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9 Fertility Supplements That Help You Conceive
Getting pregnant is not as easy as it seems. Some women get pregnant on the first try, but for others, it may take years to announce the good news. Our lifestyle choices have made it even more challenging to conceive easily and naturally. Infertility is a common problem, and it is hard to treat. While certain medical procedures can help people have a baby, most couples prefer conceiving the traditional way. If you want to get pregnant soon, you should perhaps consider taking fertility supplements. Female fertility supplements can boost the health of a woman and increase the strength of her reproductive system. If you want to take fertility supplements, you should have the right information about them.
What Are Fertility Supplements?
Fertility supplements are specific medicinal products or substances that, when consumed, help enhance the fertility levels in men and women. These products usually contain minerals, herbs, vitamins, or other amino acids that affect the reproductive system. These are separate from medications since all the constituents of these supplements are natural and do not necessarily require a doctor’s prescription. Some are generally used as nutritional supplements while others contain specifically designed formula to target the fertility of a particular person. Fertility supplements are not just available for women but men as well. Fertility supplements for men focus on improving sperm health and motility, thereby increasing the chances of them reaching the egg for fertilization.
Is it Safe to Take Supplements to Boost Fertility?
As numerous over-the-counter herbal supplements are available for both men and women, it is normal to wonder whether these supplements are effective or not. Since these supplements are manufactured using natural products and do not require a prescription, people think that they are safe. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.
As with any external substances that interact with the body’s biological processes, these substances interact too and could result in side effects. They can trigger allergic reactions, and the substances present in them could interact differently with any ongoing medication.
Even though these supplements contain the nutrients that are essential for your health, but if you take them too much, they might affect your health negatively. Elevating the levels of certain vitamins or minerals beyond normal can be harmful to the body as well. At times, taking more than one supplement could also create a bond between them, leading to the formation of chemicals that can damage the body.
What Ingredients Are Found in Fertility Supplements?
Each fertility supplement contains a combination of different elements that serve a unique purpose. There are a bunch of ingredients that are generally found in fertility supplements, which have been described below.
1. N-Acetyl Cysteine
Also termed as NAC or N-acetyl-L-cysteine, this element is actually a variant of the usual amino acid from the L-cysteine strain. One of the key reasons why this ingredient forms a part of various fertility supplements is because it acts as an antioxidant. This plays a crucial role in keeping the internal body systems functioning to optimal levels, preventing cells from dying an early death, and creating a sensitivity towards insulin. NAC can substantially improve the ovulation cycles of many women, particularly the ones who have PCOS.
2. Myoinositol
Myo-inositol is one of those substances which is found naturally in the human body as well. It is also present in various food items such as fruits, beans, corn, etc. The reason inositol is produced in the body is primarily to regulate the insulin levels and keep the body healthy. Insulin resistance is a problem with the body’s ability to respond to insulin. Insulin resistance is one of the causes of low fertility levels in women with PCOS. Intake of inositol can help such women by improving their fertility levels. It streamlines and regularizes menstrual cycle in a woman, which ultimately brings ovulation pattern to normal.
3. Dehydroepiandrosterone
The name may sound scary, but it has been shortened to DHEA. This hormone is produced by the human body, which is secreted by the adrenal glands. There are contradictory opinions on the efficacy of DHEA for women since it poses more harm than good when a woman has substantial reserves of her ovaries. Additional DHEA supplementation, in this case, can lead to side effects like facial hair growth, disturbance in menstrual cycles, and so on. However, for women who have low ovarian reserves, DHEA supplementation is quite beneficial, especially when going for IVF.
4. Coenzyme Q10
Also termed as CoQ10, it is an enzyme which can boost fertility. But there doesn’t seem to be any specific study or research of its effects on humans. Nevertheless, tests have been conducted on animals, and supplementation of CoQ10 improved the quality of eggs of those animals. CoQ10 also improves the sperm count in men. The sperm are better-shaped and have higher motility as well.
5. Vitex Agnus-Castus
A popular herbal supplement, vitex agnus-castus is generally referred to as chasteberry in layman’s terms. Vitex is a well-known fertility supplement that improves the reproductive health of women. It is known to provide relief from the common discomforts experienced at the onset of menstruation. It streamlines the menstrual cycles, which improves ovulation, and ultimately, the chances of pregnancy.
