Category Archives: websites

How to save money on your prescription medications!

If you are buying any prescription medications for your child, your teen, or yourself, then you know how pricey they can be. Sometimes they are covered by insurance; sometimes insurance only pays a fraction; and there are drugs that are not covered by insurance and families that don’t have prescription coverage at all.

No matter your situation, there are still ways you can save, even as prescription drug prices continue to rise.

Buy a generic drug alternative. Not all drugs have generic versions, but when they do the generic is usually quite a bit less expensive. Ask your physician or pharmacist if there is a generic available for a particular drug.

Talk to the doctor. In addition to knowing about generic alternatives, your pediatrician may know of a less expensive option for the drug your child is taking. There won’t always be another alternative, but it’s certainly worth asking about.

Look for cheaper prices. If you think the drug prices at your pharmacy are too high, call around. Sometimes there can be quite a difference from one pharmacy to another.

Look online for coupons or other resources. Some pharmaceutical companies have special programs for uninsured patients, or for patients who have difficulty paying even with insurance. In addition, you can often find coupons for particular drugs from a pharmaceutical company.

Drugs aren’t likely to get cheaper anytime soon, and yet they are often necessary. We want to help you find less expensive alternatives. Please ask us.

© MBS Writing Services, 2015, all rights reserved

Screen time for computers and games

A couple of weeks ago we dealt with content of video games here.  If you missed it, check out that important information about monitoring what your kids are playing.  It’s also important to supervise all computer screen time.

Make sure all the computers to which your youngster has access are in open places in the house.  Search the browser history at regular intervals, and make sure you have his passwords for all social media accounts so you can check that activity.  Let him know ahead of time that this is one of the rules for the privilege of using the computer and smart phone.  Take a look at texts and other accounts on her phone, and remind her of safety rules:

  • Never give out personal information online or over the phone.
  • Never assume that someone you “meet” online is giving you accurate information, and never arrange to meet such a person face to face.
  • If you get concerned about someone contacting you, tell your parent without fear of judgment.
  • Never use your phone or computer for pornography (especially child pornography, which is illegal), sexting (a form of pornography), sending any inappropriate information, or for hurting or bullying someone else.  If you receive such content inform a parent or teacher immediately.

In addition to content, you should be aware of time.  Screen time of any kind (television, movies, computer, video games) means fewer hours are available for physical activity, face-to-face interaction, reading and homework.  Screen time isn’t necessarily bad in itself, but you should monitor the amount of time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics gives great advice about video games in this online article, including the recommendation to limit video game time to one hour per day.  The same goes for other types of screen time.  If your teen or child is spending much more time than that in front of a screen (unless, of course, it’s for school), engage him in conversation about what other activities might take the place of some gaming hours.  Allow her to choose from a list of fun ways to spend her time.

  • Reading.  If your children don’t like to read, read to or with them.  Pick an age-appropriate book and take turns reading pages or chapters.  Bedtime is great for this.
  • Physical activity.  One of the problems of screen time is its sedentary nature.  Inactivity leads to weight gain and all sorts of accompanying health issues.  Get your youngster involved in a team or individual sport.  Go walking or swimming.  Shoot hoops in the driveway or play catch in the backyard.
  • Board games.  Remember Candy Land?  Connect Four?  Pictionary?  Games are widely available and great fun.  They afford great opportunities for interaction, and for learning life skills like winning, losing, and cooperation.
  • Face time.  Not the phone app, the real face time.  Find something you and your teen can share and enjoy:  cooking, eating, hiking, stamp collecting, whatever works for you.  Time invested is time well-spent.  You will reap the rewards in getting to know your child better, and they will reap the rewards in knowing you.
  • Channel that interest in computers to online learning games, or learning video games.  Check out learning games on Amazon, or try one of the websites like Adapted Mind, where you can get a 30 day free trial of games for grades 1-6 (if you continue on with membership there’s a monthly fee).

 

Bottom line:  be in charge of what your children do, even if they aren’t always in favor of your monitoring and limits.  It’s your job, and you are aiding in their full development.

 

© 2014, MBS Writing Services, all rights reserved

Apps to suit your life and lifestyle

Last week we dealt with websites.  Want to be more mobile?  There are many apps for your smartphone or tablet that can help you keep your family healthy.

Here we’ve listed just a few to get you started, all of them inexpensive or free.

  • From the American Academy of Pediatrics, several great apps are available, all of which you can order here.
    • KidsDoc.  Cost:  $1.99.  This app helps you figure out what to do if your child is sick.  You enter your child’s symptoms and are given advice, including options like:  Call 911, Call Your Child’s Doctor Now, Call Your Child’s Doctor within 24 hours or Manage at Home.  Suggestions for managing at home will tell you how to care for your child’s particular ailment.
    • Car Seat Check.  Cost:  $1.99.  Enter your child’s age, height, and weight.  You’ll get reviews of appropriate car seats, installation help, and safety information.
    • Healthy Children.  Cost:  FREE.  Look up health information by age, find out what first aid is best for particular injuries, see what immunizations are needed for particular ages.
    • ADHD Tracker 1.0.  Cost:  FREE.  If your child, age 4-18, has already been diagnosed with (and treated for) ADHD, this app gives a streamlined way to complete and submit a behavioral assessment.
    • Iron Kids.  Cost:  $3.99.  Keep your child healthy and fit and sport-ready with this workout.
    • Other sources and apps.
      • Ages and Stages.  Cost:  FREE.  This app by Parenting magazine allows you to enter your own stage of pregnancy, or your child’s age, to get information tailored for you.
      • Breastfeeding Management 2.  Cost:  $1.99.  The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition sponsors this app.  You can get answers to frequently asked questions; enter your child’s age, weight, and frequency of feeding to determine how many ounces each feeding should be (especially helpful if you’re pumping); research medications and breastfeeding.

Technology and health have always gone together.  These apps can keep you up to date and on top of health issues.

Artwork by Kennedy, age 2

Artwork by Kennedy, age 2

 

© 2014 MBS Writing Services, all rights reserved

Medical websites you can trust

As we enter 2014, many families will decide to be healthier this year.  One way to be on top of your health is to be knowledgeable.  The problem is that there is so much information out there, it can be overwhelming.  Even worse, a lot of the advice is misleading, incomplete, trying to sell a product, or just plain wrong.

What to do, then, if you’re looking answers to your pediatric health questions?  We have a few sites we trust that you may find helpful.

Your first stop should be here, on our own website.  There you’ll find 21 links that we trust to provide good information, on everything from general health and pediatrics to a few common illnesses and conditions, such as allergies, asthma, and disabilities.  Here are a few of the best:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics.  If you read our blog, you know that we refer to the AAP regularly.  They are the go-to organization for reliable information on the health of children and teens, including physical, social, psychological, and intellectual health.  Some of their pages are full of statistics and medical jargon, but check out healthychildren.org.  It’s very readable, practical, and up-to-date. You can search your topic or question by typing it into the search box.
  • The National Institutes of Health has a huge amount of information.  Some of it is written for health professionals, but much of it—particularly the medline plus section—is also written for the general population.  It’s a great source of health information for all ages, birth to old age.  You can even sign up here to receive e-mail updates on children’s health topics.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives you an alphabetized list of topics and diseases for your research.

If you have a particular issue you’re interested in researching, check with your pediatrician, who can suggest additional specific resources.

Happy internet hunting, and Happy New Year!

Artwork by Audrey

Artwork by Audrey

 

© 2014, MBS Writing Services, all rights reserved