 By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ear Infections and Speech/Language Development While we are stuck in what seems like “The Winter That Will Not End” I find myself still dealing with coughs, colds and illness in my daughter and the children I work with. One thing that I have seen a lot of this year is ear infections. As a speech-language pathologist I am always concerned about children with recurrent ear infections or a history of ear infections/middle ear fluid. Below I’ll explain a little more about what ear infections are and how they impact speech/language development. What are ear infections? Ear infections happen when the middle ear becomes infected/inflamed due to fluid. Fluid may also be present in the ear without an infection. How can ear infections/fluid impact my child’s hearing? When an ear is infected/fluid is present in the ear it can make the child feel like he/she is hearing under water. Typically, when the infection goes away, the child’s hearing will return to normal. When fluid is present in the ear without an infection, the child’s hearing may be impacted the entire time fluid is present. Also, if ear infections occur repeatedly in children, their hearing may become permanently damaged. How can ear infections/fluid impact my child’s speech/language development? While a child has an ear infection/fluid that results in temporary hearing loss they may miss out on information that is important for speech and language development. What should I do if I am concerned?
Hopefully this post gives you some ideas for how to proceed if you have been dealing with recurrent ear infections/fluid in your child during this long, seemingly-endless winter! Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy
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 By Tracy Lamperti, Psychotherapist, Educator, Consultant Babysitter Safety Series Adult Babysitter Application and Guidelines 101 This post looks a lot like the one last week, but this one relates to hiring an ADULT babysitter. The application looks a lot the same but is different. Most significantly, this post contains information on how to CORI your prospective babysitter. Let’s take care of that right off the top! The hiring family should accept responsibility for paying the $20 for the CORI report. The potential babysitter is responsible for filling out the request, having it notarized and mailing it. It takes about 2 weeks to get the results of the CORI. This is the link to the paperwork and the process. http://www.massresources.org/cori.html I have gone through the process with my student intern for this coming summer. It is not a big deal at all. By Tracy Lamperti, Psychotherapist, Educator, Consultant Formal Application and Guidelines · Is it really necessary? · Over-the-top? · A sure bet that no one will babysit for your children if they have to fill it out?.... These are the reasons that I believe it is the right decision to follow a standard of an application like this, and why I have created it. #1 Your child’s safety is top priority. You need to know that the babysitter you choose is serious about their responsibility. Their willingness to take the time to fill out the application is a sign of their seriousness. #2 It contains questions that helps the parent really think about what they expect from the babysitter. #3 It contains questions that helps the babysitter really think about what they have to offer and what skills they might want to improve to be the best babysitter they can be. #4 It sets a precedent that you, the parent, are paying attention and that you want the best for your child, and that you value a good babysitter. #5 It is your best chance to ask questions that you might not feel comfortable just “throwing out there” in an informal conversation. #6 If you have started the babysitting position on a serious note, you can fine tune with the babysitter what you are looking for and if issues arise, you can return to your agreement to clarify or dismiss the babysitter. #7 Some might say, some of the questions are “private” or none of the parent’s business. That is absolutely correct. The application is completely voluntary and if the potential babysitter or the potential babysitter’s parent does not want you to have the information, so be it. You can wish them well. Other topics that will be covered in the Babysitter series: · Safety Info to Leave with the Babysitter · Signs of an awesome babysitter! · Signs that it’s not going well.  Tracy Lamperti, LMHC Psychotherapist, Educator, Consultant My Blog My Website lamperticc@gmail.com 774-722-5919 
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 Babysitter Safety Youth Babysitter Application and Guidelines 101 By Tracy Lamperti, Psychotherapist, Educator, Consultant Babysitting Safety Series Formal Application and Guidelines  · Is it really necessary? · Over-the-top? · A sure bet that no one will babysit for your children if they have to fill it out?.... These are the reasons that I believe it is the right decision to follow a standard of an application like this, and why I have created it. #1 Your child’s safety is top priority. You need to know that the babysitter you choose is serious about their responsibility. Their willingness to take the time to fill out the application is a sign of their seriousness. #2 It contains questions that helps the parent really think about what they expect from the babysitter. #3 It contains questions that helps the babysitter really think about what they have to offer and what skills they might want to improve to be the best babysitter they can be. #4 It sets a precedent that you, the parent, are paying attention and that you want the best for your child, and that you value a good babysitter. #5 Often, “mother’s helper” or “babysitter” is the first “work” experience for a preteen or teenager. It sends them a message that they are important and that their job is real and serious and that it is a steppingstone to future jobs. #6 