Water Fun and Safety in the Sun!

Is your child afraid of the water? We have solutions!

Summer is the best time to get your children acclimated to the water. For younger kids, water may seem scary due to its unknown touch and feel, and the thought of being submerged in liquid can be alarming.

Check out our tips below on how to help your child feel safe while being in and around the water this summer!

Start Young: Beginning aquatic survival lessons for your infant (as young as six months old) will help them become comfortable around the water at an early age. Infant swim lessons offer a great opportunity for your child to learn more about how their body moves and to be aware of the space around them. This awareness is important in developing their fine and gross motor skills. Swim lessons for babies can be instrumental to their growth and development, and the earlier they begin, the better results they will have.

Use Bath Time to Your Advantage: The bath is the best place to begin nurturing a love of being in the water, while building comfort and confidence. When taking baths, practice getting your child’s face wet and blowing bubbles under water. If your child is reluctant to get their face wet, start by squeezing a sponge or washcloth over their head and let water trickle down the face. Keep toys close by in the tub. This creates an atmosphere of fun while being in the water.

Start Lessons Early: When searching for swim lessons for your child, look for a program that provides a patient environment, skilled instructors, and quick and effective results. Remember, every child develops differently! Do not compare your child’s abilities to other children’s and instead focus on their growth and achievements along the way.

Join In on the Fun: Don’t be afraid to get in the water and help your child learn! Seeing a familiar face in the water will help build trust and confidence. Use this time to review what your child has learned in swim lessons through repetition and consistency. Provide your child with a routine of going under water to practice blowing bubbles. Depending on your child’s skill set, allow them to explore independently while being an arm’s length away.

It is important to keep in mind that all water environments are different. Never let your child swim without supervision, no matter how comfortable they may seem in the water. Accidents happen. To learn more about water safety and swimming tips, visit the links below:

For any questions or concerns, call our office at 251.928.5568. Happy swimming!

Keep Your Kids Active This Summer

Summertime is here! What family activities do you have planned?

Although taking a break from school is a good reset for your children, it is not the time to take a break from developmental and behavioral learning. In fact, it is quite the opposite!

Keeping your kids active builds a sense of confidence and self-worth, improves sleep quality, reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, reduces the risk of obesity, type two diabetes and heart disease, increases the child’s ability to focus when back in school, and helps with the consistent development of basic and fine motor skills.

Fairhope Pediatrics recommends taking advantage of time spent together as a family to help children continue to learn daily and stay healthy. Below is a list of fun-filled, kid-friendly ideas to help your children stay active during these summer months!

  1. Make reading a daily habit. Reading keeps a child’s brain active and improves learning capabilities.
  2. Enroll your child in a summer enrichment or recreational program. Schools and community programs often sponsor local events to help keep kids engaged.
  3. Purchase a pass to a local swimming pool. Kids lose track of time when playing with water toys! Plus, it’s great exercise – just don’t forget the SPF!
  4. Host a sprinkler party. Invite your neighbors!
  5. Sign up to do service work together as a family. Community service will keep your children active, while also teaching valuable lessons.
  6. Encourage your teen to get a part-time job. This will help form healthy work habits and give your child a sense of responsibility.
  7. Build forts out of furniture. Your child’s imagination will run wild!
  8. Go rollerblading or biking.
  9. Take your pet for a walk as a family.
  10. Encourage your kids to help with gardening and lawn work. They can be a bigger help than you think!

We suggest making a bucket list to help build excitement for your summer activities. Children will enjoy partaking in the fun of checking each item off the list! Whatever you decide to do this summer, make it a memorable and active experience for your family! These are the memories your children will always carry with them. For more information or ideas on family activities, visit https://bit.ly/3z26vIa.

Our Story: Meet the Practice

Fairhope Pediatrics has been caring for children in Baldwin County, Alabama, for more than 12 years and takes pride in providing personalized, whole-child pediatric care in a warm, welcoming environment. The team at Fairhope Pediatrics works closely with patients and families to make every visit a positive one.

Dr. Skinner, the founder of Fairhope Pediatrics, was raised in Fairhope, Alabama, and dreamed of one day starting a business in her hometown. Following her residency at Florida State University – Sacred Heart, Dr. Skinner moved back to Baldwin County and opened her independent practice in 2009.

Dr. Skinner’s practice began with setting the foundation to strive for excellence and commit to forming long-lasting relationships with all patients and families. At Fairhope Pediatrics, the foothold is set to personalized care, realizing each patient and family is unique and treatments don’t always take a one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, each treatment plan is tailored to the specific patient and family.

“We treat your kids the way we would want our kids to be treated,” states Dr. Skinner. “Our team knows the importance of partnering with parents and families to give them the knowledge, care, and reassurance they need for their children and adolescents’ healthcare.”

As president of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Dr. Skinner advocates for children and pediatricians at the local, state, and national level. She enjoys attending and speaking at events across the nation to other pediatricians about ways to provide high-quality care while streamlining office efficiency and improving work-life balance. She is also the founder of Women in Pediatrics, an organization focused on supporting the needs of female pediatricians.

As a heath care administrator, Fairhope Pediatrics has been recognized by the National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA) for being a patient-centered medical home that puts patients at the forefront of care. By using this model, clinical care teams build better relationships with patients. The NCQA seal is a widely recognized symbol of quality and is a reliable indicator that a medical practice is well-managed and delivers high-quality services. As a pediatric office, Fairhope Pediatrics is honored to be recognized by the NCQA for values and care implemented each day.

When the office opened in 2009, the practice saw 12 patients in its first day. To date, the pediatrician’s office has grown to see an average of 80 patients per day, with two clinicians seeing about 30 patients each and nurses seeing about 10 – 20 patients of their own. Fairhope Pediatrics has grown from a practice of two employees, to now 18 made up of Dr. Skinner, two mid-level providers, a practice administrator, and fourteen support staff members who help care for thousands of patients. Fairhope Pediatrics offers the full spectrum of pediatric health care services to newborn babies, children, and adolescents through their college years.

Through close collaboration between staff, patients, and families, Fairhope Pediatrics strives to make every experience a safe and caring one. Looking to the future, the Fairhope Pediatrics team is working attentively to ensure all core values that originally built the infrastructure of the practice are aligned and flow together through all workspaces, employees, and patients.

Make Fairhope Pediatrics your child’s medical home! To learn more about the services Fairhope Pediatrics provides or to schedule an appointment for your child, call 251.928.5568.