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  • As extracurricular activities get underway, remember what’s important

    As the school year revs into high gear again, our schedules have already begun to fill up with activities: sports practices and games, after-school clubs, tutoring, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth groups. Sometimes it feels like a full-time job just getting kids to and from all of their extracurricular activities. It’s not too difficult to become a slave to our children’s schedules.

  • Preventing Child Abuse in Organizations and Youth Programs

    There are some advantages to having an adult child (The primary disadvantage is that I really feel old now that he’s an adult!). One of the advantages is that I no longer have to worry about him suffering child abuse while in the care of others. We were fortunate that the adults in his life at school, after-care, summer camps, art classes, sports and religious school were talented and caring.

  • A silent killer in young athletes - sickle cell trait

    The stories have become all too familiar to us: local news coverage shows a high school athlete who has collapsed unexpectedly during a game and is being rushed to the hospital. It is every parent’s worst nightmare.

  • Keep your (and your child's) head in the game

    As parents, we often like to encourage our kids to play sports. There are many valuable skills to be learned through sports: improved hand and eye coordination, teamwork and sportsmanship, just to name a few. And, of course, sports are also fun!

  • 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.

  • ADHD medications: Things you should know as a parent

    Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common conditions among school-aged children, affecting roughly one in 25 kids. Children with this disorder often have trouble controlling their behavior, which can have wide-ranging effects on their home and academic lives.

  • Kids should sleep in. Schools should start later, say pediatricians

    If you have a middle or high school student in your home, you may have noticed that their sleep habits have changed as they’ve entered adolescence. They stay up late, find it hard to get up early in the morning and struggle with sleepiness throughout the day. Take heart. It’s not that your kid is being lazy or rebellious. There are real, biological changes happening in their bodies as they mature that make getting enough quality sleep a real challenge.

  • Finding joy and hope in unexpected places: Nolan’s story

    June 2nd, 2011 is a day that Melissa will never forget. Her life was forever changed when her newborn son, Nolan, was diagnosed with encephalitis and meningitis. He was airlifted from a local hospital and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit here at Arnold Palmer Hospital.

  • Follow us on Pinterest for pinspired holiday activities for kids

    In the midst of this Holiday season, get your family ready for some Christmas pinspiration! Yes, pinsperation. Our “Holiday Fun” Pinterest board has inspired us to share with our readers some fun ideas for Christmas crafts, activities, and munchies this year. So, put on some Christmas tunes and pick a few activities from the following list to get the whole family into the Christmas spirit!

     Pinspired Christmas Crafts

    Tissue paper wreath – Let the kids hang their own wreath on their bedroom doors with this super simple tissue paper craft! DIY Reindeer handprint ornament – Let the kids have some fun making their own ornaments, using their own hand prints and some paint. Super simple giant snowflake – This snowflake couldn’t be any easier – all you need is some paper and scissors! Puzzle pieces ornaments – Have a puzzle lying around that never gets used? Re-purpose it for this fun and simple ornament craft!

    Pinspired Christmas Activities

    Magic foaming snowman – Here in Florida, we don’t have snow. But don’t let that stop you from making a snowman! This foaming dough will allow kids to make snowman that will “melt” into an icy puddle of frothy foam! Jam jar snowglobes – These snowgloabes are super easy to make with just a few ingredients, but will make a huge impact as holiday decorations – handmade by your kids! Reindeer food – Don’t forget about Santa’s reindeer this Christmas! This pin will show you how to make reindeer food for when Santa’s sleigh comes by your house to deliver presents. Grow your own Christmas tree – Promote learning while having fun this Christmas! Check out this fun “grow your own Christmas tree” science experiment. Santa footprints – Do your kids believe in Santa? Leave behind Santa’s “footprints” for your kids to discover Christmas morning. This activity is even fun for the parents, too! Elf on the Shelf – It seems as if almost every family has an Elf on the Shelf this holiday season, but sometimes, it can be a lot of work for the parents! Check out this fun idea for “playing hide-n-seek.”

    Pinspired Christmas Munchies

    Peppermint Oreo cookie balls – Cookie balls and cake pops are all the rave this holiday season. Check out this yummy recipe that your whole family will enjoy! Christmas bark – This bark recipe is super simple to make, with only five ingredients! North Pole Cupcakes – These are a great treat to bring to classroom holiday parties. Reindeer Pops – Does your child have a December birthday? Hand these out as party favors! Sugar Cookie decorating ideas – A fun way to spend the afternoon baking with your kids.*Baking Tip – Put icing in condiment bottles for kids for mess-free cookie decorating!

  • Helping families through a yellow bag of sunshine

    As a Customer Service Specialist at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, I often meet families who arrive at the hospital quite unexpectedly. They find themselves here for a two to three day stay after what began as a quick visit to the Emergency Department. They may manage to arrive with resources for their child, but are usually without any basic items to take care of themselves. As I move to assist families in such circumstances, my hand often reaches for a bright yellow bag of sunshine that reads: Paul’s Project.

    What is Paul's Project?

    In 2008, a young 4th grader, by the name of Paul Doussan, was given a school assignment to create and implement a community service project. At the time, his family friends, Karen and Mat Gliddon, had just lost their brave 5-year-old son Mathew to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Through his friendship with the Gliddon family, Paul noticed a need. Parents of critically ill children often end up without the basic resources to make it through an unexpected hospital stay.