How Much Facebook Is Too Much for Kids?

If you’ve ever asked a seven-year-old to teach you how to use your computer, you’re not alone. We are living in a time of lightning-fast change. Our kids’ understanding of computer technology seems to be intuitive, almost magical. They “get it” instantly, while we sometimes feel lost. In many ways, this familiarity with computers will serve our children very well. They’ll be better suited for the world to come because the equipment they will be expected to use won’t intimidate them.

But what about socially? Can kids gain the social skills they need to function in the real world, when they’re spending all their time online? Do social networking websites teach social skills? Can Facebook replace face-to-face? And… how much Facebook is too much?

In the April issue of Pediatrics, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, and The Council on Communications and Media published a report called, The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. According to the report, the use of social media has both benefits and risks for children today.

Some of the Benefits of Social Media Use for Children

1. Socialization. Do social networking websites teach social skills? Well, yes, of a sort. The social life of adolescents today takes place in a digital world in large part. In this video Dr. O’Keeffe suggests that parents refrain from looking at that as a bad thing. Yes, it’s different than the world in which we grew up, but that doesn’t make it “bad” or “wrong”. This is how it is, and learning to navigate the social mores of that digital world can be a good thing for our kids.
2. Communication. I often think about how the world has changed for children who are housebound due to illness or disability. Because of today’s social opportunities online, these children can lead a fuller life than they could have in the past.
3. Education. The world is a very small place these days. My family lives in Spain, and I live in the United States, but with the Internet, we can communicate more easily and more frequently than ever before. The same is true for students who can connect with students across the globe, creating a richer understanding of the world. “Facebook and similar social media programs allow students to gather outside of class to collaborate and exchange ideas about assignments,” says the report in Pediatrics.

Some of the Risks of Social Media Use for Children

1. Facebook Depression. Some children begin to exhibit the classic signs of depression after spending a lot of time on social media sites, a phenomenon that researchers have dubbed as “Facebook Depression.” Researchers believe that the teen’s social life on networking sites like Facebook could trigger depression. If a child is the victim of cyberbullying, he or she is more likely to grow depressed.
2. Inappropriate sexual activity. Sexting, or sending sexually explicit messages, pictures, or videos, is sadly all too common these days among teens and even pre-teens. Worse, digital pictures can be around forever, and can be shared in the blink of an eye. Before your child understands the implications of what she’s done, every student at her school can see that naughty picture she sent to her boyfriend.

Social networking sites can also mask the true identity of child pornographers and sexual predators.

What Should Parents Do?

1. Monitor your children’s Internet use. Many sites, including Facebook, state that users under age 13 must have parental permission to create an account. The American Academy of Pediatrics urges parents to respect these age restrictions. There are sites for younger children that you and your children can evaluate together to determine whether it’s appropriate. Some examples include Disney sites and Club Penguin.
2. Talk to your pediatrician. Start a dialogue with your pediatrician about your child’s Internet use and any concerns you may have. We can help parents and children navigate the digital age in a way that keeps the emphasis on positive online social interaction.

Posted in News & Events | No Comments »

Health Alerts and Recalls

WATER WALKING BALLS

Water walking balls are a new attraction at amusement parks, carnival, sporting events and also can be purchased for home use. The activity involves climbing into a large, clear plastic ball that is inflated with a blower and zipped closed. The occupant then walks or rolls around on water, ice or grass.

Because the ball is airtight, inadequate air supply can results after oxygen is depleted, posing a suffocation risk. Occupants also can be harmed if the ball rolls or falls out of the water or collides with another object, or can drown if a hole forms and the occupant becomes trapped inside on water.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ruled that the device presents a potential drowning and suffocation risk. CPSC advises consumers not to use the balls or allow children to use them.

POGO STICK

This recall involves the Rocker Stick, Pop Stick, Monster Stick and Twin Stick pogos sold in red, green and blue. Only sticks with manufacturing codes between 04/01/2010-046HE and 10/31/2010-046HE are recalled. They are distributed by Bravo Sports of Santa Fe Spring, CA and sold at mass merchandisers nationwide and online.

The bottom of the pogo stick’s frame tube and a pin holding the spring in place can break, which can cause the user to fall.

