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The guests arrived at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children’s 2016 “Fire and Ice” prom in glittering gowns and sharp suits, groomed to perfection and shivering a little on a breezy April evening. They exited classic cars that had chauffeured them to the hospital, letting their illness take a back seat on this festive evening. They danced, posed for photos, laughed and reveled with nearly 100 fellow Nemours patients who are facing or recovering from serious health concerns. The Nemours prom, a labor of love for dedicated staff and volunteers, is now in its fourth year. Teens with cancer, sickle cell disease, heart and kidney disease, and other conditions are treated to a themed extravaganza that rivals any high school prom. An outpouring of community support ensures the guests enjoy a wonderful event at no cost to their families. Dresses, tuxedos, makeup and hair styling, food, decorations, gifts, music and photography are […]

Injury Prevention for the Throwing Athlete…Overuse Injuries in Young Athletes…Sport Specialization – Avoiding the Pitfalls of Too Much Time in One Sport…Concussions in Youth Sports…These are just a few of the talks that I have given over the past five years to parents and coaches of young athletes. As the manager of the sports therapy program at the Nemours Center for Sports Medicine, I have seen, firsthand, all of the problems that can accompany the increasingly high demands of youth sports. I have always enjoyed the opportunity to speak with these groups about what they can do to try to reduce the chance of their little athlete becoming another statistic in the growing epidemic of injured youth athletes. Talking to parents is especially gratifying, and I would prepare by pouring over the ever-growing research being published on the causes of overuse injuries and what can be done to prevent them. All […]

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? […]