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  • 4 things your children are learning through play

    There is an old saying that Child Life Specialists hear and say often: “A child’s play is their work.” It is no secret that children love to play. Play is a child’s way of learning about the world around them. It is fun, but also allows them a safe and familiar way to process information and experiences on a day-to-day basis. Children can engage in multiple types of play, either by themselves or with their friends. The benefits of play are necessary components for the positive growth and development of children regardless of age or gender.

  • Should I bank my baby's cord blood?

    This post was originally published in August 2013 

  • When a vacation becomes an adventure

    This blog was originally posted November 2012.

  • The EASE app gives parents a glimpse inside the operating room

    When a child is in surgery, one of the most stressful times a parent may experience is in the waiting room. The minutes that go by oftentimes feel like hours, as a child’s loved ones anxiously wait to hear from the medical team inside the operating room. The time spent waiting for the next update can be excruciating, despite every effort by the medical team to continually communicate with the family on the condition of their child and the status of the surgery.

    A solution to help better comfort families while they wait: The EASE app

    Dr. Kevin de la Roza and Dr. Hamish Munro, anesthesiologists at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, saw a need to provide a better experience to families while they wait during their child’s surgery. Dr. de la Roza says, “No matter how much we tried to reassure parents before surgery, we always got the same look of fear in their eyes as we took their child into the OR. We thought there’s got to be a better way to communicate with them through the process.”

  • Your treadmill can cause serious injury in kids

    I hate to add one more worry to the already long list of safety concerns for parents, but here I go. The exercise equipment found in so many homes today poses a serious threat to children. I know, right? You finally make a commitment to get fit and now there is just one more reason to let your treadmill become a clothes rack.

  • Does your teen want a tattoo? Here’s another reason to say no.

    Whether it’s their favorite sports team, a tribal symbol or pretty little butterfly, teens have varying reasons for wanting tattoos. They crave self-expression, a way to assert independence from their parents, and tangible means to demonstrate their belonging to a group. Tattoos are a very visible way of achieving all of those things.

  • Back to School With Food Allergies – What You Need to Know

    Going back to school can be an exciting and stressful time for families, and many may be finding their usual anxiety is heightened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For children with food allergies, many of whom are cautious already, returning to school this year may require further planning, vigilance and checking up on federal guidelines. There is no cure for food allergies, and if a child with a serious allergy is exposed to a trigger food, they may experience an adverse reaction, the most severe being anaphylactic shock. Other reactions can include mild hives, swelling, vomiting and diarrhea. Preventing such an exposure is crucial to ensure your child has a safe educational environment. 

  • Everything you need to know about sending a kid with food allergies to school: Part 2

    I shared with you some important things to consider as you send a child with food allergies to school.

  • What you need to know about human trafficking in our community

    Written by Pratima Shanbhag, MD

  • The journey to healing through a bone marrow transplant: Zoe’s story

    Zoe is a vivacious 10-year-old who loves to spend time with her family, especially her sister, Eva. You would never know that just two years ago, she was fighting for her life as she underwent a bone marrow transplant, the only treatment that could offer Zoe the chance to live a healthy, normal life.