6. Amino Acids
One of the key ingredients that is required by the human body to function and stay healthy is amino acids. Most of these acids are produced in the body itself, whereas a few others are required from external sources. Two of the necessary ones in that regard are L-carnitine and L-arginine. Both these acids are necessary for supporting a healthy reproductive system in both men and women. The presence of L-carnitine in males improves the motility of sperm and their shape. L-arginine, on the other hand, boosts the flow of blood to the ovarian region and the uterus in women. However, sometimes, too much L-arginine can hinder the successful retrieval of embryos or eggs during IVF.
7. Antioxidants
Only the rarest of the rare fertility supplements will be manufactured without a trace of antioxidants in them. If amino acids are the building blocks of the human body, the antioxidants are the maintenance personnel. Most supplements include Vitamin C as a core antioxidant, while a few others generally have melatonin, green tea, or ubiquinol in them. Ubiquinol can be termed as a primitive stage of CoQ10, affects the shape of sperm in males and the eggs in females. Both of these work towards boosting fertility together.
8. Vitamins
Vitamins are essential for our body; hence, all supplements contain vitamins without fail. Numerous vitamins ranging from the B-complex group to Vitamins C and E, and minerals like folate, zinc, magnesium, etc. are not only necessary for fertility but also for the development of the foetus.
Fertility Supplements That Can Help You Get Pregnant
If you are opting for natural fertility supplements while trying to conceive, you should consider the ones that can improve the chances of conception and restore order to the reproductive systems in both males and females.
1. L-Carnitine
It is one of the essential amino acids that support the growth of the reproductive system. L-carnitine is a necessary supplement for males. Intake of L-carnitine and elevating its levels within the sperm cells, has shown substantial improvement in the number of sperm as well as their speed of navigation.
2. L-Arginine
L-arginine, another amino acid which is usually paired with L-carnitine, is present in various food items. But it is found in significant proportions within the head of a sperm. L-arginine is a key supplement to boost the strength of the sperm as well as increase their count. However, intake of L-arginine is generally forbidden for those with STDs such as herpes or cold sores. Such diseases could be aggravated by reactivating the virus by the presence of this amino acid.
3. Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene is widely present in various vegetables, which later develops into the potent Vitamin A. Consuming beta-carotene is highly recommended during pregnancy, but it is used as a fertility supplement, too. The antioxidant property of beta-carotene helps in maintaining the health of the sperm as well as the egg by taking care of any free radicals in the body and preventing damage to the fledgeling DNA that is about to form. Usually, multivitamin supplements do contain beta-carotene in good amounts.
4. Vitamin C
Apart from being a natural antioxidant, the presence of Vitamin C is directly linked to the improvement of the DNA inside the sperm, protecting it throughout and improving their quality and shape. Keeping the DNA information protected within the sperm is highly important to prevent any miscarriage or formation of a foetus that has various disorders or conditions. Furthermore, vitamin C encourages the sperm to spread out rather than band together, increasing the chances of them swimming speedily towards the egg.
5. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another antioxidant that plays a key role in increasing fertility in both men and women, and it is quite important for a couple who are undergoing IVF. The intake of Vitamin E can increase the chances of fertilisation by nearly 10%.
6. Omega-3 Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids supplements are crucial as they increase blood flow to the uterus and help ovarian follicles release eggs. Right from reducing inflammation that may cause hindrances with pregnancy down to providing the essential fatty acids to the semen, omega-3 fatty acids help improve fertility. They also boost the prostaglandin levels and sperm health.
7. Selenium
In men, selenium is extremely important since proper selenium levels are directly linked to good sperm count. In women, selenium plays an essential role in protecting the nascent foetus from miscarriages or any other defects. The antioxidant properties of selenium keep the chromosome structure intact.
8. Folic Acid
Folic acid is highly recommended before pregnancy as well as throughout the pregnancy since it improves foetal health. Not only does it support the better formation of DNA and RNA, but it also protects those genetic codes within the baby. Complementing it with B-complex vitamins is absolutely a necessity. A combination of folic acid and zinc can also improve the quality of sperm in men.
