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How much of our parenting is influenced by our friends?

I read a study this week that discussed how parents’ social networks (online and in real life) affect their decisions about vaccinating their kids. The paper concluded that a parent’s people connections were the most influential factors affecting their vaccination decisions- above educational level, relationship with their healthcare provider, online and print reading sources and economic status. I found it to be really interesting, but as I thought more about it, I found myself saying this: “Well… duh.”

Is it okay to just let kids play? Sorting through the busyness of life with little ones

A few months ago, I rifled through the contents of my son’s homework folder. There were some graded assignments, some work yet to be done, as well as a flyer for a new science club being started at school.

How the Spina Bifida Clinic at Arnold Palmer Hospital is changing to offer even better care

Orlando Health has been providing care to pediatric spina bifida patients for over 35 years, treating patients up to age 21. The program is one of the largest and busiest spina bifida programs in the region with hundreds of children coming from all over Florida to receive optimal, multidisciplinary care.

How to know when a child is having an allergic reaction to food

Food allergies can be a scary thing. If you have a child who suffers from food allergies, you know just what I mean. If you’re wiping your brow and muttering a silent thank-you that you don’t have to deal with food allergies in your household, wait just a minute. It’s true that the majority of food allergies are diagnosed in early childhood, but what you may not know is that about 1 in 4 severe reactions that happen in schools involve children with no known history of food allergy.

How do you choose which hospital is best equipped to care for your family?

All it takes is a drive down Interstate 4 to get a glimpse of the healthcare landscape in Central Florida. You’ll see a variety of billboards that boast the expertise of different hospitals, urgent care facilities and medical practices. Sometimes it feels like everywhere you look somebody is trying to sell you some kind of health-related product or service.

Is your child with autism spectrum disorder entitled to music therapy services?

If you have a child with autism, you may find they are especially in tune with certain elements of music like rhythm, harmony, melody, and pitch. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often demonstrate exceptional skills in music. In fact, many musical skills that are rare within the general population are more common in those with ASD. Examples include incredible accuracy in singing or playing musical notes, the ability to recall melodies with great accuracy, and the ability to name musical notes without any reference to a musical instrument.

How to Ensure Your Family Is Eating Well While You Travel

Summer is here, and many of us will soon be off on a vacation of some kind. Whether you are traveling by train, plane or automobile, packing healthy travel snacks is a must for children and teens. The last thing a family wants to do is stop at a gas station or a local convenience store while rushing to get to their destination. Not only does it waste valuable travel time (and money), but it also makes it difficult to make healthy choices.

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. 

Healthy skin habits: Dr. Davis explains why it's important to teach kids at an early age

With our recent cold snap finally over, summer and warmer temperatures are just around the corner. As we spend more time outdoors in short sleeves and shorts, we need to remember how important it is to protect our skin! Although everyone loves “a tan” for the summer, this is actually a sign of skin damage. Protecting our skin by using sunscreen and other forms of sun block is the first (and most important step) in keeping our skin healthy and preventing the most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma. Did you know that most of our sun exposure and skin damage from the sun happens before the age of 18? Developing healthy skin habits as children and maintaining these habits through adulthood is essential to keeping our skin healthy over our lifetime!

How does the sun damage our skin?

What about melanin in our skin?

So how do we protect our skin from the sun?

How one physical therapist overcame scoliosis and now helps children do the same

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