In past years, many of you have filled out our patient survey. If your child has had a visit in the last six months and you are interested in filling out this year’s survey, please click the link here to complete it. Here at Sunset, we value your opinion and appreciate honest feedback. We want to continue to provide our families with the best care possible and your feedback helps us to do that.

All families that complete a survey between April 30th and May 31st will be entered to win one of five prizes! The prize drawing will take place on June 15, 2022. The top prize winner will receive an Amazon Kindle Fire HD 10. Four runners up will have the choice of one $100 Target or Fred Meyer Gift Card.

Many athletes have already or are beginning to return to their sports after the shut-down from the pandemic.  Some of my adolescent patients have expressed frustration that the hiatus from their sport or sports has resulted in regression of skills or loss of skills.  Their parents, coaches and trainers provide much support in establishing expectations and developing the return-to-play conditioning so that the athlete can safely return and enjoy their sport(s).

In my opinion, it is also important to remember that the teen athlete’s mind needs to be considered with return to play or conditioning.   Their mind will obviously need some time to regain the skills of muscle memory and strength.  In addition, these athletes will need some time to regain the skills related to their conditioning or game-day internal dialog that speaks to their mental stamina, dealing with frustration, graciously accepting loss, or graciously accepting success.

I wanted to make the following resources available.  These resources are specifically developed for the teen athlete and consider their unique psychology.

• Mind Gym.  This is a great book for teens and all sports. 

• The Inner Game of Tennis.  This is a classic and although it speaks to tennis, it is very helpful for all other sports.

• Mental Toughness.  The Sport Psychology Library has many sport-specific psychology books.  That is, basketball, baseball, etc.  For example, this is the link to the book for basketball:  https://mentaltoughnessbooks.com/2017/04/sport-psychology-library-basketball/

Should you have concerns regarding your student athlete, we would be happy to help.  Please feel free to call or message your Sunset Pediatrics team.  

https://sunsetpediatrics.com/1673-2/

Join us in celebrating Children’s Day 2021!

Children’s Day began in 2008 by Dr. McCloskey as a way to give back to her patients and the community. To continue this tradition, we will be celebrating Children’s Day virtually. Join us as we want to celebrate YOU and your biggest accomplishments!

Children’s Day Art Contest

Sunset Pediatrics is also hosting a virtual art contest! From the completed submissions, we will be drawing random winners to receive a special prize! Submissions are due by July 7^th.

        

                -Send in your artwork to records@sunsetpediatrics.com

We would love to celebrate with you but because we cannot join all together physically, please share your biggest accomplishments with us! Post a photo of you and your biggest accomplishment and tag us on social media!

Stay tuned with our Instagram and Facebook accounts for special posts and messages from our staff!

                -Instagram: @sunsetpediatrics

                -Facebook: Sunset Pediatrics

Although this is a virtual event, places are slowly opening back up! We have provided you with some summer resources to fill your days with fun, health, and wellness! In addition, we have also provided some fun activities that can be done at home!

In Person Resources: 

OMSI Summer 2021 

-OMSI has reopened and extended their hours for the summer! Visitors can experience exhibitions such as Dinosaurs Revealed, the Natural Science Hall, USS Blueback Submarine, Empirical Theater, and Planetarium presentations. Join the fun at OMSI, open every day from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM! 

Click here for more info: https://omsi.edu/visitor-info 

Mad Science Portland 

-Mad Science Portland has summer camps available daily and weekly throughout the summer! Programs through Mad Science are interactive, engaging, and FUN! Choose from 3 hours of Mad Science Fun, Half-Day Camps, and Full-Day Camps. 

Click here for more info: https://portland.madscience.org/parents-nsd.aspx 

Skyhawks Sports Academy 

-Skyhawks Sports Academy provides programs that are fun, safe, and positive. Through sports, children are given the opportunity to learn more about teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship. Sports offered this summer range from soccer, volleyball, basketball, flag football, tennis, and multi-sport camps.  

Click here to see what sports are offered in your area: https://www.skyhawks.com/search/ 

Foot Traffic’s Youth Summer Running Camps

-Foot Traffic is offering summer camps to introduce running to young athletes! You can choose to participate in a single week or all of them! Learn more about the joy and enthusiasm of running this summer through these camps.

Click here for more info: Youth Running Summer Camp – Foot Traffic – Northwest Running & Walking Shoes

Portland Parks & Recreation Preschool and Youth Camps

-Youth and Preschool camps are offered this summer at various community centers in Portland. Make new friends and join in on exciting activities throughout the summer!

Click here for more info: Summer Camps | Portland.gov

Beaverton City Library 

-Beaverton City Library is offering Summer Reading programs for kids and teens. All children and teens can complete 15 hours of reading or listening to be a part of the program and will receive a free book after completion! 

Click here for more info: https://www.beavertonlibrary.org/130/Summer-Reading 

99 Drive In 

-Enjoy a warm, summer night at the 99W Drive-In theater in Newberg! More information on showings, times, and tickets will be on their Facebook page. 

Click here for more info: https://www.facebook.com/99WDriveIn 

Beaverton Farmers Market 

 -Enjoy local food, products, and vendors at the Beaverton Farmers Market! This event takes places every Saturday, 9AM-1:30PM.

Click here for more info and a vendors list: Beaverton Farmers Market

Online Resources: 

Currently, two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for use during the pandemic in the United States. High-risk groups such as elderly people and frontline health care workers are first in line to receive them, with other adults and teens likely to have access later in 2021. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can only be given to persons aged 16 or older, whereas the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can only be given to persons aged 18 or older.

What is the current status of COVID-19 vaccine research in children and adolescents?  

To date, Pfizer has enrolled children down to age 12. Moderna is about to start a similar study, as is Janssen. Astra Zeneca has approval to enroll children in the UK, ages 5-12, but has not yet enrolled any children in the US. The AAP anticipates that studies including younger children will begin soon (perhaps over the next couple of months).   

Will there be a vaccine available for children before the 2021-22 school year?  

This will depend on the results of the trials of the vaccine in adolescents and children that are planned or underway now. Based on the current pace of research, it is potentially achievable that there will be a vaccine for at least some age groups of children and adolescents before the 2021-22 school year begins. 

Will the vaccine be required for school entry?  

When a vaccine is shown to be safe and effective in children, health authorities, including the CDC and the AAP, will make recommendations on when and how children should receive the vaccine. However, it is a state government decision which vaccines are required for school entry. Those decisions could vary by state.

Information taken from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the AAP’s Healthy Children websites.

This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.