9. Zinc
Zinc plays a vital role in maintaining good chromosome pairs and holds together estrogen and progesterone, which benefit the pregnancy. In a sperm, the tail and the outer covering are made from zinc itself, which makes the inclusion of zinc in a man’s diet absolutely essential. This element can improve sperm motility and improve the quality of sperm. It is also important for women as the lack (or low levels) of zinc can lead to a miscarriage.
Risks of Taking Fertility Supplements
As mentioned above, fertility supplements can interact with other medications that a person might be taking. Taking fertility supplements, especially in high doses and for too long can affect your reproductive health as well as overall health negatively. Stated below are the side effects that may occur because of taking high doses of supplements -
Headaches
Blurry vision
Nausea and vomiting
An increased risk of heart disease (this happens when folic acid is taken in excessive amounts)
Rash
When to Be Extra Cautious With Fertility Supplements
Buying fertility supplements can be tricky, but if you are planning to take fertility supplements, you need to be cautious. Avoid buying a fertility supplement in the following cases.
The online store or website of the company seems sketchy. It has wrong spellings and random images.
The box mentions “research-proven” but does not specify the research and the time when and where it was conducted.
The box of the supplements says “recommended by doctors” but doesn’t carry any official logo of the organisation.
The supplement proudly gives the guarantee of curing infertility.
What to Ask Your Doctor
Although many fertility supplements help improve fertility, they may not work for all. They are effective but can also lead to serious side effects. Hence, consulting a doctor before taking any supplement would be a wise decision. So, speak with your doctor about the potential benefits and risks of a particular supplement, then only go ahead with it. The doctor will ask you about your medical history and any pre-existing medical conditions. She will even ask you if you are on some medication. Provide the right information, and she will guide you the best.
Opting for the best fertility supplements to get pregnant may not be as easy as it seems. Just like medication, care needs to be taken while choosing the right ones. Furthermore, taking supplements alone won’t improve your fertility levels. Following a healthy diet, leading a good lifestyle, and exercising will work in your favour too. Consult a doctor before you start with any supplements, she will guide you the best. Furthermore, keep trying – soon, you will have your little angel in your arms.
Also Read:
Healthy Foods for Getting Pregnant
Natural Remedies to Boost Fertility
Foods for Improving Women Egg Quality Read more
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10 Superfast Healthy Recipes that you can cook along with your Toddlers and Kids.
Always thinking what to cook for snacks or breakfast today...?? Well here is your answer for addressing taste, health and less time taking recipes that you can cook without worrying. These are quick, tried and tasted by my toddler and he even enjoys to help me in making them. You can adjust the measurements as per number of people you are cooking for.
1. Rava Oats chila
Mix equal quantities of rava and powdered oats with curd, add chopped onion, salt, garam masala and coriander. Make instant chila in non stick pan.
2. Green moong dal chila
Soak green moong dal overnight. Rinse moong dal and grind with ginger and salt. Use this batter to make chila.
3. Poha
Wash poha in a sieve and keep aside. Chop one onion and one potato. Now take oil in pan, add rai, saunf, kadhi patta, few groundnuts/green peas, chopped onion, chopped potato and little salt. Put a lid and let it cook until potato is soft. Till then mix turmeric, little sugar and salt in poha. Remove the lid and add turmeric to veggies. Add poha and mix again. Cover and switch off the gas. Keep for 5minutes then serve. Garnish with coriander and lemon.
4. Rava Appam
Mix rava and curd and keep aside for 10minutes. Chop onion, capsicum, coriander, grate carrot, grate little ginger. Now mix all together, add water as required and salt. Use this batter to make instant appam for breakfast.
5. Besan chila
Mix besan, little rava, coriander, tomato, onion, salt, ajwain, garam masala/kanda lehsun masala. Add water and make batter. Use this batter to make chila.
6. Pan cake
1egg for 2 small pancakes.
Break one egg, add 1 heap spoon wheat flour, 1 pinch salt, half spoon sugar, 2 spoons milk. Mix well. Take non stick pan and put some butter. Pour half batter and cover with lid. Cook for 30 seconds and flip. Cook thoroughly and serve with pancake syrup or honey.
7. Bread omelet
Whisk one egg add salt and black pepper. Grease non stick pan with butter. Dip bread in egg batter and put on the pan. Pour remaining batter over the bread and cover the lid. Flip after 10 seconds. Cook thoroughly and serve with ketchup.
