Children's Issues

Kilusang Kontra Kuto & Licealiz for a Kuto Free Philippines

September 21, 2016 / Filed Under: Children's Issues, health, hygiene, school

Kilusang Kontra Kuto & Licealiz for a Kuto Free Philippines

No one is safe from headlice. I remember having it when I was a little girl — ang sarap kamutin, grabe! My aunt would put coconut oil in my hair, we would sit down outside, and she would laboriously pick the headlice and nits one by one. I hated it because it keeps me from happily playing outside.

Past forward many years later, I am now the one who makes sure my daughter is free from headlice! Thankfully, I didn’t have to pick the kuto one by one anymore because there’s Licealiz! I’ve been using it on my daughter and nieces’ hair since 2011. (Read: De-Lice-ing Three Little Heads)

So why are we talking about kuto suddenly? Well, September is Head Lice Prevention Month and because of that Lamoiyan Corporation, in partnership with the Mother and Child Nurses Association of the Philippines (MCNAP) and supported by the UP Manila College of Public Health, has created a health education campaign designed to help communities all over the country address the problem of kuto.

They formed the Kilusang Kontra Kuto (or KKK) as an educational movement seeking to spread awareness about lice infestation issues and prevent and treat head lice.

This September, Licealiz has arranged shampooing programs and activities for public school students all over the country and will also be posting educational materials on head lice and how to fight them in its Facebook page.

Kilusang Kontra Kuto & Licealiz for a Kuto Free Philippines

I was very fortunate to be one of the mommies who were able to join the Kilusang Kontra Kuto activity at Bagong Nayon 1 Elementary School in Antipolo last September 8, 2016.

Childcare Options for Frazzled Working Parents

April 25, 2015 / Filed Under: Children's Issues, mommy thoughts

Finding suitable childcare is one of the biggest problems faced by busy working parents. Staying at home is the obvious solution, but if you can’t afford to take a career break – or you don’t want to – you need to find the right childcare arrangement to suit your child and your budget. So what are your options?

Friends and Family

Childcare is easy if the grandparents are able to step up to the plate and help you out. A lot of grandparents are happy to do their share when the children are young, but the success of the arrangement does depend on how fit and well your parents are and how willing they are to sacrifice their free time to take care of little ones. It is important that everyone is happy with the arrangement, so don’t abuse their generosity.

Day Care or Crèche

A day care centre or workplace crèche can work very well if you want your child to enjoy a lot of social time with other children. Day care centres and crèches can cater for children aged 6 months upwards. Children can be dropped off first thing in the morning and collected in the evening. However, you can’t leave your child out of hours, so if your job involves shift work or long hours, this type of childcare might not be suitable.

Childminder

Childminders look after children during normal working hours but can often be more flexible if required. Parents are expected to drop their child off at the childminder’s home. It is a very good arrangement for younger children as a childminder’s house is like a home from home. Children get more one-on-one care at a childminders, which is perfect for babies and toddlers.

Nanny

Nannies look after your child at home. Nannies will sometimes stay with the same family for several years and children can become very close to their nanny. A nanny isn’t the cheapest childcare option, but if you want your children to enjoy a high level of care at home, a nanny is a good choice.

Au Pair

An au pair is a budget childcare option. How it works is simple: you employ a young person from an au pair agency such as Aufini to come and live in your home for up to 12 months. An au pair is expected to take on the childcare and some of the household chores in return for a small wage plus free bed and board. If you want a more flexible childcare arrangement, an au pair will probably work very well for you, but if your child is aged 2 or under, an au pair is not the best choice.

Other Childcare Solutions

If none of the options above work for you, you could organise a childcare sharing arrangement with other parents or see if your partner is willing to become a stay at home parent while you work full-time.

Always give yourself plenty of time to make suitable childcare arrangements before returning to work. After all, working is stressful enough without worrying about whether your child is being looked after properly.

How to Help Sexually Abused Children

November 22, 2013 / Filed Under: Children's Issues

When a child is sexually abused, it’s take away their innocence. It affects their self-esteem, personality development, socialization and achievements. Later in life, it can cause intimacy issues in relationships. Childhood sexual abuse is an intrusion into a child’s deepest, most delicate private parts and it is alltoo common. One in four girls and one in seven boys experience sexual abuse during childhood. Many children keep it a secret and could be frightened to say anything or it’s too difficult to talk about. There is hope for children who have experienced sexual abuse. With the right kind of help like recognizing the signs and talking with your child, they can recover completely and live a normal happy life.

Recognition

Semantic experiencing is a technique that has been developed over several decades through research and practical application. Somatic means body, to sensations, feelings and touch. Research shows that healing actually takes place in the body, not in the mind. Children who have experience sexual trauma are prone to somatic symptoms from physical rigidity, awkwardness, or excessive weight gain or loss. They attempt to lock out others and avoid the body. Also common is the child will tend to live in a fantasy world. They have trouble with paying attention, space out, daydream and dissociate in order to compartmentalize the awful experience and unlock themselves from the event(s).

Talking With the Child

Child sexual abuse is a difficult subject that can be hard to accept and even harder to talk about. Keep in mind; you can make a huge difference in the abused child’s life if you take the steps to stop the abuse early. When talking with an abused child, the best thing you can provide is calm reassurance and unconditional support. Let your actions speak for you if you are having trouble finding the right words to say. Talking about the abuse may be very difficult for the child. It’s your job to reassure and provide whatever help you can.

Tips for Talking With a Child

Avoid denial and remain calm – The child may deny the abuse, remain calm and reassure them that you can help.
Do not interrogate – Do not ask leading questions, let the child explain their story their way.
Reassure the child that they did nothing wrong – It’s very difficult for a child to come forward about abuse. Let them know it is not their fault.
Safety comes first – If you feel the child would be in danger if you intervene, leave it to the professionals. You may be able to provide more support later.

If you or a loved one has been sexually abused, don’t hesitate to get help from a sex abuse lawyer who is trustworthy. The attorneys at Kosnoff Fasy are dedicated to assisting the survivors of sexual abuse.