Health Plan Director

Help Your Kids Navigate School Amid a Pandemic

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- This school year comes with special challenges for kids as the United States grapples with a coronavirus pandemic, but experts say parents can help their children navigate the tough emotional terrain.

Whether returning to a school building, continuing online learning or adjusting to a hybrid school environment, it is normal for children and adolescents to have some stress or anxiety about going back to school, said Samanta Boddapati, a child clinical psychologist and prevention coordinator at Big Lots Behavioral Health Services at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Fears of getting sick or following school safety protocols for COVID-19 may make the transition even more difficult.
In a survey of parents by Nationwide Children's, 2 out of 5 said they had concerns about their kid's social and emotional well-being.

Very young children can suffer from separation anxiety about being away from family and in new environments. For these children, experts recommend making a special goodbye part of your routine and reminding your child when you will see each other again. Some kids like a transitional object -- an item that reminds them of mom or dad while at school.
Older children being in a classroom might be uncomfortable.

"Maintaining a routine is important, especially for families who are continuing to do online learning full-time. Create a part of your child's day that is structured and a part of their day that has some flexibility," said Parker Huston, a Nationwide Children's pediatric psychologist.

The hospital's experts offer these tips for parents and caregivers:

Tell your child there are a lot of unknowns, but that you and others are there to help them.
Discuss fears and talk through options and alternatives.
Model coping skills to your children, so they know how to respond to unknowns and build resilience.
Help them understand special procedures in schools such as wearing a mask and undergoing temperature checks.
Find out what resources are available at school for your child, such as social-emotional support or counseling.

"A certain amount of stress is normal, but parents, caregivers and educators should look out for drastic changes in functioning or behavior," Huston said in a hospital news release. "Sleep changes, mood changes, inability to engage with social environments or friends, increased anxiety about things that they maybe weren't nervous about in the past are changes you want to talk to your child's pediatrician about."

More information
For more on kids going back to school, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Steven Reinberg

SOURCE: Nationwide Children's Hospital, news release, July 29, 2020
Copyright © 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Learn More About Your Breast Density
WHAT IS DENSE BREAST TISSUE?
Breast tissue is made up of two types: fatty (non-dense) tissue and fibroglandular (dense) tissue.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE DENSE BREAST TISSUE?
Have a mammogram. The radiologist can determine your breast density by looking at these X-rays of the breasts. A grading scale is used to break density levels into four groups, ranging from "almost entirely fatty" to "extremely dense tissue present." Your doctor can explain your results to you.
WHAT IF I HAVE DENSE BREAST TISSUE?
Talk with your doctor about your risk factors for breast cancer, such as breast density, age, family history and your own health history. You and your doctor may decide that you would benefit from more screening tests. One option is 3D mammography, which has shown to be more effective in finding cancer in dense breasts.
WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD OF BREAST DENSITY BEFORE NOW?
A few years ago a state law went into effect requiring patients be notified of their breast density. This is intended to make women aware that if they have dense breasts, they may benefit from additional screening.
Frequently Asked Questions About 3D Mammography
WHAT IS A 3D MAMMOGRAPHY BREAST EXAM?
A 3D mammogram is a new screening and diagnostic tool to help with early breast cancer detection. It is done at the same time as a traditional 2D mammogram. During the 3D part of the exam, the X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over your breast, taking multiple images. Then, a computer makes a 3D image of your breast tissue in one millimeter slices. This allows the radiologist to better see breast detail. A 3D mammogram can be especially helpful for those with dense breasts.
WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR 3D MAMMOGRAPHY BREAST EXAMS? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
With regular 2D mammography, the radiologist views your breast tissue in one flat image. Sometimes breast tissue can overlap, giving the illusion of normal breast tissue looking like an abnormal area. By also looking at the breast tissue in one millimeter slices, the radiologist can provide a more accurate exam. In this way, 3D mammography finds 25-40% more invasive cancer that may be missed with regular 2D mammography. It also means there is less chance you would be called back later for a "second look," because now the breast tissue is seen more clearly.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING THE 3D MAMMOGRAPHY EXAM?
A 3D mammogram is done at the same time as your 2D mammogram. The 3D portion only takes a few more seconds. There is no additional compression of the breast.
IS THERE MORE RADIATION DOSE?
Very low X-ray energy is used during the exam. It is about the same amount as a regular mammogram done on film.

Methodist Center for Diagnostic Imaging centers are operated by Methodist GDI, a Texas non-profit corporation, and are staffed by independently practicing physicians who are contracted by Methodist GDI. The physicians and staff who provide services at the imaging centers are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System or any of its affiliated hospitals. © 2016, Center for Diagnostic Imaging 02162016