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Give Yourself a Break!

As I sit here, trying to type some advice to moms and families I struggle with what and where to start. The last few weeks have been uncharted territory for everyone.  We have tried to convert our homes into offices, be a teacher for our children, and a full-time parent.  I have no secret tips or tricks to share, but instead a reminder that you are not doing one job, but THREE full-time jobs.  It may appear that some are doing this perfectly but understand that we are all IMPERFECT families trying our best.  Give yourself some grace and continue onward taking one day at a time.  Use each moment as a teachable moment for your kids.  They are always watching and will see how their parent(s) navigate challenges.

Things to do while spending time at home:

  • Create forts
  • Make obstacle courses
  • Color/Paint pictures
  • Make a scavenger hunt
  • Use shaving cream to draw pictures and work on spelling words
  • Play a card game or pull out a board game
  • Plant seeds for your garden
  • Re-pot plants
  • Play with chalk outside
  • Pick up garbage in your yard that has been hidden under the snow
  • Make a meal together – Check out raddishkids.com . This is an awesome subscription box that includes 3 meals kids can prepare along with a cultural, geographical, history lesson and so much more.
  • Dance
  • Practice putting up a tent in your living room, so you are ready for summer – Indoor camp-out
  • Practice animal movements – this is a fun activity for kids and keeps them active
  • Go for a walk
  • Practice gratitude – at the dinner table have each member share a win, challenge, and something they are thankful for.

Remember it is okay for them to be BORED and practice QUIET time.  We need the quiet too.  I have downloaded some great meditations apps like Headspace to help calm the mind.  Lastly, have fun, move past the things we cannot control, and be thankful for all the things we have.  This is a great time to turn lemons into lemonade and prepare for the future.  We are always here at Venture to help you move better, feel better, and be a better you!

–Melanie Dockter, DC CACCP

Fish Oils: Should I take the Bait?

Navigating the world of supplements can make you feel like a fish out of water. This month the supplement we are focusing on are fish oils.  What may be useful to an adult, may be toxic to a toddler.  So understanding proper dosage is important.  Fish oils are beneficial for men, women, and children, of all ages and health status.  The human body cannot make omega-3s or fish oils.  You must obtain from diet or supplementation. The typical American diet lacks in omega-3s.  These can be obtained by eating cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, anchovies and herring.  To fill your needs, you may have to turn towards supplementation. It is vital that supplements are purified and meet quality standards that monitor and remove mercury, lead, and other heavy metals.  We would be happy to help you source high quality fish oils from reputable sources.  A reputable source should be able to provide documentation of third-party lab results that demonstrate purity.

There are two forms of omega-3s – EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).  EPA is beneficial for the neck down and supports heart, immune system, and inflammatory response.  DHA supports eye, brain, and central nervous system development.

For Mom

Omega-3s are essential for mom during pregnancy for the development of baby.  Taking fish oils while pregnant can start your child off on the right foot by providing quality DHA that can help with eye and brain development.  Also, that foggy “mom brain” can be improved with the introduction of omega-3 fats, fish oils.   Mom also uses omega-3s, when producing breast milk.  Mothers are depleted of these essential oils with each subsequent pregnancy if stores are not maintained and replenished.  Studies have shown that higher consumption of omega-3s during pregnancy may reduce the risk of allergies infants, as well. Lastly, increased intake may lower the risk of preeclampsia and improve mood – reduce chances of postpartum depression.

For Children

Kids need vitamins, minerals, and fats to meet their development needs.  What they can get from food isn’t always enough and adding in certain supplements can help fill the gaps that their growing bodies may need.  The lack of cold-water fish in the western diet further emphasizes the importance of adding a high-quality fish oil for your children.  Fish oils can improve skin, boost the immune system, improve eye and brain development.  All things that are so important.  The addition of fish oils for my oldest son reduced the frequency and severity of his eczema when he was little.  By feeding his body the things he needed we were able to fill the gaps that he was deficient in and reduce symptoms by getting to the root of the problem.

By adding fish oils to your family’s diet, you can easily tip the scales in your favor.  It is important during all seasons to keep your family healthy and thriving.  We are always happy to help you with proper dosing and identifying high-quality sources for your family. Let us know how we can help!

–Melanie Dockter, DC CACCP

Goal Setting is Not Just for Adults

Teaching your kids about goal setting at an early age can be a valuable teaching moment. The practice of choosing achievable goals can help kids learn about accountability, communication, and decision-making skills.

It is important to follow the same goal setting rules as for adults.  The goals must be specific and achievable. For example, your child may say they want to “be healthier”, instead, suggest a more specific goal such as “spend 30 minutes outside each day.”  It is also okay to adjust goals if you find they are too hard to accomplish.  Kids don’t need a reward each time they accomplish a goal, instead teach them that achieving the goal is the reward! Of course, make goal setting fun and discuss with them what it means to complete the goals.  It is important for them to learn early on that they don’t always need a reward such as a ribbon, candy, or toy.

Below are a few ideas to help get your children started with 2020 goals:

  1. “I’m going to eat two pieces of vegetables at lunch daily” or “I will try one new food each week”. These are two examples that help your child set healthy goals with food.  Focus on the area you and your child need to work on and make specific and achievable goals from where they are starting from.  Slow and steady wins the race.
  2. “We are going to read for 30 minutes before bed instead of screen time” or “We will play outside for 30 minutes each day instead of using my Ipad.” We spend so much time with electronics for school and play that scheduling time to unplug is so important.  It is important for kids to use their creativity to explore the world.
  3. “I’m going to set the table for dinner every night” or “I make my bed each morning”. Having your children become active participants in the family chore list is important.  It will not only reduce your time cleaning up their messes, but it makes them responsible for the mess they created.  Your kids will feel useful and needed and you will be able to spend more quality time with them.
  4. “I will pick out my clothes each night before bed”. This goal will cut-down arguments over clothing choices that may start the morning out on a bad foot and help them prepare for the next day. The more your children accomplish on their own the faster you will be able to complete your morning routine.
  5. “I’m going to do one random act of kindness each week.” Or “ I will say “hi” to a new person this week.” This will establish early on the importance of social interactions and spreading kindness to others.  Depending on the age of the child and social ability you will have to alter the goal. Verbal and nonverbal communication is a valuable lesson of human interactions.