Contact Bravo for refund.

Posted in News & Events | No Comments »

New Child Car Seat Recommendations from the AAP

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a new set of recommendations about car seat for children. The new guidelines recommends to keep children restrained in a rear-facing position in the back of the vehicle until they reach AGE 2 or the highest weight or height allowed by the car safety seat manufactures. Most convertible safety seats available accommodate children up to 35 pounds, which exceeds the weight of most boys and girls by 24 months of age.

Most parents are concerned about the safety of their children when their legs grow pass the comfortable accommodation in a rear facing seat. The solution is to use a CONVERTIBLE seat and maintain the child rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight and height indicated by the manufacturer. As it turns out, it is very rare to sustain an injury to the legs while rear-facing, a concern many parents express.

Car Seat Safety Recommendations:

• Children 2 and older should remain in a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the limits allowed by the seat manufacturer.
• Children who are above the weight and height for a forward-facing seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle lap-and-shoulder seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8-12years of age.
• When children are old enough and tall enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap-and-shoulder seat belts.
• Children under the age of 13 should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.

For more information, check the 2011 Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families at http://www.healthychildren.org/carseatlist, to find data on products, prices and height/weight limits for children.

Child Safety Recommendations While Traveling by Airplane

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the safest place for a young child during turbulence or in an emergency is in an approved child restrain system. However, the FAA does not require children under the age of 2 to sit in their own seat with a separate seat belt. Parents must make the decision on their own, while the cost of airline tickets and inconvenience of security screening procedures makes it challenging for families to follow the recommendations. Families who don’t purchase a separate ticket for their child under the age of 2 can try to book their travel during off times and ask to be placed next to an empty seat. It the family does not want to bring their own car seat, they can pay about $75 for an FAA-approved harness-type seat. Most car safety seats are approved for use on airplanes; look for the label stating, “This restrain is certified for use in motor vehicles AND aircraft”.

Don’t forget to ensure proper safety seat availability when you reach your destination. You can carry your own seat, check it as baggage or borrow one after landing.

For further information about aircraft travel and safety seats, visit the FAA web site about child safety on airplanes,  or visit The Transportation Security Administration to find tips on traveling with children.

And remember: REAR VIEW UNTIL AGE 2!

Posted in News & Events | No Comments »

Tips for a Safe Prom: Are Your Kids Ready for the Big Night?

Trisha Korioth and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recently released a guide to help parents with important decisions they must face at the end of the school year, when teenagers get ready to say goodbye to friends before heading off to college.

Here are some recommendations for parents of prom-going teens:

• Exclude tanning beds from pre-prom preparations. They cause premature skin aging and skin cancer. Offer sunless tanning alternatives, such as lotions of professional spray tans.
• Know your teen’s itinerary for the entire evening and with whom he/she will be with. Talk with friends’ parents.
• Discuss drugs and alcohol with your teen.; 42% of youths who talk with parents regularly about substance abuse will just say no.
• Know your teen’s mode of transportation. Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death fro those ages 15-20. Teens and their friends can take a pledge on the Students Against Drunk Driving Web site to have a sober prom: Take the Prom Pledge
• Think long and hard when planning to host an after-prom party. Teens often expect alcohol and marijuana at parties, according to the AAP, and parents should not offer it. Adults can be held criminally or civilly liable for illegal substance use in their home, whether they provide it or not.
• Talk with your teen about sexual pressures he or she may face well before prom. Girls can be asked to phone home at some point during the evening, giving them an “out” if they need it, according to the AAP book, Caring for Your Teenager.
• Decide on an appropriate curfew. Exceptions can be made following special events like prom, but no later than 2 a.m. is the general norm for teens over age 17, according to the AAP.

Finally, the AAP advises parents to let their teens know that if they find themselves in a jam, they will be picked up at any time, anywhere, no questions asked.

For more teen party tips, visit A Parent’s Guide to Teen Parties.

Posted in News & Events | No Comments »

Pediatric Center of Round Rock Celebrates Opening of New Office

On Thursday, January 20th, we celebrated the official Open House of the new offices of Pediatric Center of Round Rock. Our new location opened its doors back in November, after a miraculously fast and pain-free construction phase that left us all with the feeling that changing locations and updating our clinic was just meant to be.

