NUACHTÁN KINDER | January 2022

Get a flu shot?

By Dr. Jorge Rangel | Celtic Medical Service

Before talking about this particular vaccine, let’s remember what vaccination consists of. In short, vaccination is introducing a foreign agent to the body so that it generates immunity. Generally, vaccines are classified into two types:

● Of attenuated microorganisms

● From particles of microorganisms

The former cannot be applied to immunocompromised people, such as those with AIDS / HIV or who are under any immunosuppressive treatment. The latter, except for the presence of allergies, can be used in the general public.

And the flu vaccine?

Every year the World Health Organization (WHO) conducts an epidemiological study on influenza virus strains expected to be relevant in the winter season to be included in the flu vaccine. So, we are vaccinating against different influenza viruses in a single vaccine. In Mexico, the vaccine will be trivalent, that is, it will protect us against three variants of the influenza virus.

Who should get vaccinated?

Although the recommendation is that the entire population older than 6 months of age be vaccinated.

There is priority to risk groups:

● Those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, COPD, heart failure, obesity, kidney failure, etc.

● Children between 6 months and 5 years old.

● Adults over 60 years old.

● People whose work increases the risk of illness: doctors, nurses, dentists, etc.

Where can I get vaccinated?

Vaccines are distributed by the government for free through the Ministry of Health (in the Health Centers) and through the Mexican Institute of Social Security (in the Family Medicine Units).

Children’s swimming, psychological and social development

By Montserrat Flores | Principal’s assistant

Swimming is one of the most complete sports activities. With this sport the muscles, motor coordination, as well as the circulatory and respiratory systems are worked and exercised. In addition, it contributes to the development of the child’s independence and self-confidence.

For babies, the benefits are many. Swimming improves the cardiorespiratory abilities, favors the postural alignment and benefits the muscular coordination, developing sensory and psychomotor abilities.

Psychological development

• They feel more confident and enjoy learning to swim a lot because they feel that their parents have their attention focused on them.
• Increases the feeling of independence and self-confidence.
• Knowing how to swim is also a safety measure. Do not forget that there is a large percentage of accidents due to children drowning.
• Stimulates self-confidence and therefore improves communication with others.

Social development

• Helps initiate socialization without trauma.
• Expands the horizon of shared games.
• Activates the fun and the game spirit.
• Consolidate the emotional bonds with their relatives.
• Introduces self-care behaviors, turning them into highly necessary habits.
• Living together will help them to relate better and share activities with other people.

Children’s guide. (2014). The benefits of children’s swimming. 12/03/2021, from Children’s Guide Website: https://www.guiainfantil.com/servicios/natacion/beneficios.htm

How do we prepare for English classes?

By Iliana Brien | English Coordination

The Celtic Kindergarten English teachers prepare our classes with great devotion to achieve a successful and meaningful learning process.

There is a certain complexity in the challenge of reaching a balance between the particular objectives of the subject and those of the teaching team that works together to obtain the expected progress.

Thus, during the IB and English planning meetings, diverse points of view are brought in, reaching agreements and planning meaningful strategies for the benefit of student learning.

Having established the agreements in the IB meeting, with a clear vision of what the topics are and how we will stimulate the curiosity in our students to be inquiring and reflective, we link these objectives with the units of the Cambridge program.

In this way, we obtain greater continuity and a better transdisciplinary connection.

English classes consist of four main moments:

1) Daily routine. The routine aims to consolidate basic vocabulary and practice simple phrases that are used frequently. During the daily routine, the students actively participate by performing the daily greeting, describing the weather of the day, remembering the days of the week, singing numbers songs, recognizing them, reviewing colors, shapes and even some spellings. All these activities are carried out in English and children respond in a surprising way.

2) Introduction. There is a short introductory activity to the topic that will be worked on during the class; which objective is to be able to determine the previous knowledge and, in this way, establish a starting point. During the introduction materials such as books, videos, photographs, flash cards or a simple talk of interest can be used. Sometimes, it happens that children, from this central topic, derive to other interests, it is then when the teacher must be flexible and incorporate the topic of interest without losing the main objective of the class. Thus, using their interests as a means of getting their attention and stimulating them to go beyond what is expected is how it is achieved that students are an active part and protagonist in their learning.

