Are children overprotected?

Two recent situations from the world of sports raise concerns about how we are overprotecting our kids.

The first incident involved Gisele Bundchen, wife of Patriot quarterback Tom Brady. After a heartbreaking loss in the recent Super Bowl, Bundchen tried to console her 5-yearold daughter, Vivian, and 8-year-old son, Ben. “… Daddy won five times. They never won before … you have to let someone else win sometimes … we have to share … sharing is caring.”

Tom Brady never let another team win a football game, and he didn’t intentionally want to share the Lombardi trophy with the Philadelphia Eagles. I don’t understand the need to lie to kids. How about this for an alternative explanation? “Daddy and his team tried hard and played very well. However, the other team was better today. Daddy feels sad and disappointed.”

Let’s not be too harsh on this mom, as it’s difficult to explain these things to kids, particularly after the Super Bowl game when surrounded by media. However, this seems part of a societal trend of overprotecting kids at a young age, leaving them ill-equipped to deal with normal frustrations as they get older.

The second incident involved basketball allstars, with LeBron James and Stephen Curry selecting members of their teams. I played lots of basketball as a young boy, and the team selection was pretty simple. We would simply “choose up sides,” with each captain selecting one person at a time. Of course, the worst player was selected last, but no one in my Massachusetts’ neighborhood would ever think about whining about that process.

I guess NBA all-stars are different. While the 10 members of the starting team were selected by popular vote, Curry and James’ picks of who would be on their teams were done in secret, apparently so as not to cause any hard feelings for the player selected last.

These guys are among the most talented athletes in the world, and we need to be concerned about hurting their feelings because of the order in which they were selected! Doesn’t something seem wrong about that?

I’m often asked why kids have so many mental health problems, and there is no single or simple answer to that question. However, one factor is that we are too overprotective of our kids at a young age, leaving even NBA allstars vulnerable to their feelings being hurt.

Allow your child to experience the gifts of failure, frustration, anger and sadness. It’s OK to cry, be in a bad mood, and hurt. These are normal feelings. Don’t shield them from disappointments, but rather teach them good ways to deal with painful events.

Next week: Getting help for reluctant teens

Dr. Ramey is the executive director of Dayton Children's Hospital's Pediatric Center for Mental Health Resources and can be contacted at Rameyg@childrensdayton. org.

Dear Readers :As much as we may not want to think about it, many emergencies such as falls, dog bites, heart attacks, fires, floods or electrical issues occur in our homes. So it’s a good idea to chat with family members about potential problems. Have a discussion so everyone knows how to handle an emergency. The most important rule: Call 911!

Post phone numbers for doctors, hospitals, veterinarians, fire departments, plumbers, gas companies, friends and other contacts in the kitchen, or program the numbers into each family member’s smartphone.

Post emergency guides that show how to help if someone chokes and how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) information to aid if a family member stops

Sure do. If the boots are just dusty, use a shoe brush to remove all the dust. When the boots are wet and muddy, allow them to dry completely. Then take a soft-bristled brush to get rid of all the dried mud. Scrub the hidden spots and seams. Wipe off boots with water. Air out boots and put several used fabricsoftener sheets inside to deodorize them. If the boots are leather, apply a leather conditioner after cleaning. — Heloise

Healthy eating

Dear Heloise: My children don’t like yogurt, but I want them to eat healthy foods. Do you have any ideas on how I can get them to eat it? — Joanie from North Carolina

Dear Joanie: Yes,

I do. Try this: Transform a large container of vanilla yogurt into dessert treats.

Stir fruit cocktail into