On Call With Dr. Anselm Anyoha

Episode-41-Playing in Children, Why Children Love to Play

Playing is very essential to children, essential for their physical and emotional wellbeing.
In their book, Touchpoint, Drs Brazelton, and Sparrow said that Plays remains the child’s powerful way of learning. In playing, children test out situations and actions to find out about engagements.
Playing in children starts very early, probably as early, as 6 weeks, and 8 weeks of age, when their social and emotional apparatus are in full gear and engaged. Children of all ages look forward to playtime. Adults do the same as well.
Capacity, and the need to play continues to increase and becomes more complex as the infant gets older. By the time infants are 4 months and can see better, and hold objects more firmly, they have more tools to play with.  
By 6 months of age, some infants can sit on their own unsupported, and with their hands free, they could hold and manipulate objects more easily. They will begin to collide two objects to see what the effect would be, including tossing them for the fun of doing so.  
Most infants are crawling at age 9 months, which increases their reach for objects and toys to play with, and well as initiate plays by reaching out to people around them. It is at this age that children realize that objects hidden did not disappear, and they begin to anticipate when they would reappear, thus they enjoy games such as peekaboo, and hide and seek. Caregivers and infants go back and forth playing these kinds of games until the infant is ready for a nap or a bottle or loses interest.
With more development in motor milestones, such as standing, walking and running, comes new outreach, contact and new objects to play with.
Children could be very creative once they have objects to play with and people to play with.  Playing therefore continues to evolve and increase in complexities as children grow.
Something dramatic happens at age 18 months. In addition to full movement and ability to get around and manipulate toys, children at 18 months have up to fifty words with which to communicate with both peers and adults.  resemble what goes on in adult life, and in fact prepares them for their future roles as adults. 

Episode-40-When Children are Separated from Parents, or Caregivers

keywords: child separation, caregiver impact, mental health, psychological trauma, reunification, child development, parenting, resilience, trauma recovery, child psychology
 
In this presentation, Dr. Anselm Anyoha discusses the critical issue of child separation from caregivers, exploring its causes, psychological impacts, and potential corrective measures. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the effects of separation on children's mental health and the necessity of reunification with primary caregivers to mitigate long-term consequences.
 
Discussed:
Separation from caregivers can lead to significant psychological trauma.
The causes of separation can be diverse, including divorce, death, and incarceration.
Children's responses to separation vary based on their age and understanding.
John Bowlby's work highlights the long-standing effects of maternal deprivation.
Anxiety, aggression, and depression are common outcomes of separation.
Reunification with primary caregivers is crucial for recovery.
Substitute caregivers can help mitigate the effects of separation.
The timing of reunification significantly impacts children's resilience.
Every child's experience of separation is unique and influenced by various factors.
Preventing separation is essential for healthy child development.
The Impact of Child Separation on Mental Health
Understanding the Causes of Child Separation
"Separation can occur under different reasons."
"Separation could be temporary or permanent."
"The effects of separation are not new."
 
Introduction to Child Separation Issues
Understanding the Causes of Separation
Psychological Impact of Separation on Children
Consequences and Corrective Measures for Separation

Episode-39-Infants with Cough, Fever, and Vomiting: How the Pediatricians Find What Is Wrong

Parent are upset when their children are sick. They are even more upset when a baby is ill, mainly because they cannot explain where it hurts and what hurts. The doctors and the pediatricians have to figure it out.
In this podcast, Dr Anyoha shares the challenges Pediatricians encounter when they consult on 12-month-old infants with fever, cough, and vomiting. It takes a skilled, patient, and experienced pediatrician to go through the likely conditions to find and treat the condition and make the child feel better.

A Comprehensive Guide by Dr. Anyoha

Welcome to an enlightening episode of Dr. Anyoha's podcast, where we deep-dive into the critical realm of pediatric vaccinations to understand their schedules, and their role in infants, children, and teenagers' immunization. An experienced pediatrician, Dr. Enyah shares insights about her regular vaccination practice and the benefits they offer to protect children from harmful viruses and bacteria.
This episode explores the vaccination schedule predominantly followed in the United States extensively. It simplifies the complex timelines of administering vaccines, starting from the day of birth with the hepatitis B shot, right until transitioning to an adult physician. The episode also sheds light on the annual flu shot, along with other essential vaccines till the child turns 17.
Featuring the frequently asked questions by parents, the podcast delves into what specific vaccines are administered to infants at the age of two months and their role in the baby's development. Highlighting the concept of 'bunched together' vaccines administered in one injection, Dr. Enyah discusses how this approach reduces the number of vaccinations needed, easing the process for both parents and children.
The episode walks through a detailed vaccine schedule for children from newborns up to 17 years old, including the safety benefits of combining six vaccines into one injection. Insights into vaccine milestones such as two, four, six, twelve, fifteen months, and four years are expounded upon, with each stage introducing specific vaccines to guard against dangerous diseases.
Once the four-year-old vaccines are complete, the schedule resumes when the child is 11 years old, with details about boosters and the initial HPV vaccines. The discussion concludes with an exploration into the crucial vaccinations needed when a teenager is heading to college at 16 or 17 years.
So tune in and equip yourself with comprehensive knowledge about your child's vaccination journey and the significance of each shot to ensure their health and safety.

