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• Prepare Your Child for an Outpatient Procedure

  Children, like adults, get anxious about the unknown. When children learn they have an upcoming hospital procedure, they need -- and deserve -- developmentally appropriate information.

• Talking with your teen about obesity: it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it

  In my years as a mental health counselor for Teen Xpress, I have worked with many teenagers that are battling weight problems. Obesity often leads to low self esteem, anger problems and depression. Often, we see obese teens that also have obese parents and other family members. Obesity can be caused by medical issues, but when it comes to teens, it is frequently due to unhealthy behaviors and coping skills. I have known many teens that report coping with feelings of sadness and loneliness by overeating. The overeating leads to weight gain, which leads to further feelings of isolation and depression. Teens quickly find themselves in a vicious cycle of unhealthy habits and emotional discord.

• The right choice doesn't always come naturally

  I have a friend who makes natural medicine at home. She buys various herbs, soaks them in vodka for several weeks, and dispenses them to friends and family to treat and prevent illnesses like common colds and the flu. When I asked my friend why she chose this particular therapy, she replied: "It's natural. It's good for you."

• Should You Teach Your Baby Sign Language?

  How many times have you wished your baby could tell you what’s wrong instead of crying and leaving you to guess? Baby Sign Language allows babies as young as 6 months old to communicate their needs instead of crying.

• What To Do When Your Child Wants To Quit Team Sports

  Your child wants to give up playing organized sports, but should you agree? There are many reasons why that might not be a good idea. Let’s look at the benefits, how you can encourage your child to keep going, and when it might be the right time to stop.

• Pain Relief: Is TENS Right for Your Child?

  Relieving your child’s pain doesn’t always mean taking medicine or having surgery. Simple TENS units, which have become more popular in recent years, offer a safe, noninvasive alternative for many kids.

• Do Weight-Loss Drugs Really Help Teens?

  Obesity affects nearly a quarter of 12- to 19-year-olds in the United States. The health implications of carrying so much extra weight are so significant that scientists have been searching for medical solutions to supplement healthy diets and exercise.

• Childhood Diabetes: What Parents Need To Know

  Like adults, children can experience two types of diabetes, and unfortunately they are becoming more common. Type 1 diabetes -- which has nothing to do with your child’s diet, sugar consumption or level of activity -- is by far more prevalent than Type 2 in children.

• Childhood Depression: What Parents Need To Know

  Children today are under so much stress — from academics and sports to how they look — and all of it is magnified by social media. So it’s no surprise that about 20 percent of all teens experience depression. But only fewer than a third of depressed kids are treated for their symptoms. And many parents may not realize their children are suffering.

• 10 Common Myths About Measles—and the Real Facts

  Measles cases in the U.S. climbed to a 25-year high in April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 704 confirmed cases of measles so far this year have affected 22 states, including Florida. Although the viral infection was declared “eliminated” from the U.S. in 2000, this year’s rapid spread of measles has become a serious public health concern. Increasing numbers of travelers catch the viral infection abroad and bring it into the U.S., spreading it among pockets of people who are unvaccinated.