Do you have a kindergartner for 2015?...If so you should sign up!!

There is a new online program preschool for children that will be starting kindergarten fall 2015. UPSTART is unlike any other preschool program in the nation. Funded by the Utah State Legislature, UPSTART gives Utah families an easy–to–use, at–home preschool program that will start their children on the path to success in school.

The Importance of Early Education

Recent research demonstrates that success in school depends on what happens before kindergarten. Simple activities like reading to a preschooler, singing nursery rhymes, and learning the alphabet can set the stage for a lifetime of success.
Parents today often do not have the time or resources to engage in these important activities with their children. Some parents even wonder if they have the know–how to work with their children. The result is many children enter kindergarten unprepared to learn and make the most of their school experience. Some children succeed in spite of these challenges. But far too many fail.

The Challenge

Many state governments have funded universal preschool to give their children the best start possible. But there are challenges associated with universal preschool including cost, the limited number of well–qualified preschool teachers, and concerns about taking children out of the home for formal schooling at an early age.

Waterford Institute’s Solution

In 2009, Waterford Institute was selected to oversee the UPSTART pilot program. More than 7,000 Utah homes have participated in the program during its first five years.
Waterford’s program provides world–class reading, math, and science instruction as well as a program to assess and remediate young children. Waterford’s curriculum has been:

• Allowing children to access education from home
• Costing less than traditional preschools
• Providing research–based, proven, complete instruction
• Engaging children with fun activities
• Testing each child’s progress
• Giving families the support needed to succeed
• Fitting into families’ busy schedules

Participating families not only receive Waterford’s proven curriculum, but they also receive extensive support to keep motivated and make the most of this learning opportunity.
Waterford believes that children’s first and most important teachers are their parents and family. UPSTART is designed to give these first teachers the tools to prepare their preschoolers for a lifetime of learning.


To sign up go to www.utahupstart.org

Info from the utahupstart website

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wanted to wish all of our patients a very Happy Thanksgiving! We will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving day.

We will re- open on Friday November 29th. We will start taking phone calls at 8:00 am and have several doctors in our clinic to help with your sick children. Please have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving day!

Technology in children's bedrooms said a barrier to adequate sleep

 

Dr Jopling wanted to share this story he read from the AAP.

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Technology such as computers and smartphones in children's bedrooms can cause anxiety and sleep loss, scientists at Canada's Dalhousie University report. Having technology such as televisions, smartphones and game consoles in the bedroom teaches the brain to see the room as an entertainment experience rather than a place for quiet and rest, they said.  Playing violent video games in the bedroom conditions the brain to see it as a place of danger, leading it to stay in a state of alert rather than resting, they added.
"One of the biggest culprits for inadequate and disturbed sleep is technology," Dalhousie researcher Jennifer Vriend, the study's lead author, said. "Many teenagers sleep with their phones and they are awakened regularly by it ringing or vibrating throughout the night when they get a text, email or Facebook message. "Having televisions and game consoles in the bedroom is also a problem," she said. "It sets up the brain to see the room as an entertainment zone rather than a quiet, sleepy environment." Losing just one hour's sleep can reduce a child's performance at school, the study published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology found. "Even modest differences in sleep duration, accumulated over a few days, can affect critical cognitive and emotional functions in children," the study authors wrote.


Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Technology/2013/11/13/Technology-in-childrens-bedrooms-said-a-barrier-to-adequate-sleep/UPI-31021384388839/#ixzz2l7J4NTs9

A FUN and Spooky day!

We hope you had a safe and fun Halloween! We had a great time on Halloween and wanted to show some pictures of our great staff! Happy FALL!!

 

 Our newest MA Amber and Dr Joplings MA Traci

 

 

Dr Lynch and his MA Tanji

 

 Office Manager Margie and Dr Joplings/Dr Omara's MA Mandy

 



 

Dr Omara with her awesome Halloween Sweater!

 

Our Amazing front Staff---Trishell, Tracey and Nicole

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Happy Halloween!! Remember to be SAFE!

Article Body

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids. Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help ensure they have a safe holiday.

All Dressed Up:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

Carving a Niche:

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.
• Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
• Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

Home Safe Home:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

On the Trick-or-Treat Trail:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind trick-or-treaters:
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags. 
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
• Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

Healthy Halloween:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween

AAP-Warning about decorative contact lens

When 14-year-old Robyn and her friends saw decorative contact lenses for sale at a convenience store, they thought they would be a fun way to change their looks. Unfortunately, Robyn ended up with a serious eye infection. When her eye healed, the scar left her partially blind. She had to have surgery on her eye to be able to see again.

“All contact lenses have risk, corrective or decorative,” said Thomas Steinemann, M.D., the eye doctor who treated Robyn. “The risk is infection. The risk is increased if you don’t take care of your lenses; the risk is increased if you sleep in your lenses; the risk is increased if you share your lenses.”
Actors and musicians with decorative contact lenses are everywhere, it seems. From Lady Gaga to Twilight, changing the look of their eyes with decorative contact lenses is the latest craze. As Halloween nears, costume shops begin to sell the contacts, too. There are plenty of styles to choose from: colored lenses, shapes, spirals, even white. But most people do not know that these lenses are not legal. They have dye in them that can cause problems. One size does not fit everyone.
This can stop air from getting to the eye, and trap germs underneath.

Anyone who wants to wear decorative lenses should get them from an eye care professional and be measured first. The eye doctor will write a prescription for lenses that are made to fit your eyes. These contacts are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Contacts that are bought from a store or online without a prescription are not. Wearing these decorative contacts can cause:
• a scratched eye (corneal abrasion),
• infections from bacteria, viruses, parasites or funguses, and
• allergic reactions.
Some problems can cause blindness in hours. Parents should keep an eye on any child who wears contacts, decorative or prescription. Problems include redness and pain, light sensitivity, and tearing or drainage from the eye, said Dr. Steinemann. “If it hurts, get it out and see an eye care
professional right away.”

— Trisha Korioth
Only buy decorative lenses with a prescription

**AAP statement

Flu shots are here!!

It is that time again to book your appointment for your FLU SHOT or FLU MIST! This year we are offering the Quadrivalent Flu Shot and Mist. The new Quadrivalent provides protection against additional flu strains. We are booking appointments now and they are filling up fast. We will not be doing Flu walk in's and you must schedule and appointment. See you soon!