Fostering Social Development
Humans are social creatures. We are born with the need to interact with others. Studies looking at infants raised in orphanages showed distinct improvements in social/emotional development when efforts were made to increase positive one-on-one caregiver interactions – meaning, the…
Baby Teeth – Tiny Eruptions
Almost like clockwork, infants start drooling at about 4 months of age. Many times, parents assume this means new teeth will be popping through those delicate gums at any moment. This may or may not be true, depending on the…
Preparing Teens to Leave Home
I was texting with a few of my “mom friends” the other day. Our daughters are all close friends, and thankfully the three of us have become close as well. We were discussing enrolling the girls in a Driver’s Education…
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…
