Jewellery for kids are considered acceptable gifts, whether is precious jewellery or trendy accessories. These are great to give out during birthdays, graduations and Christmas. There are, however, a few considerations when planning on gifting jewellery to children.

One of it is to consider how age appropriate the jewellery is. For really younger kids who may still have the tendency to put everything in their mouths, charm bracelets, beaded accessories, or necklaces with lockets are instantly a no-no. There are, however, some baubles and bracelets that should look good and safe on toddlers and smaller children. Kids between the ages of 7-10 may enjoy something very colorful or have the trademark of their favorite characters. Older children may like something really trendy and hip, such as a fashionable childrens necklace made of cool materials, with fancy styles and bright, girly colors.

Take into account the materials used to create the jewellery. Some could be made of nickel and metal, as these are of low cost and, therefore, not much of a loss in case the kids become careless with it. But do consider if the material has lead in it, as this is potentially fatal to them. Kids may also have the tendency to get rashes and allergy from some accessories, so adults are supposed to take note of this. If there is a label, check for content first before buying. Or better yet ask the store about where the piece was made and what materials were used.

If you are giving children fine jewellery, teach them to be responsible for it and also advise them on how to take good care of something precious. Fine jewellery, in fact, must only be worn during special occasions, so do let the child know that this is the deal.

Gifting jewellery and accessories actually teaches these young girls to take care of their personal items better. It’s good training and at the same time a wonderful gift…because what girl doesn’t love jewellery?

So, tonight was my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday party.  We traveled 3 hours to get to the city where the rest of our family lives, with plans to go out to dinner with her kids, grandkids, brothers, etc.  There was a nice group of 15 of us altogether. 

About half an hour into the road trip, daughter #2 says that her stomach hurts.  Now, she complains about that a lot, but this time had us pulling over on the side of the highway to avoid having her throw up on her siblings.  We made it to a gas station, where she threw up with a vengeance.  She felt a lot better after that, for several hours, but the upset stomach came back again during the party.  This time she was just miserable, but she didn’t throw up. 

Concerned relatives kept tossing around the words “stomach flu,” but what is really happening when a child has this kind of stomach trouble? 

There actually is an illness known as stomach flu–it’s called gastroenteritis.  It’s the condition that results when the lining of the stomach or intestines is inflamed or irritated as a result of a bacterial or viral infection.  It can result in stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.

But tummy troubles might also be from something more permanent, such as a food allergy or lactose intolerance.  These can have the same symptoms as stomach flu, so let your doctor know if these are long-term or recurring symptoms. 

Another cause of stomach pain in kids is gas.  Severe gas can be very painful for both kids and adults, sometimes causing aching all the way up into the chest and shoulders.   Sometimes the pressure of gas pains mimics nausea, or that’s the only way kids know how to describe it.

One major heads-up about persistent or severe stomach pain–be on the lookout for appendicitis.  Now, I know that’s not daughter #2′s problem, because she had an emergency appendectomy 2 years ago.  But the events leading up to that surgery included stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.  I only took her to the doctor because I was concerned that she was getting dehydrated, not because it ever occured to me that something life-threatening was going on. 

Most stomach bugs pass in a few days.  Give your child mild foods, plenty of fluids, so they don’t get dehydrated, and lots of TLC, even if they are sick at a terribly inconvenient time.  They can’t help it, and wouldn’t have chosen it, either.