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Did you know that your children’s adolescent years are critical for building bone mass? On average, peak bone mass is achieved at 12.5 years of age for girls, and 14 years of age for boys. By the age of 18, nearly 90 percent of peak bone mass has been acquired. This means that our kids must make the most of their diets and physical activity prior to becoming an adult, as they will rely on their acquired bone mass for the rest of their lives! Why Calcium and Vitamin D? Calcium and vitamin D are the two most important nutrients when discussing diet and bone health. Calcium is a mineral that makes up the bone structure (along with phosphorus). Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is necessary for our bodies to absorb calcium. Calcium is mainly found in dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt. The United States […]

Do you wonder whether your kids will ever behave and follow your rules without all of the seemingly endless whining, crying, bickering and battling? You’re not alone — we’ve all been there and done (and are still doing) that. It can be exhausting … and frustrating … and overwhelming. And every child is different — what works for one may not help even an iota for another. Sometimes it can be easy to fall into the same parenting and discipline routines and feel like you’re getting nowhere fast. So it can be useful (and eye-opening) to stand back from all of the squabbling, reassess and tweak things a bit to see if it helps bring a little more cooperation, connection and peace to the household. Here are some positive parenting pointers to keep in your toolkit: 1. Remember that there’s a difference between “discipline” and “punishment.” They really aren’t one and the […]

If ever there were a hot-button parenting topic, it’s spanking. The argument for spanking from some parents and often-well-meaning relatives sometimes goes: “I was spanked and my parents were spanked, and we all turned out just fine. Kids today wouldn’t be such spoiled, disrespectful brats if their parents had a firm hand.” To which opponents of spanking (from pediatricians to mental health professionals, from your neighbor to a mom’s group friend) might say… “But research consistently shows that spanking: teaches children that it’s OK to hit when they’re angry can cause anger, aggression, resentment and physical harm (Babies and toddlers are especially unlikely to be able to make any connection between their behavior and physical punishment. They will only feel the pain of the hit.) often doesn’t teach the lesson a parent is trying to convey can make children fearful and resentful of (instead of respectful toward) their parents may […]

This post was originally published in the Wilmington News Journal and DelawareOnline. Suicide. It’s a troubling topic, a hugely difficult conversation, a “that could never happen to my child” pronouncement. But with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announcing that suicide rates in the U.S. are steadily on the rise, the time is now to confront this issue with your family — especially with your preteens and teenagers. The CDC reports that from 1999 through 2014, suicide rates have increased for both males and females and for all ages 10–74. While this is concerning news, perhaps most troubling is the fact that the suicide rate among girls aged 10–14 tripled during this time frame and had the largest percent increase (200 percent). And although suicide is relatively rare among children, it is the third leading cause of death in youth ages 10–24, after accidents and homicide. Who’s at Risk? […]

This spring, in partnership with the University of Delaware, Nemours hosted Artist-in-Residence Frank Waln, an award-winning Native American hip-hop artist from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Frank joined Nemours in our Creative Arts Therapy program at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, where he has been able to share his story with our patients and families. Frank met with groups of patients while here and spoke about growing up as a Native American, being raised by a loving single mother, and the ways hip-hop music offers him healing during difficult times. One of his goals while here was to work with our patients to create a one-of-a-kind musical work that tells their story about being in the hospital. With a degree in audio engineering and his experience as a performer, Frank was able to show kids how to create hip-hop music. Frank taught them how to build a song by […]

Picnics and BBQs are a fantastic time for family and friends to get together. And the food is one of the best parts, right? But foodborne illness (often called food poisoning) can strike when you least expect it — and can be very dangerous. Foodborne illness comes from contaminated food or liquids. The most common foods or beverages that spoil easily are: raw or undercooked poultry, eggs, seafood, beef and pork milk untreated water fresh fruits and vegetables — especially if not washed correctly salads — pasta, egg, potato salad, etc. unpasteurized ciders, milk and cheese Who’s Most at Risk for Food Poisoning? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that there are 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year. The people affected are both healthy and unwell (i.e., they have other chronic conditions). However, those with compromised immune systems are more highly susceptible to foodborne illness. For example, […]