All Search Results
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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.
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Stitches of love: how a community of volunteers cares for children in the hospital
Four years ago Georgy Cartwright, along with several other ladies, created their very own knitting, crocheting and sewing group which they named, “Stitches of Love.” Most of the members migrated to Florida and were looking to make new friends and put their skills to use. Now, every month they make a special trip to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies to donate their handmade items.
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Do your children really know better than to sext?
As caregivers, we do our best to instill values and morals in our children. We want our children to do the right thing even when we are not around to see their actions. We want them to make good decisions, but as the use of electronics and the number of apps available to them increases, making good decisions often clashes with what’s “trending.”
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How do you cope with a debilitating and invisible chronic illness?
How do you cope with having a debilitating invisible chronic illness, like Gastroparesis? When I was first diagnosed with Gastroparesis, I honestly didn’t know how to feel. It was like I was on a rollercoaster of emotions - accepting one day, and completely confused the next. I later came to the realization that those feelings are completely normal.
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How to keep your kids from begging for Halloween candy
Halloween has become one of my favorite holidays. I never cared for it much before I became a parent, but now I look forward to it every year. My kids get so excited for the day to finally arrive, and I love seeing them dressed up in their little costumes, even if it’s only long enough for a couple of pictures. We take them door to door, and they continue to be thrilled each and every time a neighbor drops a treat into their ever-growing stash. We come home way past their bedtime with loads of treasure, and they can’t wait to dig through it all and sample their goodies.
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Fireworks injuries skyrocket: what you need to know to keep your kids safe
Pediatricians have always been concerned about kids and fireworks, but now we have even more reason to be alarmed. New data shows a dramatic increase in the number of children seriously injured by these holiday festivities. Since 2006, the number of children injured by fireworks who were treated in the emergency room and released increased modestly, but the number of children who were treated in the emergency room then admitted to the hospital for further care increased a whopping 50% from previous years. These figures demonstrate that not only are more children getting hurt, but they are receiving serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries.
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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.
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Summertime Often Leads To Excess Screen Time For Children
Tips to help find balance between the time kids spend online and outside
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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.
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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.
