Search Results

Tips to make your kid's sport season a safer one

Kids are back in school and back in sports. When I was younger, that always meant balancing the less-than-happy feelings of returning to a sleep schedule with my excitement over returning to organized sports. Sports were always a fun way for me to stay active, learn to work within a team and to build friendships. 

How do you teach a child to be kind, caring and compassionate?

Working as a child life specialist has granted me a front row seat to some of life's most challenging, defining, and intimate moments for the kids I serve. In partnering with children and families, we work to empower and encourage positive coping skills and help them make meaning from the obstacles they have been presented. And through this, I am always left with a chance for meaning-making of my own. Lately, I have been reflecting on the concept of empathy and its importance not only within the lives of those affected by medical challenges, but as a basic skill needed between all people.

Your nutrition labels are changing - here’s what you need to know!

One major concern is by increasing the serving size on products, it possibly could cause overeating, which in the long run could lead to health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The key is making healthy choices and monitoring portion size, especially with children. Understand that the serving size of a food or beverage is just a guide; we do not have to eat or drink that exact amount. 

What every parent needs to know about protecting children from the sun

During the summer months, I am often asked by parents about sun protection. There are many products and sunscreens available, and it can often be challenging to determine what products are best for your child.

Sending a child with epilepsy to school: what every parent should know

Distraction can be a useful tool in helping your child cope with a difficult situation

As a Child Life Specialist, I often joke about the proverbial “toolkit” that I seem to have invisibly available when I work with children. In it are a variety of ideas, books, toys, and other items that I have used in the past that can benefit children as they go through painful procedures or times in the hospital that are particularly stressful. One of my best “tools” in this kit of mine is distraction.

Send Your Kids to Summer Camp. It’s Good for Them!

Summer camp is, for many of us, what our magical memories of childhood are made of. Those occasions where we said goodbye to our parents in anticipation of spending the week without them and were simultaneously bursting with excitement and overwhelmed with anxiety – those were our very own coming-of-age moments. Our experiences at summer camp taught us a lot about ourselves and about others, and they changed us in small but mighty ways. And now, it’s our turn to entrust our children into the hands of others for a week or two (maybe more) and give our kids the chance to make their own magical memories.

How to transition your child with a chronic illness into adulthood

The process of transitioning from a pediatric to an adult healthcare provider is often daunting, especially for children with chronic needs. As a result, parents taking care of children with lifelong illnesses often care for that child into adulthood. Children with asthma, diabetes, or cystic fibrosis, to name of few, require strict medication adherence and consistent follow-up. It is natural for parents to assume full responsibility in managing their child's illness. However, caretakers are encouraged to learn how to empower children to eventually take charge of their own medical care.

How do we talk to our kids in the aftermath of tragedy?

It’s hard to know what to say to each other, ourselves, but especially, our children. Once again, we all woke up to news that there was a horrific mass shooting- and for those of us in Central Florida, it was reminder of what previously took place right in our own backyard.

Why a gluten-free diet may not be healthy for your kids

When I was a college student I knew a girl who suffered from celiac disease, and each time our group of friends went to eat at a restaurant, she brought a lunchbox from home filled with gluten-free food because she was unable to eat much of the food served in a restaurant. Before that I had never heard of gluten, and I thought it was a terrible curse for my friend to be unable to eat at a restaurant like the rest of us. Although I lost touch with her after college, I am sure my friend’s dining experiences have gotten a lot easier over time.