8. Gud paratha
Mix wheat flour and gud powder and 1 spoon ghee. Make dough with water. Make paratha with ghee. Serve hot.
9. Cheese tomato sandwich
Take whole wheat bread. Take finely chopped tomato and add little salt and pepper to it. Grate cheese over bread then put tomatoes over cheese then cover with other slice. Now make sandwich with butter. Serve with ketchup.
10. Chicken strips
Take boneless chicken breast piece. Slice it into thin strips. Mix chicken strips, 1 egg, little olive oil, salt, black pepper, ginger garlic paste. Heat non stick pan and pour extra virgin olive oil to cover base of the pan. Now on low flame place the strips one by one and cover the lid. Cook for two minutes then flip. Cook for another 3minutes. Color will change. Check the softness. Dont overcook. Serve hot. Read more
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Loud Noises during Pregnancy - Does it Hurt the Unborn Baby?
If you are pregnant and are planning to attend a music concert soon then hold on. First, find out if your baby will be fine with that loud noise or not. Here we shall be discussing the impact of loud noise on the baby in a womb, and you will also know whether it is harmful to your baby or not.
When Do Babies Start Hearing In the Womb?
Somewhere around your fifth month of pregnancy or around 22 weeks of pregnancy, your baby’s inner ear also known as cochlea will be fully formed, which will be the basis of your baby’s hearing mechanism. This means that your little munchkin will be capable of hearing what you may be hearing, though not on the same level. You may even notice that any kind of loud noise may trigger a reaction from your baby and you may find your baby move with a startle or you may feel a jumpy thud in your belly.
Are Unborn Babies Protected Against Loud Sounds?
Your baby’s ears are well protected by your stomach muscles, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid. Therefore the sounds that your baby hears may be all muffled and softer. However, every pregnancy and baby is different, and it is not known what kind or intensity of noise may be fatal for your baby’s ears. Thus it is better to be careful and cautious when it comes to loud noises. Also, loud noises may not be good for the expecting mom because it may cause the production of stress hormones. The stress hormones may raise the mother’s heart rate which is again not good for the baby.
What Kind of Sounds Are Dangerous for Pregnant Women?
Constant exposure to loud noises for longer durations may result in hearing loss in the growing foetus. Therefore, in order to protect your unborn baby, you must stay away from the following kinds of noises, which may be dangerous for a pregnant woman:
Refrain from going to a firing area or range.
In case you are planning on attending any concert which involves loud music, refrain from sitting in the front row.
Stay away from the regular exposure to the loud noises of jet planes.
Do not work in a place where you hear loud noise more than 80 decibels on a regular basis.
How Can Loud Noise Harm the Foetus?
If you are wondering can loud noise hurt a foetus, the answer is yes; loud noises may harm the foetus in the following ways:
1. It May Startle the Baby
Any kind of loud sound or loud music during pregnancy may startle your baby. As a mother, you'd notice this. Whenever you will be exposed to loud noises, it may cause your baby to move rapidly in the womb or she may register intense foetal movements.
2. It May Affect Your Baby’s Hearing
Loud music or sounds may affect the hearing ability of the unborn baby. This is because a human can bear up to 80 decibels of sounds and any sound above this level may pose a potent threat to the hearing ability. Music concerts, jet planes, or places with heavy machinery, may produce a much higher frequency of sound (110 decibels or more), which may cause damage to your baby’s hearing.
3. It May Cause Foetal Abnormalities
Any kind of exposure to loud noises in the first trimester of pregnancy or in later stages may pose a great threat to foetal abnormalities. This is because constant exposure to loud noises may lead to hypertension or stress in the expectant mother. These conditions have a direct impact on foetal development and may lead to various congenital abnormalities. It may also affect the motor skills or the ability of the baby and in some cases it may even lead to low birth weight in babies.
4. It May Induce Stress in Babies
In various studies conducted on rhesus monkeys and rats, it was observed that consistent exposure to loud noises resulted in increased amounts of cortisol and corticotrophin in the foetus. The rise in the level of these hormones is indicative of increased stress levels. Some monkey babies exhibited abnormal social behaviour, too. However, there has been no substantial study that supports that loud noise inducing stress in the growing foetus, but it adversely affected the lactogen levels of the mother.
