Healthy Highlights
How to Help an Adolescent who is a Picky Eater
Everyone has preferences on what foods they enjoy and what foods they don’t like. Children are no different! The American Academy of Pediatrics (2018) suggests that parents should offer a variety of foods to their children when they start introducing solids. (Information on introducing solids can be found here!) But, parents of adolescents, who are…
Fact or Fiction: Cold Weather Makes You Sick
As cold weather arrives each year, many parents worry that their children may be at a higher risk for becoming ill. Worries are compounded as parents of toddlers and preschoolers struggle to convince children to keep hats, mittens, and jackets on their bodies while they’re outside. In addition, parents of school-age children and teens may…
Play is Purposeful!
Play is generally defined as activity engaged in for enjoyment, pleasure, or recreation, but, for an infant or toddler, play is an integral part of promoting healthy development! Children learn through play, and play provides sensory, physical, cognitive, and emotional experiences that help build connections in their brains. Play Promotes Skill Development Your child is…
Screen Time and Autism
Screen time – understanding the positives and negatives and regulating your family’s usage of it can be overwhelming. You may feel as though your daily life, and your children’s daily lives, revolve around screens and digital media. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has created screen time recommendations for parents and caregivers of children. The…
Your Child’s Extracurricular Activities: Too Much or Just Right
Piano lessons. Soccer practice. Swimming lessons. Tutoring sessions. After spending a full day in a child care facility or at school, many children also participate in extracurricular activities in the evenings or during the weekends. As a parent, you want to introduce your child to new experiences and opportunities and foster their interests. Extracurricular activities…
Healthy Habits
Part of being a parent means that you often put the needs of your child before your own. However, when a parent or caregiver ignores their own needs, they may become overwhelmed, and this situation could negatively impact their health or compromise their ability to care for a child. One way that parents can practice…
Summertime Family Physical Activity
For many families, summertime is period when children are at home more, and parents may be looking for additional ways to keep their children active. There are many activities you can do to get moving as a family, such as outdoor play and experiences, or find ways to be active safely inside. Family Fun Outdoor…
The Division of Responsibility in Feeding
What is the Division of Responsibility? The Division of Responsibility is a feeding method that is used to encourage children to trust and use their natural hunger cues and instincts when eating. This approach gives responsibilities to the parent and the child: parents decide what food is served, when it’s served, and where their child…
Dietary Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
Did you know the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) update the dietary guidelines for Americans every 5 years? These updates are based on new research conducted by an independent committee that strives to provide transparency and include public input when possible. The committee doesn’t just look…
Participating in Winter Sports
When it’s cold outside, many families find themselves spending more time indoors. Identifying outdoor winter activities for children can sometimes be challenging. Winter sports, like skiing, ice skating, or hockey, take skill and practice and are sometimes cost-prohibitive for families. Because of the added equipment outdoor winter sports can be more expensive than those during…