This holiday season, virtual assistants like Amazon's Alexa, Google's Home, and Microsoft's Cortana might be on your family's wish list. With every new technology that changes our lives comes worry about how it may affect our children. And because technology comes out faster than long-term research studies, we don't really know how virtual assistants will affect kids in the long run. That said, there's no reason [...]
For many families, the holiday season means lots of cooking and baking. Holiday traditions often take place in the kitchen over mixing bowls and hot stoves. Your children will likely enjoy helping you make cookies, pies, side dishes, appetizers, meals, and whatever other delicious dishes are on the holiday menu. And, since schools are no longer offering home ec classes, teaching your kids how to [...]
It’s that time of year when parents start getting notices from schools about the latest contagious diseases going around the classroom. Young children have trouble communicating their symptoms, and infants and toddlers require you to interpret the symptoms yourself. If you have worries or doubts, you can visit the pediatrician or bring your child to urgent care. As you get used to what sounds normal [...]
Parents concerned about vaccine dosages sometimes opt for alternative schedules. They know vaccines are beneficial, but are alternative vaccination schedules better for kids? A recent study explores how vaccine refusal (including requests for alternate schedules) affects the doctor-patient relationship. Trust is difficult to measure, but the effect of trust on quality of care cannot be underestimated. Doctors who trust their patients are more satisfied with [...]
Between Halloween and Día de los Muertos, November starts off with quite the sugar rush. In America, kids already get high doses of sugar from regular foods like peanut butter and jelly. The health risks of too much sugar for kids include obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, and lack of nutrients needed for long-term health, like calcium. The mountain of Halloween candy can overwhelm even the [...]
When you have kids, you want Halloween to be spooky, but not scary. Here are some safety tips to keep your children and kids in your neighborhood safe and healthy: Before trick-or-treating: Choose costumes that fit well. Adjust hems so children won't trip, and opt for headwear that doesn't reduce the child's ability to see. If you're handing out candy, clear your front walkway and [...]
It's just about midterm season for high school and college students. Younger children are likely receiving report cards or progress reports. For some students, grades can produce anxiety. Here's how you can help as a parent. Straight A Students Your inclination might be to stick the report card on the refrigerator with much fanfare. Go ahead! Your child earned success, and that should certainly be [...]
Every school has different rules and procedures for student drop off and pick up. The most important thing is to get in and out safely. Between younger children not being aware of their surroundings, teenagers getting distracted by their phones, and drivers not always being aware or respectful, the minutes just before and after the bell rings can seem like running the gauntlet. Continuously teach [...]
It's that time of year again: time to get inoculated against the flu. Influenza infects a portion of the population each year, and getting vaccinated is the best way to not only protect your family, but to protect vulnerable members of our population. Even if you and your kids are blessed with stellar immune systems, making sure you don't catch the flu means you don't [...]
Safe Kids Worldwide recently launched a campaign to educate parents about the use of tethers on front-facing car seats. Until your child turns two years old or exceeds the height and weight limits, he or she needs to ride in a rear-facing seat. Chances are, as expectant parents, you prepared for baby’s first ride home from the hospital by making sure you knew how to [...]
