Healthy Highlights
Not All Screen Time Is Equal: What Social Media Means for Children’s Attention
We live in a digital world, so children are exposed to screens in many aspects of their lives—from schoolwork to entertainment to social connection. As children’s screen use has increased, researchers, clinicians, parents, and educators have raised growing concerns about attention, focus, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behaviors, such as inattention or impulsivity (Malesu,…
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: AI Chatbots and Children’s Digital Safety
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of the digital spaces children and teens interact with every day. As these technologies evolve, parents will want to become and stay informed and engaged about how children and teens use AI tools and platforms. Parents’ knowledge about and understanding of the positives and negatives of AI usage…
Is Too Much Screen Time Limiting Your Young Child’s Future Academic Achievement?
Screen usage is a common part of modern life. Individuals use screens to communicate, work, learn, entertain, and manage daily tasks. Because screens are so integrated into everyday routines, screen use can gradually (and easily) exceed recommended limits. Consequently, too much screen use can negatively affect one’s health and well-being and a child’s development. A…
How Parents and Youth Experience Stress in Today’s World
Being a parent and raising children in today’s society is different than the experience your parents had when they raised you. Today’s world may feel faster paced and more interconnected. Parents face growing pressures to help their children navigate social media, academic demands, and rising concerns about mental health. Research from the Child Mind Institute’s…
Why Family Meals Matter More Than Early Sweet Exposure
A new study conducted in the Netherlands is challenging a long-standing assumption about early childhood nutrition: feeding babies sweet foods early shapes their long-term preferences for sugary tastes and will lead to unhealthy dietary patterns (Kumar Malesu, 2025). According to the research, which involved giving infants either sweet- or neutral-tasting vegetables and purees, no lasting…
What New Research Reveals About Social Media and Mental Health: Are Teens Over It?
A new report from the Pew Research Center, recently covered by CNN, reveals teens in the United States (U.S.) are becoming concerned about the effects of social media use on their mental health (Duffy, 2025). While platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok remain central to teen social life, the study shows a significant shift in…
Is Plant-Based Milk Enough for Toddlers? What Parents Need to Know
Today, families have more options regarding the different types of milk available for them to buy. Plant-based milk has grown in popularity as more people explore alternatives that align with various dietary needs, lifestyle choices, and environmental values. But, if you’re thinking about swapping out cow’s milk for a plant-based substitute in your toddler’s diet,…
More Veggies, Please! How to Encourage Your Child to Eat More Vegetables
Vegetables play an important role in supporting your child’s growth and long-term health. Eating a variety of vegetables early in life can help your child develop a healthy gut microbiome that supports digestion and can promote lifelong well-being. Since eating habits formed in childhood often continue into adulthood, encouraging vegetable consumption early can help your…
Spring into Action: Fresh Ideas for Keeping Children Moving at Every Age
The longer days and warmer weather of spring offer a natural opportunity for families to refresh their routines and build healthier habits. Staying active can feel challenging after months of cooler weather spent mostly indoors with, potentially, limited movement. However, making deliberate but small, everyday choices during this time of year can set the tone…
How Childhood Habits Shape Teen Mental Health
A new study published in JAMA Network Open highlights that early lifestyle habits can be powerful in shaping healthy adolescent mental health outcomes. Researchers followed children ages 6 to 9 for 8 years and tracked their eating habits, physical activity, and overall well-being (Haapala et al., 2025). Researchers found that children who consistently practiced healthy…