I work with teenagers often in my psychotherapy. Not only can most of them not sign their name in cursive, but they have never filled out a job application and think that a resume is something that adults have, if they even know what a resume is. If we want the next generation to take their jobs, careers, families and any other responsibility seriously, we have to begin teaching them early. TEENAGERS WHO HAVE A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND BELONGING ENGAGE IN MUCH FEWER AT-RISK BEHAVIORS. And obviously, they are contributors to our community. #7 If you have started the babysitting position on a serious note, you can fine tune with the babysitter what you are looking for and if issues arise, you can return to your agreement to clarify or dismiss the babysitter. #8 Even if you know the youth and their family, all of these factors are true and will benefit you, your child and the babysitter. #9 Some might say, some of the questions are “private” or none of the parent’s business. That is absolutely correct. The application is completely voluntary and if the potential babysitter or the potential babysitter’s parent does not want you to have the information, so be it. You can wish them well. There is no equivalent “CORI” for youth, so all you can do is ask the youth if they have been involved with the police. If they don’t want to tell you, well then…..And if the youth has visited the principal once or repetitively, a youth taking responsibility for their behavior will be willing to tell you about it and to share with you the things they have learned from the experience. They may in fact make the BEST babysitter. And if they are not willing to share it with you, well then….I guess they haven’t learned much from their mistakes. There is nothing wrong with asking teenagers to take responsibility. #10 If the youth has no experiences and cannot identify strengths they might have with children, they may make a wonderful mother’s helper to start, in which case, you have an excellent opportunity to mentor a young person! Other topics that will be covered in the Babysitter series: · Adult Babysitters 101 · Safety Info to Leave with the Babysitter · Should you check the criminal record of a potential adult babysitter? · Signs of an awesome babysitter! · Signs that it’s not going well. Tracy Lamperti, LMHC
Psychotherapist, Educator, Consultant My Blog My Website lamperticc@gmail.com 774-722-5919  Cape Cod Mommies is Excited to Welcome the Newest Mom to our Blogging Team: Ryan Beck! Check out her first post of many to come below! We look forward to her stories! By: Ryan Beck In 2009, my husband was transferred out of the Army during the new-age recession. We made the bold choice to move from Germany to the Stable-Economy-Mecca: Fargo, North Dakota. We were young and adventurous and our only possessions were the dog and bed. The ‘excitement’ of the Midwest’s unknown allured us (and we were promised only two years max in that location), so we were naively confident in our decision. Flash forward a few very cold winters, stormy, hot summers, and a couple more pieces of furniture: I am now the mom of two beautiful young boys’ ages 15 months and 3 years. Since we live half the country away from our family, like so many others, we have the wonderful privilege of airline flights with our little tykes. Through our extensive experiences, I now know there is a direct correlation between the geographical distance between generations and stress of travel days. I wish the amount of times we have traveled with our children would make us travel experts. Instead, it still looks as though we just unpacked our Uhaul in front of the ticketing counter. As it probably appears that we are taking everything but the kitchen sink. But to the parents that stand in travel-family solidarity – they know -We quite possibly may have the kitchen sink and will try to have it gate checked with no fee. But the only consistent thing about baggage fees are the inconsistencies with them. We have found that when traveling with children, baggage fees often differ between airlines, travel day, agent, seasonal solstice, and even wind direction. I am fully convinced that travel days are just tiny, beautiful, moments during our lives where we are given opportunities to build our own character. This recaps our latest encounter between me and the ticketing agent. Ticketing agent: “Your bag is 5lbs overweight. You will need to pay the extra weight fee.” Me: “Excuse me my dear, dear, sweet ticket agent. Your airline canceled my flight yesterday after I had packed up what seems like my entire house, travel crib, double stroller, dissembled and unloaded two car seats (in the snow), waited in the terminal for 8 hours with an excited 3 year old and a 15 month old who wanted to nurse the entire time, an a husband out a vacation day. I therefore had to turn and crush my three year olds excitement and directly turn around, reload the car, head home, and try again at the crack ass of dawn. So now, as I stand here before you with my overtired, hungry, confused, kids, scratching at my legs and calling my name -Are the 5lbs REALLY a big deal? That fee was waived. But, let’s rewind time a little. Let me tell you about the travel days before I had children, and even after I had my first until the age of about 2. I would read about the healthy snack choices you can pack to set your child up for success which wouldn’t result in a sugar-crash tantrum. My husband and I brought all the time-consuming activities, coloring books, NEW toys, even an iPad – with all the new apps. Those were great for the immediate moment. But now I can separate my parenting airline travel into 2 distinct chapters: BEFORE the epic all-flight tantrum and AFTER the epic all-flight tantrum. What embarrassing, challenging, or beautiful breakthrough moment have you encountered during airline travel days? What works for you? WORK OPPORTUNITY! |
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