Articles, videos and more to keep your family healthy.
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Every 33 seconds, a child in the U.S. is involved in a car crash. Regrettably, over a third of the children who died in those crashes were not in a car seat restraint, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
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These days, both parents and kids can feel pressure to participate in a variety of activities. The goal of having a well-rounded college application that includes sports, academics, volunteering and work often takes priority over free time and rest.
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After a concussion, your child’s brain works hard to heal. Just like an ankle sprain or broken bone, a concussed brain needs time to recover from its injury.
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These extra training sessions help to accelerate physical conditioning, skill development and team cohesion. However, athletes can experience increased amounts of physical and psychological stress during these multi-session practices. Troy Smurawa, M.D., is the Director of Pediatric Sports Medicine at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. He shares tips to help your athlete survive two-a-days and get the most out of each workout.
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The start of a new school year can be exciting, but it can also make your child feel anxious, especially if last year was a rough one, or if they are entering a new school. While some back-to-school tips are widely known (like getting plenty of sleep and eating a healthy breakfast), there are other ways to prepare.
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When asked what a healthy lunch looks like, dietitians at Children's Health remind parents that the best lunch is one that your child will eat. But how do you encourage your child to eat the foods that will power them through the second half of the day, rather than slow them down? Packing tasty, healthy options will help.
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School buses are made to deliver children safely to school – and they do their job very well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car.
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A new school year means a change in the life of your child. Some changes may be more significant for children than for others – especially if they are moving to a new school.
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For many kids, riding their bike to school is a rite of passage. It means you're one of the big kids, the cool kids. But dangers abound, even for older children, when traveling to school. In 2011 we had 10 patients sustain injuries that required admission to Children's Health℠ after being hit by a car while riding their bike and one of these children died.
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It's not news that not all children enjoy school. If your child dreads going to school each day or simply seems uninterested in working hard, their motivation for learning may be an issue.
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Packing a school lunch is a great way to help your child make healthy choices, but it can be easy to get stuck in a rut. This year, think outside the box and beyond the sandwich.
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Walking to school can have multiple benefits for you and your kids such as spending time outdoors and starting the day with physical activity. However, with drivers distracted by texting, tweeting and phone calls, the danger of walking to school has increased over the years. While it's important that drivers are alert, kids should be too.
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A new school year brings new classes, new teachers and happy reunions with friends after the summer break. But if you've ever noticed that the school year also brings increased sniffles and coughs, you're not alone.
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A new school year is the perfect time to get back into a healthy routine. Kara Gann, Clinical Dietitian at Children's Health, shares simple ways to make sure students are fueling properly for the school day.
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A new school year can trigger feelings of anxiety in children of all ages. There are new classes, teachers, friends and pressures, all mixed with the physical changes of growing up. As a parent, you are the first responder in your child's life when they feel anxious. But it can be difficult to know what's a normal amount of nerves and how you can help.
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Children with chronic health conditions – such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy or mental or behavioral health conditions – need extra attention at school to stay safe and healthy. With the right treatment plan and support, children with these conditions can flourish at school without putting their health at risk.
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As summer break comes to an end, one important item that may be missing from your back-to-school checklist is resetting your child's sleep schedule.
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Allergies are one of the most common health conditions affecting children (age 0-17). Food allergies currently affect 4 - 6% of our youth in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the number of children diagnosed with food allergies is steadily increasing – up 18% in the past decade.
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Nerves can sometimes be a good thing. In the case of school, a little bit of anxiety can act as a motivator for children to study. However, too much anxiety can lead to poor performance.
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One reason a child might be hesitant to tell a parent about bullying is fear about how a parent will react and fear of receiving unwanted attention at school if their parent intervenes. In this video, Celia Heppner, Psy.D., clinical psychologist at Children's Health, shares strategies for parents to help their children be open in their communication about bullying.
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Parents often want to know the best way to talk to their kids about bullying. In this video, Celia Heppner, Psy.D., clinical psychologist at Children's Health, shares tips for keeping lines of communication open about the topic.
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Parents often want to know what they can do in their own interactions with their kids to give them the confidence to deal with bullying. In this video, Celia Heppner, Psy.D., clinical psychologist at Children's Health, shares the importance of modeling healthy behaviors for children.
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If your child is being bullied at school, he or she might be hesitant to share that information with you. In this video, Celia Heppner, Psy.D., clinical psychologist at Children's Health, shares signs to look for if you suspect your child is being bullied or teased.
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Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), children with disabilities can receive extra support in public schools. This includes children with learning, intellectual or physical disabilities. By law, your child’s school must create, with you, a 504 plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines different types of support your child will need in school. These are called accommodations and modifications.
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Your young athlete works hard to be at the top of their game. It can be difficult to know what aches are normal and what pains need a doctor's attention. If your child frequently bends or twists their back during sports and they experience frequent lower back pain, it might be time to ask their doctor about spondylolysis.
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For many students and their families, mornings are a race against the clock to get out the door and to school on time – and all too often, kids skip breakfast in the rush. However, research suggests that this habit can lead to decreased focus and learning and have a negative impact on school performance. Kids should eat breakfast every day. Learn what type of breakfast foods can boost your child's brain power.
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Pertussis is a highly contagious illness of the respiratory mucous membrane. It’s marked by a series of short, violent coughs sometimes followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like whoop. A type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis causes this infectious disease. The bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line the upper respiratory system. Bordetella pertussis toxins (poisons) damage the cilia and cause airways to swell.
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Concussions are serious injuries that require plenty of time to heal. Limiting physical and mental activities is extremely important in the recovery process.
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You know too much screen time is not a good thing for your child. But what about when that screen time is used to build skills in math, science and reading? There are a wide variety of educational apps that can keep your child entertained while learning at the same time.