3) Class. It is then that the time comes for the work that is physically reflected, either in Cambridge books or, on occasions, it is a process of reflection through which we reach conclusions that can be captured by means of photographs, records, tables, mind maps, etc. It is during this stage that concepts and ideas are clarified, what is understood is questioned and shared with classmates.

4) Class closing and dismissal routine. During the closure of the class, conclusions are drawn, we observe the process that was followed during it and, sometimes, we send home follow-up activities that will serve to reinforce the knowledge acquired by the children. At the dismissal, supported by songs or instructions from the teacher, the children are responsible to leave the work area clean and ordered for the next day. Then, through a song, in which they review actions that they imitate with their bodies, they say goodbye and we give thanks for the day’s work.

English classes are an important part of their development, and provide knowledge that will be useful throughout their lives. For this reason, it is very important that they are fun, entertaining, structured and clear.

The fraternal union

By Ana Paola Gerdingh | Coordination of Student Activities CSA

Siblings are the people who share childhood, home, stories, mischief, love, sadness, fear and much more. They are the people who will accompany and support each other until death separates them, they will celebrate their triumphs and mourn their defeats … this, if as parents we understand the importance of strengthening their bond and if we manage to make them become best friends and accomplices. Here are some ideal phrases to reflect on this special person in each one’s life.

1. A brother is a friend that nature gives us. (Baptiste Legouve.)

That our brothers are our best friends gives us fun, company and support.

2. A brother could be the guardian of one’s identity, the only person with the keys to the most fundamental being of oneself. (Marián Sandmailer)

Nobody knows us better than siblings, they know our darkest, and also the brightest part.

3. We came into the world as brother and brother. And now we go hand in hand, neither before the other. (William Shakespeare)

Each brother has his strengths and it is important to let each one develops based on them.

4. Sibling’s hugs warm the soul. (Anonymous)

Undoubtedly, fraternal hugs contain us and make us happy.

5. Take care of your siblings, they are the people who will love you the most. (Anonymous)

Caring for a sibling in time of need is a moment of deep and mutual love.

6. A brother is an accomplice in adventures. (Anonymous)

Each adventure that is lived with the siblings becomes a story in adulthood.

7. Your happiness will always be mine. (Anonymous)

When there is a bond between siblings, there will be joy at the happiness of the other.

8. My dear sister, like the branches of a tree we grow in different directions, but our root is only one.

That root cements fraternity.

9. Siblings will always be united by the heart. (Anonymous)

Certainly. This sentence implies the whole meaning of the brotherly bond.

10. Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet. (Vietnamese proverb)

There will always be a bond between siblings for the simple fact of being siblings, how beautiful when this bond is healthy and strong.

Excerpts taken from Children’s Guide

Child development at 12 months

By Ana Laura Olvera | Daycare coordination

The development of a baby is an exciting process, the development of the senses, the milestones of development and the times in which they happen, the feeding of the baby, from breastfeeding to the introduction of all kinds of foods other than milk, the child’s sleep, the most common physical inconveniences and mental disorders and in early childhood, are a path towards the child’s growth that, on many occasions, generates doubts in mothers and fathers, especially when it comes to their first son.

Often, 12  months old babies are called «children.» Many of them already walk alone, or are about to do so, and their diet is already practically like that of the elderly.

From this moment on, issues related to the child’s education and psychology will be of special importance, in addition to those related to their health and care.

When it comes to food, your child can already eat almost all foods, as long as they are cut into small pieces. However, you should not give spicy food under any circumstances, seafood (to avoid the risk of infection), coffee, tea.

In this period, the little one has a lot of fun eating alone, or at least tries to do so, since he can already take the spoon and likes to demonstrate that he knows how to eat like the grown-ups.

Give him the freedom to try eating on his own, but to prevent food from ending up everywhere except in his mouth, you can take these precautions.

