Discover the risks associated with energy drinks for kids and learn about healthier alternatives. This article explores the ingredients in energy drinks, their potential dangers, and the importance of open communication with children. Help your kids make informed choices and adopt healthier habits.
Discover life-saving tips and precautions to prevent accidentally leaving children unattended in hot cars to ensure their safety.
As kids head back to school and daily routines, many are also returning to sports. But what happens if your child doesn’t want to try out for the team this year? They’re not alone. According to research from The Aspen Institute, almost 1 in 4 parents say their kids are less interested in organized sports since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The benefits of organized sports are well known. They keep kids active and teach important life skills like teamwork and how to manage conflict. Kids who play on a team can gain self-esteem and confidence from learning new skills. And they are less likely to have anxiety and depression or to use drugs. So how can you help your kids enjoy team sports? And if organized sports aren’t right for them, how can you help them stay active and involved? Ways to Help Your Child Make the Best Choice Start […]
Recent studies show an alarming increase in the number of teens vaping marijuana (“dabbing”). About a third of high school seniors and half of college students report using marijuana in the past year. And the vast majority are vaping it. This is not the marijuana of the past. It is much stronger and can cause serious emotional and physical problems. If you are a parent of a teen, you don’t need the studies to tell you that vaping is on the rise. You are hearing about it in the media, have probably heard your kids talk about it, and may even be dealing with your own child vaping. It’s a whole new world for parents to learn about, but by learning the facts you can start a conversation with your child or teen and keep it going as they grow. Here is some information about the marijuana of […]
The pandemic has put many children behind on swim lessons. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) is alerting parents that swim lessons for children over 1 year are an important part of the layers of protection that can help prevent drownings. So, schedule those swim lessons for your kids and use all these layers of protection to help prevent drownings: Water Watcher There should always be an adult water watcher while children are in and around a pool. For young children and beginner swimmers, the water watcher should be within arm’s length. For older children who can swim, the water watcher should have their eyes on the children at all times. The water watcher should not be using a cellphone, socializing, drinking alcohol, or doing anything else that might be distracting. At a party, have adults take turns as water watcher. Even if a lifeguard is on duty, a water […]
Everyone is talking about “March Madness.” Many are tracking their brackets and bets closely. There is plenty of fun to be had cheering for our favorite basketball teams, but it’s also a good time to talk to your child about gambling. You may think this conversation can start when your child is old enough to step into a casino. But for many kids, gambling starts much earlier. Sports betting, lottery tickets, and card games often start in middle school. Some online games bring gambling right to kids’ phones and computers. And these days it’s hard to turn on the TV without seeing a commercial glamorizing the many new avenues for wagering. Here is some information to help you talk with your kids about gambling. What Is Online Gambling? Online gambling is any gambling done through the internet. Common types of online gambling include casino games (poker, slot machines) and sports […]
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 […]
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