If you don’t keep your sidewalk shoveled and ice free, you can get a ticket if you live in town.

Get Outside, Get Involved in Winter Sports

Finally, check the resale stores for used ice skates, snow sleds, snow boots, extra scarves, hats, mittens, etc. If you don’t want to hate winter, and suffer SAD (seasonal adjustment disorder, a type of depression that affects northerners from lack of sun exposure in the winter) then get outside and enjoy the snow! EVERY DAY. If you have little ones, take them to the playground. Slides work just as well in winter, yet the playgrounds are ghost towns once school starts. Snow suits make slides even faster than sweaty summer legs in shorts.

Photo Credits:
Making Snowballs: by Andrew Eick
Shoveling Snow: by Sharon Mollerus

Today you can buy antibacterial hand soap for the bathroom, antibacterial toothpaste, antibacterial dish sponges, food dishes, clothes, shower curtains, cutting boards, deodorants, computer key boards, children’s toys and more. If all these antibacterial products were really helpful, wouldn’t we be seeing a decline in illness by now?

The fact is, antibacterial soaps don’t work. Oh, they will kill 99.6% of the germs on your hands, but plain soap and water will kill 99.4% of the germs! And after you wash your hands, as soon as you touch something, you are no longer “germ free”. Also, antibacterials kill bacteria – but colds and flu are viruses. Washing with antibacterial soap will not protect you from getting the flu.

Studies have found that children who grow up in slightly unsanitary conditions have fewer instances of allergies, eczema and asthma than children who are raised in more sterile environments. It is believed that children actually need to be exposed to some germs in order to develop healthy immunities.

There are some serious environmental issues regarding triclosan, the main ingredient in most of the antibacterial products marketed today. Triclosan is found in waste water treatment facilities, as the antibacterial soaps are washed down the drain along with our germs. Triclosan is now found in our lakes and rivers. It kills several varieties of algae. It is absorbed by fish, found in high concentrations in their bile, causing fin deformities and infertility. Triclosan is even found in human breast milk and plasma, regardless of whether the person actually used antibacterial products.

Triclosan is not believed to be toxic, but it may contain dioxins, which are very dangerous. Dioxins cause birth defects, miscarriage, weakened immune system, infertility, altered sex hormones and cancer. When triclosan was exposed to ultraviolet radiation (as in sunlight) it converted to dioxins in the lab. As higher concentrations of triclosan fill our lakes and streams, they too may become contaminated with toxic dioxins.

Once again, the European Union seems to be ahead of the United States when it comes to saving the environment. Already they are taking steps to limit triclosan use. It is banned from items that come into contact with food, and consumers are urged not to buy antibacterial products.

The American Medical Association has publicly stated that “it may be prudent to avoid the use of antimicrobial agents in consumer products.” (Tan, 2002). So the next time you go shopping, look for soap products that do not have “antibacterial” in the label. Remember, it’s not what you wash your hands with that matters – only that you wash your hands.

Related Reading:
Teach Your Child How to Wash Hands
Bath Time Blues
Inexpensive Earth-Friendly Cleaners

Photo Credits:
Wash Hands: by Southern Breeze
Mud Play: by Rabble