5. It May Cause Changes in Foetal Brain Structure
In various studies conducted on different animals, it was established that loud music or loud noise of any kind might affect or cause changes in the foetal brain structure. However, similar kinds of results are expected in human babies too. Therefore, try to stay away from loud noises during pregnancy.
6. It May Increase the Risk of Preterm or Premature Babies
There are many reasons that may cause your baby to be born much before his due date, and exposure to loud noise is one of them. In some studies, it was observed that consistent exposure to loud noise might reduce the gestation period from the 40 weeks to 37 weeks.
The above-mentioned are some of the ill effects of being exposed to loud noise during pregnancy. As stated above, some of the studies do not have substantial claims supporting the ill effects of loud noise, but it is always better to exercise caution when it concerns your baby.
Can You Listen Soft Sound or Soft Music during Pregnancy?
There is no doubt that music is one thing that really makes us feel pepped up and happy. However, you might wonder if you can listen to your favourite music during pregnancy or not. The answer is yes, you can listen to music during pregnancy provided you listen to it at a lower volume or within authorised limits. Contrary to loud music, softer music has a positive impact on the mother and on her unborn baby. Music which is played at 70 decibels or lower levels than that has proved to very effective in providing calming effects to the mother and her baby. You can pick up any music or songs that you like and play that music and enjoy.
Various studies are still in progress to establish the ill effects of loud noise on the growing foetus. However, staying away from loud sounds and music can do no harm. Therefore, stay away from places where there is noise, turn that stereo down to a low volume, and skip that rock concert until your baby arrives.
Also Read: Newborn Baby Grunting - Is It Normal? Read more
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Action Words To Teach Your Toddler
Before learning to converse, there's a whole list of action words to teach your 19-month-old toddler. Easy to learn and fun to teach, it's important for him to combine all of them to expand his vocabulary and know how to form phrases.
A toddler’s introduction to language begins by learning a few basic words and then expanding his vocabulary to form phrases and gradually conversing. The learning starts with basic sounds and words and moves on to names of people, places, and things. To make toddlers eager to learn a language, parents need to create enthusiasm. One of the best ways to do this is to teach action words. Toddlers find it easier to learn if they associate an action with a word.
How to Teach Action Words to Toddlers in a Few Simple Ways
Firm Introduction
Children must be introduced to the word action first. This can be done by showing them how an action is performed, i.e. by doing something. These actions could be simple things like eating, coloring, playing and sitting. Note some easy action words for kids and encourage your child to do them by performing them along with him.
Introduce Groups
It’s a good idea to introduce action words in groups. Compile action words in a group of words and read them aloud. Then, while calling out an item from the list of action words for toddlers, add a few non-action words and see if he can spot them.
Draw The Action
Learning a word becomes easier if you ask your child to draw a picture of that particular action word. It will also help in the development of motor skills aside from your toddler’s vocabulary list. This can also be played as a fun game where other kids have to guess what the action is.
Sing with Rhymes
A simple way to teach action words is by reciting rhymes that focus on actions. It makes them much easier to remember too. Some popular rhymes are:
Row your boat
Incy wincy spider
One, two, buckle my shoe
Rub-a-dub-dub
Teddy bear, teddy bear
Hop a little
Word Association
Another method of teaching your toddler action words as well as helping him remember different body parts is to associate the two things together. You can tell them the action that each body part does, for example, the eyes wink and blink, and the legs walk and run.
Keep Reminding
Make a board of all the action words for toddlers that you want your child to learn. Cut out pictures from magazines and discarded books, and put words beside each one for easy teaching.
Common Action Words
Here’s a list of the most common action words that can be used for teaching your toddler:
Jump, crawl, eat, drink, go, stop, run, walk, sleep, wash, kiss, open, close, push, pull, play, hug, tickle, dance, shake, sit, stand, throw, catch, and come.
Teaching and learning become easier if taught in a fun and playful way. The same should also be done with action words. Read more
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Dysgraphia in Children - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
While there are some children more gifted at writing, most are average and able to write their thoughts in a coherent manner. But then there are those who seem to have a lot of difficulty in doing even that. These children may be suffering from something known as Dysgraphia.
What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia can be described as a learning disability in which children have difficulty in writing and sometimes with other fine motor skills. Dysgraphia and ADHD often go together, but it can also be a standalone disability. Dysgraphia is also called “Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Writing.”
