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  • When is the right time to talk to kids about alcohol and marijuana use? Study says earlier than you might think

    One in 10 high school students has driven under the influence of alcohol or marijuana within the last 30 days.

  • Putting the "thanks" into Thanksgiving

    What are you thankful for this holiday season? This should be a question that all parents ask their kids, not only around the holidays, but year-round too. Studies show that adults who have an attitude of gratitude have more energy, more optimism, more social connections, and are all-around happier than those who do not. And researchers are finding that this same theory holds true for children and adolescents too. Kids who show signs of gratefulness typically have higher GPAs and are less materialistic.

  • What is the Cinnamon Challenge?

    Perhaps more commonly known as an ingredient in your favorite banana bread recipe, cinnamon has now gained traction as the favorite ingredient in a popular dare among kids and teens: the “Cinnamon Challenge.” And thanks to social media, the dare has gone viral. As of August 2012, there were over 51,000 YouTube videos of individuals partaking in the challenge, and one of these videos has been viewed over 19 million times! The Cinnamon Challenge even has its own website, and in January 2012 the phrase was mentioned an average of 70,000 times on Twitter daily. If you aren’t heavily involved in social media, trust me, the Cinnamon Challenge is a big deal and kids just want to be a part of the craze.

    What is the Cinnamon Challenge?

    The challenge is actually quite simple, or so it seems. It requires a person to swallow one tablespoon of cinnamon in 60 seconds without drinking any liquid. Sounds easy, but as you can see in the videos that are publicly displayed for viewers’ entertainment, the victims of this challenge usually end up coughing and choking, as the spice triggers a severe gag reflex in response to a burning sensation in the mouth and throat. This challenge is known to be nearly impossible and potentially harmful, as stated on the cinnamon challenge website, but this doesn’t keep kids from wanting to try it themselves.

    The dangers behind the challenge

    A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics took a closer look at the potential dangers of the popular dare. As noted in the study, eating cinnamon in small amounts and mixed with other foods does not cause a problem for most people. However, problems can arise when large amounts are consumed in isolation from other foods. The coughing, choking and gag reflex that occurs in response to consuming cinnamon in this way can cause the spice to make its way into the lungs. While most side effects are temporary, there can be long-lasting lesions, scarring, and damage to the fragile airways. Those who are allergic to cinnamon or have other diseases, such as asthma, may be at a greater risk for developing these long-term side effects.

  • Hearing the “A” word: autism

  • Remembering the ones we've lost

    Every year Arnold Palmer Hospital and Winnie Palmer Hospital each hold a remembrance ceremony commemorating the children and babies who have died.

  • Shaken baby syndrome: A severe and disheartening form of child abuse

    What parent hasn’t felt frustration and helplessness when unable to console their crying infant? Despite being stressed, something deep inside prevents us from inflicting harm to our children. Unfortunately, this impulse control is not present in some parents or caregivers, resulting in a child being vigorously shaken.

  • Marching for hope in the fight against childhood cancer: Ethan’s story

    Ethan was a happy and healthy 13-year-old who loved football and soccer. But about a year-and-a-half ago, Ethan’s parents knew something was not right with him. Ethan began to experience incredible pain in his hip, and so they began the daunting search to try and find answers to what was causing his pain. Life quickly became a flurry of emergency room visits, tests, nurses, doctors, needles, ambulance rides - all while their other kids were still at home. Ethan and his parents were sent to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children to meet with the pediatric oncology team.

  • Are your kids stressed or anxious?

    This post was written by the Patient and Family Counseling team at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. 

  • Easy ways to make menu planning fun for the whole family

    How often do you hear “What’s for dinner?” or “Why are we having that again?” from your family because you have no idea what to cook?

  • The miraculous gift that saved Cameron's life

    Caroline believes in miracles. She believes in miracles because her son, Cameron, is a living, breathing example of a miracle, and she cherishes him every, single day.