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  • Is violence an infectious disease?

    Newtown. Aurora. Oak Creek.

  • Learning to say, "I'm sorry"

    A couple of weeks ago, this scenario played out in my house:

  • Preventing Child Abuse in Organizations and Youth Programs

    There are some advantages to having an adult child (The primary disadvantage is that I really feel old now that he’s an adult!). One of the advantages is that I no longer have to worry about him suffering child abuse while in the care of others. We were fortunate that the adults in his life at school, after-care, summer camps, art classes, sports and religious school were talented and caring.

  • The best Spring Break of my life

    I just had the best Spring Break of my life.  I’ve had some pretty good Spring Breaks, too, once in college, I was lucky enough to go on a cruise, and over the years, there have been various trips to the beach, and so on…  However, this year was definitely my favorite Spring Break to date.

  • Webinar on "Sudden Cardiac Arrest: what every parent should know" with Dr. Schwartz

    Sudden cardiac arrest. Those are three frightening words. And they are even scarier when they apply to children.

  • What can we do to really PREVENT child abuse?

    As you are driving around in the next few weeks, you may see clusters of blue and silver pinwheels in front of local businesses and organizations. These pinwheel gardens are displayed for the purpose of calling attention to April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.  As someone who works in a program that provides counseling to children who have been abused, I would like nothing better than to work myself out of a job—to reduce child abuse and neglect to a point where programs like The Orange County Children’s Advocacy Center are not needed.

  • When Should My Baby Start Eating Solid Foods?

    In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that babies should be introduced to solid foods between the ages of 4 to 6 months. This recommendation was recently changed, and now the AAP recommends that babies start eating solid foods at about 6 months of age. A study published by the AAP in the journal Pediatrics in March 2013 showed that many mothers (approximately 40%) were introducing solids to their babies before the age of 4 months.

  • 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.

  • 5 tips for helping your child with autism manage their daily routine

  • Battling Kawasaki disease: Ava's story

    Ava is a bubbly, outgoing 5-year-old. She loves princesses and playing dress-up, and she makes a new friend everywhere she goes. The highlight of her day in her Pre-kindergarten class? Getting chosen to be the line leader.