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5-12 years: Elementary School

In early May 2024, Freya was diagnosed with B-cell leukemia at just 5 years old. Her family’s world changed overnight. Support from Nemours Children’s helped them through. “Thankfully, everyone at the hospital has been incredibly supportive. They’ve not only provided expert care but also made us feel like part of a family, so we never felt alone. I connected with other families facing similar challenges, and I’m genuinely grateful we were guided to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. I wouldn’t choose any other place for her care.” Freya’s mother credits Nemours Children’s and Dr. Douglas for giving her hope. “Knowing that she cares deeply makes me feel relieved about the continuation of Freya’s care. I’m confident she will ring the bell in August 2026. Even if that doesn’t happen, I know that Dr. Douglas will do everything possible to support Freya. I used to worry endlessly, losing sleep and not eating, […]

Back to school season is here, and if you’re like many parents, you’re juggling multiple kids across different age groups. Going back to school can be tough, but not always for the reasons adults might think. While you’re busy checking school bus routes and counting tissue boxes, their concerns are a roller-coaster of worries deep and shallow — from academic pressure to fitting in during the back-to-school dress to impress parade. It’s important to make sure each child is ready for the new year by creating a foundation at home for their social, emotional, mental, and physical wellness. Physical Wellness Tips for School-Aged Kids While academics are crucial, physical wellness plays a significant role in a child’s overall health and ability to learn. Most families schedule their children’s annual physical wellness exam prior to the back-to-school start date. This will cover milestone checkups, form completions, and school requirements. Your pediatrician […]

We all know that terrible feeling of not being able to sleep and drudging through the next day in a fog. If your child is having trouble sleeping, of course you want to help. You have probably heard of using melatonin for sleep problems. Its use has skyrocketed in the past few years. Melatonin is a hormone (or chemical messenger) made by the brain. It helps us fall asleep. Melatonin is also made as a dietary supplement and can be bought in the U.S. without a prescription. But is melatonin safe for kids and teens? Does it work? If melatonin is used with guidance from a health care provider, it is probably safe for short-term use in kids over 5 years. It can help kids and teens get some rest while they work through certain types of sleep problems. But it is still being studied so we don’t know for sure what […]

This week brought big news for kids and families. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is finally authorized for kids ages 5 to 11 years. The vaccine has been studied in thousands of kids in this age group and has been found to be safe and effective. It is given as two shots, spaced three weeks apart. The main difference between the vaccine for kids younger than 12 and those older than 12 is the dose, which is lower for younger children than for teens and adults. Studies have shown that younger kids have very strong immune systems that react just as well to lower doses of certain vaccines. An added bonus of lower dosing is that it can result in fewer side effects following the vaccine (such as chills and fever). Parents Have Questions About Vaccine Dose The lower dosage for younger children has confused some parents. They might wonder whether […]

While some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19 and suffered complications from the virus, very few have been hospitalized, and adults still make up most of the known cases to date. However, there are still many unknowns about the virus and new information unfolds every day. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (commonly known as MIS-C or PMIS) is a serious condition that has occurred in some children who have contracted COVID-19. This complication causes a significant inflammatory response in a child’s body that can cause a fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and signs of shock. MIS-C typically presents several weeks after a COVID-19 exposure or infection. Know the Signs of COVID-19 The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in children and adults. However, children with confirmed COVID-19 have generally shown mild symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath and cough. Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and headache have […]

Melanie Franklin, PhD, Psychology Fellow, contributed to this blog post. It’s well recognized that childhood eating habits have a lasting impact on health, longevity, and disease prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that obesity affects approximately 42% of adults living in America, and obesity-related conditions (type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer) are some of the leading causes of preventable death. Obesity affects nearly 20% of children and adolescents (13.7 million), which greatly increases the chances that obesity will carry forward into adulthood. While encouraging healthy food choices is important for preventing obesity and its related conditions, parents should be mindful of how they discuss diet and weight with and around their children. Encouraging kids to diet can have a lasting impact into adulthood, including: a higher risk of disordered eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors, lower body satisfaction, and higher risk of overweight […]