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Avoiding Preschooler Tantrums Without Buying More Toys
Keeping preschoolers active and occupied at home has become an even bigger challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. When preschoolers (children aged two to five) are not actively engaged in constructive activities, it can result in tantrums, whining and often making a mess. A preschooler’s brain is hardwired for hours of taking in new information and making connections, not for sitting still.
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The End of Hugs and Handshakes?
As the new school year approaches, it’s important to discuss with your child about the upcoming changes that will be in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Limiting person-to-person contact is key to reducing spread of the virus. Yet healthy socialization and development still must be fostered among school-age children. How to keep young ones from touching surfaces and not their face is a difficult task, indeed — which is why hugs and handshakes will be discouraged for now. To ensure that social connections and well-being are maintained, other types of behaviors will be encouraged instead.
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Is It Grief or Depression? How to Tell the Difference
Grief is a common, expected experience as a child or teenager processes difficult life circumstances. Depression, however, is a mood disorder that can be prolonged and serious. Because depression left untreated can be harmful and lead to suicidal or other risky behaviors, recognizing the difference between the two is vital.
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7 Water Safety Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe This Summer
Summer just wouldn’t feel like right without those long days spent at the beach or pool with your family — especially in Florida. But water poses a significant danger for children as evidenced by these sobering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Roughly one in five Americans who drown are children 14 and younger. To keep your kids safe while they swim and play in the water, make sure to stay vigilant, take precautions and brush up on your drowning prevention.
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Stress vs. Clinical Anxiety and How to Spot the Difference
Many factors may be contributing to the rise in anxiety disorders among children and adolescents — the information influx of digital media for one, but also earlier diagnosis. Recognizing the problem is the first step in helping your child if they are indeed suffering from anxiety. Because parents and adult caregivers are often the first to spot signs, knowing what to look out for is crucial.
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Encouraging Your Teen’s Safe Driving Habits
The number one cause of death among U.S. teens is motor vehicle accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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When Healthy Eating Isn't Enough for Severely Obese Teenagers
As the obesity epidemic in the United States continues to rise, a small number of teenagers are finding that traditional methods of weight loss just won’t cut it. For those adolescents with severe obesity, weight loss surgery — or bariatric surgery — may be an option. While healthy eating and exercise are recommended first when trying to lose weight, this surgery could be a life-changing (or even life-saving) choice for some obese teens.
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Virtual School? Don’t Forget ‘Gym Class’
With many children attending virtual classes, parents and educators find themselves asking questions about new health risks. They worry about a lack of physical activity, eye strain , various aches and pains from those hours of screen time and the absence of unstructured playtime with friends. To offset these risks, it’s important to add in as much physical activity as possible and to commit to having “gym class.”
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Is Co-Sleeping Or Bed-Sharing Safe For Your Newborn?
So, you have a new baby on the way and are trying to decide where they will sleep. One friend says that in her home country, infants routinely sleep in their mothers’ beds. Another friend is sure that’s dangerous. And yet another insists that having a separate nurse is the only way to guarantee sleep for you or your partner. Who’s right, who’s wrong and what’s best for your baby?
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Bonding With Baby: What’s a Dad to Do?
In the months leading up to your baby’s birth, both parents are likely gearing up for the big day they welcome their newborn into the world. For many fathers there can be a lot of pressure to know what to expect and do once the baby arrives. Unfortunately, most literature and resources available tend to be directed toward mothers leaving dads struggling to know how to connect with their infant. Here are a few simple ways that fathers can bond with their newborn.
