Back to School Tips
It’s that time of year again! School supplies fill the store shelves and children are counting down the days before school starts again (if it hasn’t already). The back to school time period can be exciting and anxiety-producing at the…
Suicide – It’s Not Just An “Adult” Problem
Every year during Well-Child-Checkups starting at age 11, preteens and teenagers are given a screening form for depression and anxiety. Many practices (including my own) use a screen called PHQ-9. This short form asks patients to rate how often they…
Dehydration – Signs and Symptoms in Children
The headlines describing “extreme heat waves” the past few months are a constant reminder of the harsh temperatures we are seeing this summer. With increased heat comes increased sweating and increased loss of fluids from the body. This loss of…
Migraines in Children
Headaches are a common phenomenon in children (one we will discuss in detail at a later time), and have several different causes. A migraine, however, is different from a simple headache. What is a migraine? Migraine headaches are intense, often…
Teaching Responsibility: Age-Based Expectations
As children grow through various stages of development, they gain the ability to become responsible for a larger variety of tasks. Even young toddlers can be taught to put toys away in a bucket. The skill of gaining responsibility will…
Play Therapy – Counseling for Young Children
Unfortunately, traumatic and socially disruptive events affect children – even young children – just like they affect adults. The medical term for this is Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, and there is growing evidence that ACEs can lead to harmful…
Encourage Your Child To Be Active This Summer
Summertime = fun! School is out, and children tend to have more flexibility in how they spend the day. The weather is usually more conducive to spending time outside, and for children this can translate into hours of active free…
Strange Sleep – Parasomnias of Childhood
Parasomnias are bizarre or strange behaviors, movements, or emotions that occur during sleep. They are a common part of growing up, with most people experiencing some type of parasomnia during childhood, but are usually outgrown prior to adulthood. They can…