Our new and modern office features 4,000 square-feet of the comforts of home for all of us. Our patients deserve the improvement and all the providers are enjoying the luminous, spacious rooms and the new equipment. Like our old location, the new one also provides two waiting areas, one for well and one for sick children. We also continue to be open 7 days at week.

One of the main challenges, when providing comfort to our patients, is making sure the children feel relaxed while they wait to be seen. While having to wait is one of the unavoidable stressors of our life and, I must say, the least tolerated by both children and parents, we stressed comfort as one of our main goals. With this in mind, I strolled through the aisles of a few toy stores, ending up with loads of toys for our waiting rooms and exam rooms. It didn’t take long for all of us to learn about the short life of all those toys and books.

New Feature! Educational Video Games

Our newest addition to the waiting rooms and exam rooms is a durable, child-proof, digital screens featuring educational video games and other educational material that are creating delight for the kids, and some parent too.

At this point I feel like explaining myself. While I always remind parents to limit the amount of time their kids spend playing video games, nobody can question the positive advantages and the opportunity modern technology offers to place good information in front of children with learning and entertaining purposes. I had a dream of using waiting time to provide good information to the children, but I didn’t know what gadgets the technology era had to offer. Until I shared my dreams with the father of one of my patients, who knew exactly how to help. Thanks to him we can now offer educational entertainment used by school districts in the area, and approved by our providers, on our premises. Our little ones love it. They can navigate the device with amazing dexterity and they are always ready to share their learning with all of us.

We want to offer our new clinic to old and new patients and to the Round Rock and Austin community in general. We wish to share it with all of you, in good health, with God’s help.

PEDIATRIC CENTER OF ROUND ROCK- INAUGURACION OFICIAL

El Jueves, dia 29 the Enero, celebramos la inauguracion oficial del Nuevo Pediatric Center of Round Rock. Nuestra nueva clinica abrio sus puertas a principios de noviembre, despues de una fase de construccion que resulto ser milagrosamente breve, hasta el punto de dejarnos a todos con la certeza de que estabamos haciendo lo que debiamos.

Nuestra nueva oficina tiene 4,000 pies cuadrados e inspira sensacion de hogar. El lugar emana luminosidad y espacio del que los pacientes y doctores disfrutan por igual. Seguimos teniendo dos salas de espera, para ninos sanos y enfermos, y continuamos con nuestro horario abierto 7 dias a la semana.

Uno de los problemas en una clinica pediatrica es el tiempo de espera. Mientras que la espera no se puede evitar, tratamos de proporcionar juegos y diversion para los ninos en las salas. Con este proposito en mente, dedique un tiempo a visitar las tiendas de juguetes de la zona, adquiriendo juguetes y libors para las salas de espera y los cuartos de examinar. Pero pronto aprendimos la corta vida de los juguetes y libros adquiridos.
Por eso ahora ofrecemos pantallas digitales con video-juegos educativos e informacion en todas niestras salas.

Debo explicar a los padres que, aunque repito la necesidad de limitar el tiempo que los ninos pasan delante de la pantalla, no puedo negar la oportunidad que la tecnologia moderna ofrece de presentar informacion ducativa a los ninos, en un formato que les resulta atractivo e invita a aprender.

Fue el padre de uno de mis pacientes quien me indico como podria mantener a los ninos entretenidos mientras esperan y al vez proporcionarles juegos educativos aprobados por los distritos escolares de la zona y por nuestros doctores.

Las pantallas digitales estan instaladas y nuestros pacientes ya disfrutan de ellas. Incluso los mas pequenos navegan por ellas con una destreza admirable.

Quisiera dedicar nuestra nueva clinica a la comunidad de Round Rock y Austin. Deseamos compartirla con buena salud y con la ayuda de Dios.

Posted in News & Events | No Comments »

Our Phone Lines Are Down

Due to an error while installing our new phone system, our phone lines have been down and they may continue into tomorrow (Monday). If you call the office, you will hear a recording stating: “this number is not in service”. This is a temporary inconvenience that will be solved in a few hours.

