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  • Are our kids influenced by the bad behavior of others?

    There’s a question that’s been rolling around in my head the last couple of weeks. You know the kind- one of those nagging thoughts you try to put out of your mind but it keeps coming back without any answer on the horizon. If I’m being totally honest, though, it hasn’t only been the last couple of weeks. I’ve been struggling with some version of this question since my oldest started kindergarten, when she emerged from the cocoon of preschool into the big world of elementary school.

  • How to prevent your little one from choking

    You can tell I’m the mother of a toddler. I walk into a room and I may not make eye contact with you because I am too busy scanning every nook and cranny for things that my kid is likely to put in his mouth. It’s the time in my son’s life where what looks to you like a penny or a button looks to me like a death trap.

  • Planning “the talk”: The importance of establishing open communication with your teen

    This post was written by the Clinical Social Work Team at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Winnie Palmer Hospital. 

  • In the midst of flu season: Everything you need to know about the flu vaccine

    Have you and your children had your seasonal flu vaccines yet?

  • The right choice doesn't always come naturally

    I have a friend who makes natural medicine at home. She buys various herbs, soaks them in vodka for several weeks, and dispenses them to friends and family to treat and prevent illnesses like common colds and the flu. When I asked my friend why she chose this particular therapy, she replied: "It's natural. It's good for you."

  • 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.  

  • In parenting, the season of giving lasts all year

    Most mornings I drag myself out of bed to the sound of a 2-year-old yelling, “Eat! Eat! Eat, Momma, Eat!” from her crib. So, I get breakfast for her as fast as humanly possible to avoid the emotional breakdown that is sure to follow if food is not immediately available.

  • The benefits of getting involved in team sports

    Summer is almost over and it’s already time to start thinking about the new school year! There seems to be many decisions parents are faced with as their child heads back to school- which classroom will he/she be in, what classes will my child be taking, what after-school activities will my child get involved in? While all these questions are important, there is one question that every parent should be asking their kids- “what sport do you want to play this year?”. Team sports can benefit your child in more ways than one: physically, socially, mentally, and behaviorally.

    The Physical Benefits

    The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a study highlighting the benefits that team sports have on children’s physical health.  The study was used to compare weight status and the different forms of physical activity among teens. Researchers surveyed over 1,700 high school students and their parents, covering many areas associated with physical health including team sport participation, active commuting, physical education, recreational activity, screen time, diet quality, and demographics. What they found was that when compared with active commuting, such as walking or biking to school, participation in team sports had the strongest association to weight status. It was shown that participating in team sports could help decrease a child’s risk of being overweight or obese. As a result of this study, obesity prevention programs are encouraged to incorporate and increase team sport participation among all students.

  • Are you making the most of your child’s well visits?

    We often see our pediatrician for a specific complaint: ear infections, stomach flus or broken bones. And now that summer’s in full swing, many families will be making a trip to their pediatrician’s office for sports physicals and immunizations before the new school year begins. As we manage all of these items on our to-do list, it’s easy to forget that a visit to your pediatrician when your child is well is much more than a box to be checked off of your list.

  • On Father’s Day, remember the fathers of sick children

    When I was a little girl, my dad was my hero. He was strong and brave, and it only took his presence to make me feel safe and secure. I thought he understood everything there was to know in the world. I believed he could solve any problem, slay any dragon, protect me from all harm.