Types of Dysgraphia in Children
There are different types of dysgraphia, and most children have more than one type of it. Here are five types of dysgraphia:
1. Motor Dysgraphia
In this type of dysgraphia, handwriting is often illegible as the child is unable to hold a pencil correctly.
2. Dyslexic Dysgraphia
Children with dysgraphia dyslexia are often able to copy decently, but their spontaneous writing is quite illegible, and their spellings are not good.
3. Lexical Dysgraphia
This type is quite rare in children and is seen when the child can spell, but they are more reliant on the standard sound-to-letter patterns.
4. Spatial Dysgraphia
If a child does not understand the concept of space and has trouble writing on lines and spacing between words, then he or she is said to have spatial dysgraphia. Their spontaneous written work and copied work is illegible, but their spelling is usually normal.
5. Phonological Dyslexia
Phonological Dysgraphia is said to be the inability to spell unfamiliar words and phonetically irregular words. Children with this type of dysgraphia are unable to remember phonemes and use them correctly in writing.
Causes of Childhood Dysgraphia
It is important to understand what causes dysgraphia in children so that it is possible to work with them and help them. Here are some causes for childhood dysgraphia:
Underdeveloped fine motor skills
Inability to properly visually process letters and words
Brain damage
Multiple mental images
Inadequate instruction
Signs of Dysgraphia in Children
Look out for these signs if you suspect your child may have dysgraphia. Here are the most important dysgraphia symptoms:
Inability to get their thoughts down on paper
Messy or illegible handwriting
An awkward and tight grip on the pencil and awkward body position
Has trouble spacing between words and forming the shapes of the letters
Unable to pay proper attention
Has some trouble when trying to organize the words from left to right
Has difficulty staying within the margins
Has trouble with other fine motor skills such as holding a fork, tying shoelaces or fastening buttons
Inability to spell correctly and sometimes mixes upper case and lower case letters
Unable to hold the pencil properly or use scissors the correct way
Avoids writing
Writes incomplete sentences
When Does Dysgraphia Start Showing Its Symptoms?
As dysgraphia is related to the inability to write properly, most parents and teachers may notice the signs first beginning to appear when the child in question has to start writing assignments in school. While all children begin with inconsistency in their writing skills, they soon get the hang of it. If your child remains unable to get used to writing and shows the above symptoms for longer than the normal learning curve most children require, your child may be showing signs of dysgraphia.
How is Dysgraphia Diagnosed?
If you believe that your child is displaying symptoms of dysgraphia, consider seeking the advice of a psychologist or a neurologist as they are qualified to diagnose dysgraphia. The doctor will require some background information on the child's family history, developmental milestones, and some academic history that involves writing samples of your child. Your child will also have to go through a dysgraphia test which will include some activities in which the evaluator can assess his fine motor skills, intelligence and academic achievement. Letter formation and other types of motor-related dysgraphia can be diagnosed at the age of six, but most wait until the child has reached about nine years of age before giving a proper diagnosis, as the 'Test of Written Language' can only be done by children who are more used to complex forms of writing.
Treatment of Dysgraphia In Kids
Dysgraphia has no cure, and so, the treatment will vary from child to child. It will also vary if the child has any other type of learning disability or any kind of health problems. Here are some ways in which dysgraphia in kids can be treated:
There are no specific dysgraphia writing exercises, but there are certain teaching techniques that can help. Since many children with dysgraphia also have dyslexia, they may need to work on basic reading skills, like decoding, to be able to write better. It is especially important in helping children with their spelling. For this, syllable patterns, letter-sound relationships, and relations between meanings and letter groupings will need to be explained to them well.
Those who struggle with their motor skills required to write can undergo occupational therapy. Here, therapists work on the strength of the hand and the fine motor coordination a child will need to be able to write. They also help children learn how to position their arm correctly and how to hold their bodies.
In order to help kids with other problems related to writing, educational therapy will work wonders. Here, they will learn how to work around their weaknesses with writing and be able to help children with setting reasonable and achievable goals for writing, and will also be able to teach them how to track their progress with visual tools. This helps children tackle writing assignments with as little frustration as possible.
What Can Parents Do to Improve Their Child’s Writing and Alleviate Their Pain?
