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Parents often worry whether their child is developing in a normal, healthy manner. Regular pediatric appointments will track physical growth and development, but parents and caregivers should monitor day-to-day progress, too. 

Many families are struggling to keep fit, especially with jobs and schoolwork increasingly taking place on screens at home. Because of physical distancing requirements, there aren’t as many opportunities for school team sports, and kids doing virtual learning aren’t getting PE classes at school. Think about how a brief walk to the school bus stop a few streets over and even walking between classes counts as daily exercise. Going from your bedroom to your computer hardly comes close as a substitute! 

The number one cause of death among U.S. teens is motor vehicle accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

So, you have a new baby on the way and are trying to decide where they will sleep. One friend says that in her home country, infants routinely sleep in their mothers’ beds. Another friend is sure that’s dangerous. And yet another insists that having a separate nurse is the only way to guarantee sleep for you or your partner. Who’s right, who’s wrong and what’s best for your baby?

Parents and caregivers might tend to think of urinary tract infections (UTIs) as bacterial infections that strike adults, but young children actually have a greater risk of lasting kidney damage from UTIs than any other age group. By age 5, about 8 percent of girls and 1 to 2 percent of boys have had a UTI, according to the Urology Care Foundation. 

You’re driving back from a family outing and each time your car rolls over the neighborhood speed bumps your youngest child cries out. When you ask what’s wrong, they whimper and struggle to explain. Then you recall how earlier that day when the kids were playing outside, your child abruptly stopped and complained of a sore belly. Is it an upset stomach or could these complaints point to something more serious – like appendicitis? 

For many Americans, family gatherings are a holiday tradition. During uncertain times such as these, getting together can provide a significant boost to psychological and social well-being. With some mindfulness and creativity, you can look forward to celebrating the holidays this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll need to contemplate who will be attending (number of people, ages, where they live, physical distancing), where the event will occur and what it will entail.   

Grief is a common, expected experience as a child or teenager processes difficult life circumstances. Depression, however, is a mood disorder that can be prolonged and serious. Because depression left untreated can be harmful and lead to suicidal or other risky behaviors, recognizing the difference between the two is vital.

Many factors may be contributing to the rise in anxiety disorders among children and adolescents — the information influx of digital media for one, but also earlier diagnosis. Recognizing the problem is the first step in helping your child if they are indeed suffering from anxiety. Because parents and adult caregivers are often the first to spot signs, knowing what to look out for is crucial. 

Summer just wouldn’t feel like right without those long days spent at the beach or pool with your family — especially in Florida. But water poses a significant danger for children as evidenced by these sobering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Roughly one in five Americans who drown are children 14 and younger. To keep your kids safe while they swim and play in the water, make sure to stay vigilant, take precautions and brush up on your drowning prevention.