Everyone knows one, has one or was one – a picky eater. The logic behind why a child does or does not eat something is difficult to understand. Sometimes picky eating is as simple as a food being too bitter or too bland. Other times, it can be more complex. I like to remind parents that it can take anywhere from 10-15 tries before a taste becomes likable or even familiar. Coffee is a great example. The first time you tried it, I bet it wasn’t your favorite food. But over time — and early wake ups, dance recitals, baseball practice, carpool, swim lessons and potty training — it probably holds a pretty significant place in your heart (and your sanity). Introducing new foods to picky eaters Introduce a new food with old foods and favorite foods (example: mac and cheese with broccoli) Consider “taste-ability.” Crunchy, sweet, good-looking foods will […]

“Body modifications” like tattoos, piercings other than in the ears, and scarification have become a mainstream trend. It has also become popular for many young people to get dental implants in Beverly Hills or somewhere similar in order to achieve that perfect Instagram smile. These procedures might be safe for adults, but adolescents do not always think about the long-term ramifications of changing their bodies. Skin is not done growing until adulthood, so tattoos can stretch, fade or even become lopsided over time. They are hard to modify and even harder to remove. Piercings can heal over, defeating the point of getting one in the first place, whilst the jaw undergoes changes until the mid-twenties, making it much safer to get teeth alterations done at an older age. A report in 2010 found that 38 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds had at least one tattoo, and we suspect that the […]

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released new blood pressure assessment guidelines for children, endorsed by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. The guidelines were last issued in 2004 and restated in 2011. Similar to prior guidelines, children are placed into four groups with regard to blood pressure: normal elevated – to be managed by lifestyle changes including diet and exercise stage 1 hypertension – to be followed by the provider and which may or may not require treatment stage 2 hypertension – which requires further workup and medication What’s Different? A difference from previous guidelines is the development of new normal blood pressure tables. In the older tables, overweight children’s blood pressure measurements were included. Now the tables are based only on children who are not overweight or obese. As a result, the new blood pressure numbers are slightly lower, leading to slightly lower thresholds […]

With the popularity of NFL football and the current controversy over “taking a knee,” it’s likely this week your children may ask questions or have already expressed opinions about this form of protest. I often recommend that parents respond to tough questions from their kids with questions of their own. If your child asks, “What is ‘taking a knee’ all about?” I suggest you ask what he’s heard, what he thinks about it, or what his friends are saying. Rather than trying to explain the whole history of race relations and athletic activism in America, you want to provide the simplest answer or explanation at a level appropriate to the child’s development. Offer Facts Try to help your child understand the topic better or correct misconceptions by offering facts. For example, you might say:  “Normally, players stand for the playing of our national anthem at football games. These players are […]

The school year is well underway, and many students are facing nightly homework assignments. With after school activities and other commitments, getting it all done can be stressful. Here are some tips to make getting homework get done stress-free and manageable for everyone. Set up a Routine and Good Space Whether your child likes to take a break after school before starting homework or wants to get right to work and have downtime later, try to stick to the same daily routine. Make sure your child works in an organized, quiet space that’s free from electronics or noisy family activities that can be distracting. Be Involved Helping your kids plan and organize their homework is a great way to be involved without actually doing the work for them. If they have questions, help them figure out how to look for solutions. Some kids like to start with easy tasks first, […]

It’s actually not a matter of age when a child can wear contact lenses. What families need to consider is whether the child can practice good hygiene and take responsibility to care for the lenses. There may be 9-year-olds who can responsibly handle contacts and 16-year-olds who cannot. Virtually all contacts nowadays are “soft,” meaning they don’t require a long adaptation period in order to wear them easily. How the patient handles the contacts is what really matters. Many families start to think about contact lenses when their kids are involved in sports. This is understandable since glasses may be cumbersome and offer less-than-perfect vision on the field of play. Parents shouldn’t push for kids to wear contacts, but ask themselves instead: Is the child motivated and capable of caring for contact lenses conscientiously? That is key. Here are some other general questions that I get from parents: Are kids […]