Writing can be so emotionally stressful for children with dysgraphia, which is why they try to avoid it as much as they can. If you make the time to practice a few things with your child though, you can help him remove a lot of unnecessary pain from his attempts at writing. Here we have a few tips that will help:
1. Change the Paper
Try replacing the lined paper with graph paper so that each letter gets its own block or space and teach him to leave one empty block between the words.
2. Change the Tool
Children with dysgraphia are not naturally able to hold a pen or pencil lightly so if you give them something delicate to work with, it will encourage them to use a light grip. You can get your child a feathered quill and ink to make things more fun, or if that is not available, you can always encourage him to write with chalk on a chalkboard or slate. There are even some dysgraphia pencil grips that are made to help your child get a better grip on his pencil.
3. Teach Typing
Typing is so much easier for children with dysgraphia than writing is, so teaching him to type will remove a lot of stress and allow him to express his thoughts in written form much better.
4. Build Muscle Memory
For children with dysgraphia, fine motor skills can be a problem, so have your child use the three fingers used for writing to walk a chopstick up and down. Make it fun for him by turning this into a game and rewarding him for a job well done.
5. Multisensory Exercises
Have your child play around in either sand or paint and ask him to form words using his fingers. Tactile learners will be able to form memories of the letters by feeling them.
6. Speak and Write
Encourage your child to say the word out loud first and then write it down. This will help him focus and keep track of his efforts as it engages different parts of the brain.
7. Dictation
Children with good oral skills can be given a voice recorder and encouraged to record their thoughts first and then write it down while listening to it. This will make things easier for them as they will not need to focus on forming sentences or their grammar, and will be able to focus solely on their word formation.
8. Letter Formation Drills
A common problem that children with dysgraphia have is starting words from bottom up. Teach them to form letters from the top rather than the bottom consistently. The letters do not need to be perfect, but they should be consistent.
When to Worry
If your little one tries his best but still does not seem able to get the hang of writing and is becoming anxious at the thought of any kind of writing activity, you may want to look into asking for an assessment and see if your child has dysgraphia. Some children may need a bit more help than what you can give them at home. A professional will be able to take therapy further than you can and will be able to identify the exact underlying cause of the problem.
Though it can be frustrating for both child and parent, it is important not to allow your child to lose confidence in himself. Do not be afraid to ask for help if your attempts to help your child improve at home do not work, because your child’s future depends on him being able to have enough confidence in his abilities. Together, you can overcome this issue.
Also Read: Developmental Delay in Kids Read more
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
7 hours ago
Q. hi mam for 2days I am seeing my baby bumb decreasing is it cause of worry?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
7 hours ago
A. I don’t know how the bumps of your child decreasing that’s not fair to me second you have not mentioned the current age of your child to do it and there is no clarity in the query it would be difficult for me to help us so if you don’t mind can you please repost with all the necessary details associated with your question
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
6 hours ago
Q. Hello I had my period missed for April month and today I got my period. Is it normal to have period after 1 month or is there anything I should be worried about? Iam worried please let me know if that's ok or should I consult my doctor
Read moreDr Ghouse
Paediatrician
6 hours ago
A. consult your doctor for any evaluation required. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. hllo am in 34 week of pregnancy,cramps in my hand and foots,my pulses is very fast,i feel tiredness internally,are these symptoms are normal
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. get investigations particularly hemoglobin level. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. i feel some fever internally also
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. please check the temperature and get the investigations. fever can be because of different reasons most of the times viral bacterial sometimes due to less immunity there can be recurrence better to treat only with paracetamol if the fever more than 100degr
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. Now I am having pain till then my miscarriage has been done at home
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
4 hours ago
A. I’m sorry I’m unable to understand your query as you haven’t given any detail about it so whatever the situation is you should get a check with your gynaecologist the doctor would be able to give you better help in whatever treatment of precaution you need to require further
shilpi Bhandari has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
54 mins ago
Q. Hello
What is better normal or csec?
shilpi Bhandari
Mom of 2 children
3 mins ago
A. hello dear this is not about which is better this is all about your body and the condition of the baby no doubt the normal procedure is the painful but side effect are not there but after C6 you have to be little more careful and you have to take more precaution but again I am saying that this is not about the better one this is about the condition of your pregnancy
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