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The morning after pill: what every parent of a teenager should know
In the United States, recent news about teenage sexuality is promising. Fewer teens are having sex, and less than half of girls have sex before they graduate high school according to data from the Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Teen pregnancy rates are also falling, probably due to a combination of fewer teens having sex, better long-acting birth control options such as Depo-Provera, and condom use by teens. In spite of this great news, the U.S still has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among developed countries. Nearly 80% of teen pregnancies are unplanned, a result of birth control failure or nonuse, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
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What are the most important things we can give our children?
We have but a few, short years to shape and refine them, to help our children become the people they were meant to be. And then, we send them out into the world to find their way. It’s a tough job, isn’t it? To love and care so deeply about someone, about the outcome of this process of growing up, and yet be forced to let go of how it all turns out?
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Want to help your children develop speech and language? Talk to them. A lot.
Did you know that one of the greatest influences on your child’s intelligence and academic success is the way (and how much) you speak to them?
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Kids are consuming too much salt.
When my colleagues and I decide to meet for lunch, the first thing we request is the nutrition facts for the restaurant we visit. More times than not, I am disappointed when I can’t find an entrée that had less than 1,500mg of sodium, even on the children’s menu. I usually settle for the lowest sodium option that I can put together. However, while looking around the restaurant, I can’t help but notice that some patrons still add salt to their meal, despite the higher-sodium choices.
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Should you give your kids dessert before dinner is done? A dietitian’s answer might surprise you.
Like me, many children are fixated on that sweet treat after dinner. It can be that package of fruit snack gummies, chocolate chip cookie or that double fudge caramel brownie, pretty much anything sweet that catches their attention. During dinner, many kids wait impatiently for dessert to be available to the family, even when they feel full from dinner. Many kids have caught on to the idea of skipping dinner just because they know dessert is coming next. This is often when parents start making “dinner deals” with their kids, just so they can eat something on their plate. These deals can range anywhere from “you can have dessert if you eat your vegetables” or “if you do not try every food on your plate, you will not get a cookie”. When these “dinner deals” begin, it often gives kids the wrong impression – dinner is a punishment and dessert is the reward.
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The Lost Art of Play
As a parent, you want the best for your child, but sometimes it is hard to know what is best when it comes to balancing scheduled activities and play time. While activities such as little league and music groups can provide children with structure, discipline, and increasing independence, over-scheduling can leave kids feeling anxious and pressured to constantly perform. Free play is not only a time when children can relax and have fun but it is vital to a child’s growth and development. In the hustle and bustle of life for today’s children, the art of play is seemingly lost.
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When bullying contributes to feelings of grief and loss in kids
Parents often struggle with the realization that their children feel grief and loss, and we struggle to know exactly how to support them through it. Just as it is important for adults to process their grief to promote healing, children need the same opportunities, along with guidance from the trusted adults in their lives to navigate grief in a positive and healthy way.
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Is your child ready to be potty trained?
Written by Erika Diogene, DO
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How To Safely Introduce Allergens to Your Baby
Food allergies in infants and children are becoming more common in the United States, which can make it nerve-wracking for parents trying to introduce new foods to their babies.
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What is a Level One Trauma Center and why does it matter to your family?
Level One Trauma Center criteria vary somewhat from state to state, but commonly include these elements, according to the American Trauma Society:
