http://www.beatheadlice.ca/ Ann Douglas' Column @ www.beatheadlice.ca RSSMaster 1.0 (http://www.softtool.info/rssmaster) en-US Hand washing can help to minimize the number of colds, flus, and other infections that pass through a family. So when and how do you get kids to get with the hand-washing program? http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=28 Your preschooler makes a breakaway whenever it's time to brush his teeth. So how can you safeguard his pearly whites? Here are a few tips... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=30 For some kids, it's all about a fear of getting shampoo in their eyes; for others, it's a desire to cut precious seconds off of shower time (the most hated 2 minutes of the day for many kids). Whatever it is that's behind the shampoo strike, you're no doubt desperately seeking solutions. Here are a few ideas... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=32 Head lice may not be geniuses, but they know how to spot an opportunity to move from head to head when they see one. That's why it's so important to teach kids strategies for stopping the spread of head lice at home and at school. Here are some examples to discuss with your kids... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=34 Some of the things people say when your child has been infected with head lice can be difficult to deal with—particularly if the people making those remarks haven't had any direct experience with head lice or aren't fully up to speed on the head lice facts of life. Here are some tips on coping with what can be a truly lousy situation at times... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=37 If you hit the street with a camcorder and asked parents which of the following statements about head lice were facts and which ones were myths, they might find it difficult to know for sure. After all, these die-hard myths tend to get passed around a lot whenever people start talking head lice... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=39 You and your child’s teacher are both members of Team Head Lice: a team whose function is gloriously simple—get rid of head lice at home and at school... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=41 You just spotted an uninvited guest hitching a ride on your ten-year-old's head. Naturally, his younger brother is intrigued by all the excitement—and maybe a little worried, too. Here's what you can say to help reassure him... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=43 It's one of those phone calls no parent wants to make and even fewer parents want to receive: the dreaded head lice phone call. But given that nearly half of school-aged kids can expect to come into contact with head lice during any school year, there's no need to feel awkward or embarrassed if it's your turn to pick up the phone and dial... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=45 Is the laundry monster threatening to take over your kids' bedrooms, the family bathroom, the laundry room, and pretty much every other room in your home? Here's how to encourage your kids to pitch in on laundry patrol... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=47 Behind every great artist there are grownups that have learned not to obsess about paint splatters or spills... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=49 Getting the facts about lice and nits—and steering clear of some all-too-common head lice myths—can make it easier to diagnose and treat head lice outbreaks when they happen... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=51 Don't let your eagerness to get rid of your child's head lice once and for all drive you to resort to unproven or even dangerous remedies... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=65 You've just finished treating your child's head for head lice. Now you want to prevent head lice from spreading to other family members while avoiding future re-infestations altogether. In addition to vacuuming the floor and furniture in those areas of your home where your child usually sits or plays, you'll want to wash your child's personal items thoroughly. Here's a step-by-step guide to laundering items to kill lice and nits... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=67 Here are some tried-and-true solutions for dealing with those mysterious odors that tend build up in kids’ backpacks, running shoes, and bedroom closets... http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=72 Helping kids to tackle bedroom chaos requires a certain amount of parental finesse. You don't want to pressure them to keep their rooms so neat and clean that their bedrooms feel like the "after" shots for TV Clutter-Busting Shows, but, on the other hand, it would be nice to see their floor every now and again. Here are some parent-proven strategies for helping kids keep their rooms reasonably organized at least some of the time (We're dealing with real-world kids, not TV kids, after all). http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=75 Here's a way to give your house greater curb appeal in a way that really counts: by limiting the number of bags of trash you set out at the curb each week. Here are some powerful steps you can take as a family that will have a major impact on our planet. http://www.beatheadlice.ca/en/anndouglas/?c=79