All Search Results
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How Soon Should My Child Start Swimming Lessons?
Swimming can be a fun activity for kids, and with Florida’s warm weather, it can be a great way to cool down. But with drowning listed as the top cause of death for children between ages 1 and 4, swimming lessons are key to reducing the risk of tragedy.
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How To Help Your Child Get Enough Sleep
The frustration of trying to get your child to go to sleep and stay asleep is something most parents share. But no matter your child’s age, it’s worth the effort.
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High-Functioning Autism: Preparing Your Young Adult To Take Charge of Healthcare
It may seem overwhelming for your high-functioning child with autism to learn to navigate and take charge of their own healthcare. But the good news is that it is possible with patience and practice. Here are ways you can get started on the transition.
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7 Tips to Keep Your Child Safe in the Summer Heat
I have a love/hate relationship with our Florida summers. Is it paradise or punishment? I think that depends.
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Building a stronger community, one family at a time
Odil Douglas knows what it's like to be overwhelmed. Five years ago, she found herself raising two young children and a newborn, as well as caring for her sick mother in the hospital. Alone, stressed and unsure where to turn for assistance, Odil found an "extended family" in the Healthy Families Orange program at The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families. An intensive home visitation program based on a national model, Healthy Families Orange prevents child maltreatment in 98% of families served and builds healthy, positive parenting behaviors for new mothers and fathers through education, referrals and resources. Odil credits Healthy Families Orange with helping her make it through the most difficult time of her life, all while teaching her how to be the best mom possible to her three young children.
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The pink slime controversy
Pink Slime. Ever heard of it? The nickname originated between two scientists within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) who were concerned about the safety and lack of labeling of the beef additive. The term "pink slime” became increasingly popular when Jamie Oliver brought attention to the controversial product on his Food Revolution TV show, created to bring awareness to the foods Americans are consuming and the link to childhood obesity.
I’ve heard of it. But what is pink slime?
In short, it has been termed “lean, finely textured beef”, an additive used in ground beef and beef products to help reduce consumer cost. Pink slime consists of beef scraps and connective tissue that have been mechanically removed from fat through a high-pressure, high-temperature process. The beef mixture is then treated with ammonium hydroxide to help eliminate possible pathogens, such as E. Coli and Salmonella. It is then finely ground and frozen into blocks to be shipped out to suppliers to use in their beef products. -
Fighting Birth Defects with Folic Acid
Did you know there are things you can do even before you become pregnant that can help give your child a healthy start in life? Making sure your body has enough folic acid is one of the most important ways to protect your baby from birth defects.
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Empowering Teens with Chronic Illnesses to Live Independent Adult Lives
Teens are learning important skills in all areas of their lives as they get older – everything from driving to managing their own finances. Learning to stay healthy, especially for a teen with a chronic medical condition, should be a priority.
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September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
It’s nice to finally see the sun peak through the clouds when it comes to obesity rates in children. A recent report from the CDC reveals a decline in obesity rates among preschool children from low-income families. The report shows that from 2008 to 2011, there was a downward trend in obesity rates for young children in 19 states, including Florida.
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Living through the uncertainties of spina bifida
Written by Amanda Kern