REMEMBER! Eating at the table with the rest of the family is one of the bases for establishing good eating habits. It is very beneficial for the child’s relationship with food and also makes him feel like a «full member» in the family environment.

Once the year of life is over, your child is more autonomous from the emotional point of view. How does he show it?

• He has understood that he can be calm, even if his mother is not there.
• The periods of separation can be experienced by the child as an opportunity to meet new people, who can represent a source of fun and learning for him.

When you have to separate from the child, you can:

• Experiencing brief separations, leaving him (for a short period) with the people who will have to take care of him (relatives, babysitters, etc.).
• Encourage contact with other people (reassuring him, so that he trusts them).
• Always let him know that you are leaving (even if it seems to you that he is too young to understand it)

Your baby is now more independent and can entertain himself for longer periods of time. The first signs of her personality have emerged and if your baby is now calm, happy, sensitive, etc. he is likely to remain that way as a child and even as an adult.

At 12 months, his curiosity intensifies and he is more attracted to action games. He concentrates for a long time turning the light on or off, or flipping a switch. He loves everything that scrolls.

• Increases his sense of humor
• The child already distinguishes what is right from what is wrong. Inside him, a rudimentary form of consciousness begins to develop.
• The little one also begins to call things and animals by their names.

Psychomotricity

• With one year, he moves quickly, on all fours or on his knees, walking if he is held by the arm, or leaning against the walls. Although less frequently, he may also be able to walk alone, whereas for brief moments and with poor balance.

View

• The child is already aware of his own identity. He knows what his dimensions are, what he needs or what he likes the most. And it is that he is already capable of seeing in three dimensions: he sees images with well-defined contours, vivid colors and three-dimensional reliefs. The world is no longer flat, it has relief.

Remember: The first three years of your baby’s life are important to his future abilities.

www.desarrolloinfantil.com.mx

Main sleep disorders in children

By Paulina Cisneros | Psychopedagogy Department

When we talk about sleep disorders it is because:

• Your child’s sleep problems (mood disturbances, concentrating difficulty, daytime sleepiness, physical and mental fatigue, general state of tension and anxiety) significantly affect his daily life.
• The sleep problem is affecting the parent-child relationship; the relationship of the whole family or their social and school relationships.

The most important thing is to be able to recognize that there is a sleep disorder that is affecting your child so that you can begin to solve it as soon as possible. For this reason, in case of doubt, it is necessary to notify the pediatrician.

There are many types of sleep disorders that can affect childhood and adolescence, to facilitate all the information available we have divided them into three categories:

1. The child who has trouble falling asleep
2. The child who does strange things at night
3. The child who falls asleep during the day

1. The child who has trouble falling asleep

Insomnia

Insomnia is characterized by difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep, or the feeling of not having slept well and that this lasts for at least one month straight. Insomnia disorder is one of the most common problems in children and can usually be treated and resolved with the help and support of healthcare professionals.

• Behavioral insomnia: it is the inability of the child to fall asleep if he is alone, presenting resistance and anxiety when going to bed. He wakes up very often.
• Insomnia due to inadequate sleep hygiene: it is associated with activities carried out during the day that are those that prevent an adequate sleeping quality during the night (consumption of chocolate or caffeine; intense physical activity or use of computers, consoles or cellphones.)

Restless legs syndrome

This syndrome is characterized by the urgent need to move the legs in resting situations, a fact that appears in many cases associated with an unpleasant sensation.

It is a disorder that has a great impact on the quality of life of the child and can cause insomnia and fatigue during the day. It is a disorder of which the causes are unknown, although it seems that there is a family predisposition.

It is essential to offer these children support when they are at school, since many of them are worsened in the morning by the obligation to sit in class, without moving.

Phase delay syndrome

This syndrome is an alteration of the rhythm of the dream that begins to appear, normally, from the 10 years; it is characterized by insomnia at bedtime and by the difficulty in waking up in the morning when the time comes, which leads to drowsiness during the day.

The child may manifest daytime fatigue, poor school performance, or decreased attention.

