All Search Results
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Teaching Healthy Romantic Relationships
My 6-year-old son recently informed my husband and I that he has a girlfriend. I’ve met her when dropping him off at school in the morning, and (I have to admit) she is truly adorable. Little Taylor wears pink, sparkly sneakers, dresses and tiny little glasses. She appears to be sweet and friendly. They seem to be nothing more than friends that are of different genders. However, my husband and I still took this as an opportunity to discuss healthy relationships with him. My husband said to my son, “You know, six is pretty young to have a girlfriend.” My son’s response was, “Yeah, I know… but I don’t care. I like her.” Whoa! I was surprised at his level of assuredness and, to be honest, a little scared. Who was this little girl, anyway? On that note, who was this little boy? Whether we realized it or not, he was growing up, and this was a conversation that needed to happen!
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The Heart Center delivers world-class cardiac care
Dr. Susan DesJardins is a cardiologist at the Heart Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital. In honor of February's focus on heart health, she shares what makes The Heart Center the leader in children's cardiac care in Central Florida.
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Are you protecting your newborn from whooping cough?
If you’ve been reading the news the past few weeks, you may have heard about the outbreak of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, that has reached epidemic levels in Washington. There have been more than 1,000 cases reported already this year in the state, and it is reminiscent of the 2010 California outbreak that infected more than 9,000 people and resulted in the death of 10 infants.
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Celebrating moms (and mental health)
A few days ago, I went shopping for some things for our family’s upcoming beach trip at Target. As I looked through the boy’s bathing suits, I noticed another mom nearby with her own little boy. He looked and sounded to be about 2 years old, and they were having a debate about shorts. He wanted long shorts, and she was reminding him that he doesn’t like to wear long shorts. They went back and forth, and things got a little heated. He got whiny; she got irritated. Eventually she told him, loudly, to stop talking and announced to him that she was “done.” He promptly began wailing about the shorts, and her reaction was to drop her stuff she was buying, pick him up, and yell at him, “You are embarrassing me!” She stomped her way out of Target, carrying him, yelling at him about how he will not be going to his play date later. Yikes!
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Teaching your kids about sun safety
The heat is rising, the sun is shining and school’s almost out. That can only mean one thing, right? Time to hit the beach!
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10 tips to encourage your kids to drink more water
Why is it so difficult to get kids to drink a glass of ice water, but they’ll gladly gulp a gallon of murky, mystery water from the bathtub?
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Signs that your child may have a hearing loss
Did you know that May is “Better Hearing & Speech” month? When I became an audiologist many years ago, it was considered a great success if a child with hearing loss had been fitted with hearing aids by 2 years of age. Awareness of audiology and better hearing has come a long way since then. Now, we routinely work with parents and infants with hearing loss who are 1-2 months old!
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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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Kids, COVID-19 and Daycare: What You Need to Know to Keep Them Safe
With schools reopening, many parents will be returning to the workplace and relying on daycares and caregivers to look after their children. Many new public health precautions have been put in place to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in these settings. And there are steps you can take as a parent for your child to resume the benefits of socialization and education offered at daycares, while reducing their risk of infection.
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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.