Episode-38-The Inner Well-Being of Children

In this podcast episode, Dr. Anselm Anyoha discusses the critical aspects of mental health in infants and children, emphasizing the importance of emotional expression and the role of parents in fostering social emotional health. He highlights how children learn to express their emotions and the significance of parental attention in their development. The conversation also touches on the historical perspectives of children's feelings and the evolution of understanding their emotional needs.
 
Takeaways
Mental health in children encompasses happiness and emotional expression.
Children learn to socialize and express emotions from caregivers.
Babies have feelings and desire to relate to others.
Enhancing inner well-being is crucial for emotional capacity.
Expressing emotions is essential for cognitive development.
Parental attention is key to recognizing children's feelings.
Meeting children's needs fosters social emotional well-being.
Bonding and trust are built through consistent parental care.
Language acquisition is linked to emotional expression.
The foundation of learning is established in early childhood

Episode-37-New Moms Use Online Information to Care for Their Newborn

Raising a newborn is a day-to-day, minute activity, and my research shows that many mothers use the internet as a resource and information from their friends and mothers. The pediatrician is often at the bottom of the list of people new moms consult. The reasons are clear, but there could also be a downside. I suggest parents, new moms, and new fathers clarify information obtained online with their child's pediatrician.

Episode-36-Why Babies Die After birth

Did you know that while 1 out of every 30 newborns born in the so-called resource-poor country dies, 1 out of every 250 newborns dies in rich countries?
In this podcast, Dr. Anyoha, a pediatrician who has worked in the Neonatal Intensive care unit for decades, shares some of the reasons that newborns die, especially babies born in Resource-poor countries. 
 Infections are common causes of death in newborns, as well as lack of oxygen before, during, or after birth. Premature babies, because they have problems with breathing and temperature control, run the risk of dying in resource-poor countries.
From an experienced obstetrician, a skilled pediatrician, and a standard hospital, Dr. Anyoha also shares what resources to look for when expecting a baby.

Episode-35-Lumps in the Eyelids, Stye or Chalazion

In this podcast, Dr. Anyoha discusses two conditions (Stye, also called hordeolum, and chalazion) that commonly cause lumps or minor swellings in the eyelids of youths and teenagers. He also explains how to recognize them, differentiate them, and what to do when they occur. He also explains what not to do to the lumps and recommends when to seek an expert medical opinion.

Episode- 34- What to expect on your baby's first visit to their pediatrician

In this podcast, Dr. Anyoha tells you what to expect the first time you take your newborn baby to their pediatrician after they have been home from the hospital. He shares some of the profiles that pediatricians track during newborn visits. The weight of the baby, the length of the baby, and the head circumference of the baby are essential, as well as the strength and vitality of the baby. How the belly button is healing, how the circumcision wound is healing, as well as the shots, the meds, and vaccines the baby gets while in hospital are shared as well. He talked about why some babies might be prone to low blood sugar. In addition, he shares tips on how to begin building optimum relationships and bonding with your baby, the foundation to happiness, social-emotional health, well-being, robust brain development, learning, language acquisition, and cognitive development.

Episode-33--Four types of fathers and why fathers matter in raising, caring, and parenting their children

In this podcast, Dr. Anyoha identifies four types of fathers: 1, those who play an active part in caring for and raising their children from day one; 2, those who are bystanders, who leave parenting to women; 3, those who would rather wait until their children are older and relatively independent before they begin to play a role; and 4, those who are unavoidably absent or excluded from caring for their children. 
Dr Anyoha underscores the crucial role of early father involvement in caring for and parenting their children. This knowledge empowers fathers to take an active role in their children's lives from the very beginning, setting the stage for a strong and healthy parent-child relationship.
Parenting behavior that generates the connecting tissue of love, affection, and relationship begins early and is part of parents' routines.
Things like being around your baby, holding them when it might seem they might not tell the difference between you and another person, talking to them when it seems they might not hear you—-they do. Locking eyes with them when it might seem they might not recognize you—they do. 
According to Dr Anyoha, though mundane, these activities are the building blocks of bonding and quality infant-parent relationships, ongoing inner well-being, and the capacity for the child to begin learning, acquire words and use language, learn words and speak, and gain knowledge. 
A father's approval holds significant sway over a child's behavior. Boys, in particular, who have not bonded well with their fathers may exhibit resentment and rebellion through misbehavior and trouble-seeking. This behavior often stems from a deep-seated desire to gain their father's attention, highlighting fathers' profound influence on their children's emotional development.