Remember to make goal setting fun and age appropriate.  It is never to early to start.  Begin small with goals and grow from there. By making goal setting a family event you will establish life-long skills that will benefit them for years to come.

  • Melanie Dockter, DC, CACCP

How is Posture Affecting your Health?

We all do it and it is an epidemic that is growing among the pediatric population.  What is it?  Poor posture.  While we are familiar with what poor posture looks likes and the causes of poor posture, such as heavy backpacks, slouching over an iPad or playing a video game, the long-term effects are devastating.  Poor posture that is not corrected and goes untreated can grow into a lifetime of aches and pains.

Three reasons to check your child’s posture early:

  1. Spinal Development – The curve of the spine is a natural “S” shape that is important for proper function and development. When a child has improper posture that goes unchecked the natural “S” curve of the spine begins to change shape to a “C” curve.  This change in posture causes spinal and muscular issues to develop.  Blood vessel and nerve restrictions can occur reducing the nutrient and oxygen supply to muscles. Pain eventually develops as the nerves become irritated and movement patterns change. Chiropractors improve joint movement, reduce muscle tension, and provide tips on how to improve posture. After a month of school, it would be a great time to re-check your child’s back pain.  Remember the weight of the back pack should not be more than 10% of his/her body weight, fall no further than 4 inches past the waist, and have padded straps.
  1. Neck & Back Strain – When spinal misalignments occur it puts extra stress and strain on the muscles that support the spine.  Muscular strain over time will affect the entire body as the body attempts to compensate. Bad habits are hard to break so establishing good habits from the beginning will create long-term success and improved health.
  1. Organ Function – Take a moment and slouch if you are not already sitting in poor posture and take a deep breath. Now sit up nice and straight with good posture and take a similar deep breath.  How did those positions compare?  I guarantee you were able to take a deeper breath and you could feel the positive change throughout the body.  Our skeletal system surrounds the organs and when our frame changes due to poor posture it will affect the organs it protects.  Our digestive system cannot function and move nutrients as well throughout the gut and our lungs cannot move essential oxygen to all the muscles and organs as efficiently. This physical change of our spine will create damage to our organs.  Fix your child’s posture right now and don’t forget to be a good role model for them and correct yours also!

 Don’t wait to have your child’s spine examined and start implementing ways to correct improper posture right away.  Call us today to schedule a check-up for your child.  I cannot wait to work with them!

by Melanie Dockter, DC, CACCP

How can Chiropractic help with Ear Infections?

Ear infections or otitis media account for over 35 % of all pediatrician visits in the United States and are the number one reason for doctor visits.  The standard treatment for most cases is antibiotics, which can be effective ONLY if the cause is bacterial.  That means that the majority of children are getting antibiotics that are not effective in the treatment ear infections.  They instead eliminate the beneficial “friendly” bacteria in the gut creating a vicious cycle of repetitive ear infections.  Repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistance bacteria and suppression of the immune system and gut health.

In the comparison to an adult’s eustachian tubes (ear canals), children’s ear canals are wider, horizontal, shorter, smaller and therefore, more vulnerable to obstruction and infection.  This makes it hard for gravity to move the fluid out of the ears and lymph nodes into their throat.  When the fluid has nowhere to go it will accumulate in the ear canal creating inflammation and redness on the ear drum.  Ear pain and teething frequently occur together.  Antibiotics will not help as this inflammation does not have a bacterial cause. Chiropractors are trained to remove subluxations or misalignments in the spine.  Chiropractic adjustments stimulate the nervous system through adjustments to the body, allowing free flowing messages in the nerves to travel to and from the brain.  When the child is free of nerve interference they are able to fight off infections with their own strong immune systems and without the aid of medications.

These subluxations can occur during childbirth, from tumbles and falls, and from any potential stress the body is exposed to.  When subluxations are left uncorrected they will decrease the body’s ability to function properly.  Chiropractic treatment will consist of any of the following: adjustments to the spine and limb joints, craniosacral therapy to the skull, massage, oral sweep and nutritional/dietary recommendations.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics indicates the correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections. By correcting the subluxation, it allows the body to cure the problem. In this study, 332 children with chronic ear infections participated in the study. Each child, ranging in age from 27 days to 5 years, was given a series of chiropractic adjustments. The results show that close to 80% of the children did not experience another ear infection within the six-month period following their first adjustment.

If you or someone you know is constantly in the doctor’s office with your fussy child dealing with repetitive ear infections, it is time for them to be checked.

Reference: Fallon JM. The Role of the Chiropractic Adjustment in the Care and Treatment of 332 Children with Otitis Media. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics. 1997; Volume 2, No. 2:167-183.

 

by Melanie Dockter, D.C., CACCP

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Phone: (701) 730-3867
Email: info@venturechiro.com

3252 51st St S, Ste A
Fargo, ND 58104-7901

Office Hours
Monday 9 AM to 6 PM
Tuesday 10 AM to 7 PM
Wednesday 9 AM to 6 PM
Thursday 10 AM to 7 PM
Friday 9 AM to 4 PM
Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM

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