For today, Sunday November 21, 2010, our patients can call Medlink directly at (512) 323-5465, if they need advice and want to talk to the providers on call. If the patient needs to be seen on Sunday, just walk in at our new location – 7700 Cat Hollow Drive, #104 – between 1PM and 4 PM.

While we don’t know if the lines are going to be back by Monday, November 22, patients can again call Medlink and leave a message for the office to call back. Or they can just walk in to our new location above.

We are sorry for the inconvenience caused by the phone lines. We are diligently working on solving it as soon as possible.

Pediatric Center of Round Rock.

Posted in News & Events | No Comments »

The Chilean Miners – America to the Rescue!

I just finished watching the emotional images of 33 miners in Chile coming out of the womb of the earth, being pulled out, one-by-one, inside a fragile-looking capsule constructed by the Chilean Navy. Today we all celebrate the success of this rescue mission that brought 33 families together again.

I also watched Chilean president Sebastian Pineda giving thanks to everybody he could think of. He mentioned the families, the citizens, the thoughts and the prayers. He thanked God and he expressed how proud he is as a President.

I waited and waited, but in his teary display of emotions and gratitude he failed to mention those who came to the rescue when needed. He failed to mention the heroes who put together years of research, modern equipment, effort and months away from their families to aid in bringing the miners from 2000 feet below by drilling a shaft wide enough to pull them through.

When the mine collapsed, the 5th of August, the Chilean government realized they were not equipped to handle the rescue. They asked Codelco Mining, that turned to Geotec Boyles Bros, a U.S. company working in Chile. Manager James Stefanic assembled a team of experts, including engineers from two American Companies in Pennsylvania. Schramm Inc. makes the T130 drill capable of making the hole, and Center Rock Inc. makes the drill bits. The best drilling technician was called in from Afghanistan, where he was working at the moment. It was Jeff Hart, the hero who remained on his feet for days, controlling the levers, pressure meters and gauges of the T130 control pane. When they hit some metal support beams of the poorly constructed mine, and the whole project trembled, fresh equipment was flown in FROM THE UNITED STATES, to finish the job. Central Rock President, Brandon Fisher, stood by the hole without sleep until it was all over. Fisher, Stefanic and Hart drilled what they called “ the most difficult hole of their lives” to save 33 miners trapped down bellow.

Although I share the emotions the Chilean President expressed in his political speech, I just want to set the record straight, since this news touched home. My niece is a Petroleum Engineer working in drilling research and, many like her, have been burning their eyelashes in hours of study and research to create tools that others can use. It is only fair to give them credit by recognizing and naming who really opened the hole. Mr. Pinera failed to mention the companies and individuals named above. I want to add: Thank you Elena for your effort. This is just an example of your primary research at work.

Marta Katalenas M.D.

Posted in News & Events | No Comments »

Dr. Katalenas Featured on Fox 7

Dr. Katalenas was featured on “Good Day Austin” on KTBC FOX on August 31^st sharing her tips for healthy after school snacks.

You can watch Dr. K’s interview here: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/good_day/Making-Fall-Changes-to-Your-Pantry-20100831-ktbcgd

Article from MyFoxAustin.com

Dr. Marta Katalenas, a children’s health expert, is a Round Rock pediatrician and a clinical assistant professor for UTMB.

She stopped by Good Day to talk about cleaning out your pantry and providing healthy after-school snacks for your kids.

What your kids eat when you’re not looking may surprise you. You’ve heard of spring cleaning, but have you ever considered fall cleaning? Take some time to clean out your pantry and get rid of unhealthy snacks.

Make it easy on your kids to eat healthy but only providing healthy options at home. They have have sweet and salty snacks on occasion, but only on occasion. If you keep these foods in your pantry, your kids are likely to eat them as often as they can get away with it.

Below is a list of healthy alternatives to unhealthy snacks:

• Get rid of potato chips – replace them with whole wheat crackers and low-fat cheese
• Get rid of fruit-filled toaster pastries – replace them with multigrain bread with raspberry jam
• Get rid of pizza rolls – replace them with English muffins, pizza sauce, and low-fat mozzarella
• Get rid of fruit-flavored snacks – replace them with fruit

Posted in News & Events | No Comments »