2. The boy who does «weird things» at night

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

This is a respiratory disorder that occurs during sleep and is characterized by the presence of repeated episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airways, because the soft tissues of the throat collapse and close during the sleep period.

Some anatomical alterations such as large tonsils or cranial malformation, neurological diseases and suffering from obesity or gastroesophageal reflux facilitate this syndrome.

Frequent hoarseness, trouble breathing at night, drowsiness during the day, or difficulty paying attention could make us doubt this syndrome. Its treatment usually involves the removal of the child’s tonsils or adenoids or the fact of sleeping with a mask to breathe comfortably.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking is a very common sleep disorder in school-age children.

It is usually benign and resolves with age without the need for treatment. The child does not respond to external stimuli and does not remember anything.

Night terrors

Night terrors are a type of sleep disorder that seems like a nightmare, although much more spectacular. While sleeping, the child  sits up abruptly in bed screaming and crying, upset and agitated. As in sleepwalking, the child does not respond to external stimuli and does not remember anything.

Nightmares

Nightmares are long, elaborate, complex states of sleep, with a progressive increase in the feeling of fear or anxiety. The child wakes up very scared and fully alert. He describes in detail that the dream he had was very anguishing and terrifying. Often, the child believes that what he has dreamed has really happened.

Parents cannot avoid nightmares, but they can help them sleep more at ease and, consequently, this helps to minimize nightmares.

Rhythmic movements related to sleep

They are repetitive movements that affect certain parts of the body such as the head, trunk, extremities or the whole body, which happen when the child is falling asleep. They begin when the child is not yet a year old and disappear as he gets older.

3. The child who falls asleep during the day

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a very rare disorder in childhood and usually establishes itself during adolescence and youth. It is characterized by daytime sleepiness, loss of muscle tone triggered by an emotion, maintaining lived experiences as real and suffering from a sensation of immobility. This is a chronic disorder and requires treatment with which the child can lead practically a normal life. The role of parents at this stage is especially important in establishing sleep hygiene habits.

General recommendations to try to avoid any type of sleep disorder

The main tips to follow to facilitate proper sleep development in children are detailed below by age group.

Less than 2 months

• It is very important that the baby is awake when he eats, so he will begin to associate the food with daytime.
• After each feed, hold your baby awake for a while to pass gas.
• After changing diapers, leave your baby awake in the crib so he can learn to fall asleep on his own.
• A routine should be developed before bedtime: bath – massage – dinner – lullaby or story – sleep.

Between 2 and 5 months

• Always do the same at bedtime.
• Do not wake the baby up at night to feed him.
• From 3 months old, the baby should sleep in his own room.

Between 5 and 12 months

• In this period the baby should no longer eat at night. If he wakes up, you should calm him down with gentle strokes and loving phrases.
• You can give him a transitional object: a doll, a stuffed animal … something to keep him company.
• He should continue with the routine before going to sleep and let him sleep alone.

From 12 months

• The environment should be calm, dark and the temperature comfortable.
• Bedtime should be roughly the same as well as waking time.
• Fluids in excess make him wake up at night.
• Strenuous physical activity will be avoided 1-2 hours before bedtime.
• Avoid giving chocolate or caffeinated sodas.
• Don’t let him nap too long.

From 2 years

• If the child protests or cries during the night, we reflect on what has happened during the day, but above all do not yell, make him feel confident and continue with the routine.
• Keep him from going to sleep hungry, but don’t let him drink too much fluids that will make him wake up to pee.

Between 2 and 5 years

• They only have to take a nap as a complement to their night’s sleep.
• At these ages, take into account not to enhance anxiety or fears.
• Avoid giving him stimulating foods and drinks.
• Limit vigorous physical activity 1 – 2 hours before bedtime.
• Never associate food or sleep with punishment or threat.
• If the child protests or cries during the night, reflect on what happened during the day, but above all, do not yell at him, make him feel confident and continue with the routine.
• Don’t lose your cool.

https://faros.hsjdbcn.org/es/articulo/principales-trastornos-sueno-ninos-como-tratarlos