Healthy Children

Vaping can harm you and your child.As cigarette smoking seems to be on the decline, vaping is on the rise in young folks. Once called electronic cigarettes, vaping devices offer nicotine delivery with appealing flavors. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor The particles in the vaping mix can inflame the lungs. While it’s called vaping, the substance is an aerosol -- not water -- vapor. Listen as Dr. Karen Wilson joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the dangers of vaping. Sponsor: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%

Teach your children how to manage digital usage and social media.Today’s children are immersed in digital media. It can be a double-edged sword. Remember that technology is a tool. Children need parameters to help manage online interactions. As a parent, you need to guide them. Monitor what they’re doing. Warn your child about the perils of online communication. They may think that all people are as honest as they are, which means they may provide too much personal information in earnest.  Listen as Dr. Corinn Cross joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss what you should know about your child’s use of digital devices.

Find out how to address your kids' concerns about climate change.Climate change affects all of us. Your children may have concerns. You want to be able to talk to them about it without affecting them with your own anxiety. Tell your children the truth but frame it with hope. We have the ability to act on climate change right now. Many of the things we can do to help the planet improve our own lives in the short term. Advocacy by young people brings attention to the concerns. Work to empower your children to do what they can to improve conditions. Listen as Dr. Aparna Bole, Chair of the AAP Council on Environmental Health, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how to talk to your kids about climate change.

Practice and encourage firearm safety to protect your children.Firearm ownership is hotly debated. No matter your opinion, it is imperative to keep children safe. Firearm Safety Tips Firearms should be locked in a child-proof manner with ammunition stored and locked separately. Firearms should be unloaded when stored. While your child may be trained in firearm safety, any visitors they bring into your home may not. Always treat weapons as if they are loaded at all times. Children are curious and don’t always have the best judgment. Be mindful about weapon-like toys and non-powder weapons. They send projectiles through the air at various speeds. Make sure players are appropriately shielded around the face and eyes, and there should be adult supervision when these are in play. Listen as Dr. David Hill joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss firearm safety tips.

The holidays and current events are a great opportunity to teach your child empathy and compassion.It’s your responsibility as a parent to teach your child empathy and compassion for others. This will help him have more caring and understanding for others throughout his life. Empathy starts with understanding other people’s emotions and feelings. Kids have to get in touch with their own emotions and feelings first. You can’t understand emotions unless you communicate face-to-face. Talk through what could help others feel better so your child understands how others feel. Expand your child’s experiences through travel and reading. Encourage community involvement. Community Service Show your child firsthand what other people experience through community service. Empower him to make changes in the world by doing something about it. Involve your children in altruistic activities. Listen as Dr. Corinn Cross joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how you can develop your child’s sense of empathy and compassion. Reading List: Books on Food Donations and Soup Kitchens, Turkey Drive/Food Drives, Visiting Food Banks *Maddi's Fridge by Lois Brandt A young girl realizes her friend’s fridge is often empty. She tries to sneak her food from home. Eventually she confides in her mother that her friend’s family needs food.  Together they help the family and eventually organize a food drive. The book discusses food drives and food pantries. The Author’s Note discusses how 1 in 5 US children live in homes that are food insecure, meaning they run out of food before the end of the month.  Uncle Willie and The Soup Kitchen by Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan A young boy accompanies his uncle to work in a soup kitchen. He learns all about how soup kitchens and neighboring communities work together to feed those in need. A prologue gives some background and additional information about soup kitchens and who they serve – although this prologue is better read after the book so that children have an understanding of what a soup kitchen is and can absorb the additional information.  Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña A young boy and his grandmother leave church and take a bus through a culturally diverse community. During the ride, the young boy laments that he isn’t out playing with his friends. Instead, he and his grandmother are going to work at a soup kitchen.  By the end of the book, he realizes how important what he is doing really is. “Last Stop” is a simpler book than “Uncle Willie”. Unlike “Uncle Willie,” the reader does not experience what it is like to work at a soup kitchen. “Last Stop” is more about the journey. The beauty of the book however is that it illustrates that everyone has something to give.  Books About Veterans, Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, Operation Gratitude *The Wall by Eve Bunting A very moving book about a young boy and his dad who travel to Washington DC to look for the grandfather’s name on the Vietnam Memorial. It helps children to understand the sacrifices these soldiers have made and illustrates that the men and women fighting for our country are someone’s parent, grandparent or child.  Books About Families Who Need Homes and Furniture, Christmas (A Carpenter’s gift is an amazing Christmas story), Furniture Drives, Habitat For Humanity-Type Projects, Losing Homes to Fires *The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree by David Rubel An amazingly beautiful and moving Christmas story about a young poor boy and his dad who drive to NYC to sell Christmas trees. They give the last tree to a group of men working at a construction site. Later those men show up at the boy’s home with left over supplies from their building and help the father to repair and insulate their home. The book’s epilogue discusses Habitat for Humanity and how the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is donated every year to provide lumbar for homes for families in need.  A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams The story of how a young

Have a happier holiday with these tips for your family.Holidays are joyful for many. There are a few things to keep in mind to keep your family happy and safe. Safety Don’t let your tree dry out. Don’t leave your tree lights on when you aren’t home. Don’t overload outlets and extension cords. Be sure outdoor lights and power cords are intended for outdoor use. Stash guest belongings out of your child’s reach so no one gets into personal pill boxes. Hire a sitter if you have lots of toddlers at your large party. Make sure gifts are age appropriate and not flagged as dangerous. Fireplace embers can stay hot for days so put ashes in an ash bucket. Know that other people may not have the same safety practices when you go to visit. Managing Expectations It’s a tough balance to give your child the best gifts you can while instilling a sense of gratitude. Discussing the significance of the holidays in your family leading up to festivities can help. Focus on family traditions like cooking, games, singing and celebrating. This is time you can build traditions to carry you throughout the year. Talk about gratefulness and giving with your children. It’s important for your children to realize that things cost money. Your family may not be able to afford the latest cell phone technology for the kids. Sometimes Santa leaves notes to redirect unrealistic requests, leaving a hand-selected gift instead. Listen as Dr. Corinn Cross joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how to enjoy this time with your children safely and happily.

Love your child at their current weight while making lifestyle changes in your household.Are you concerned about your child’s weight? You don’t want to ruin their self-esteem by bringing something up that may not be a problem, but you also don’t want your child to endure the health risks connected with being overweight or obese. Processed foods are dense in calories but not necessarily packed with nutrients. Today’s children aren’t as active as those in the previous generation because of technology and cultural lifestyle shifts. Environmental toxins are everywhere and hard to completely avoid. If you’re concerned about your child’s weight, first look at the big picture. There is some time to think and plan to improve your child’s health. Don’t panic.  Make a lifestyle change together, getting the entire household on board with exercise and nutritional adjustments. Start slowly with doable changes where the behavior will lead to little successes before selecting the next change to make. Children facing obesity and are struggling with health problems that could be reversed may be candidates for bariatric surgery. This is not a quick-fix option. Discuss your concerns with your pediatrician. Listen as Dr. Sarah Armstrong joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss concerns over weight and bariatric surgery.

How can you survive the holidays with your mental health intact?Holidays bring stress, even though the goal is a fun and festive time. There’s a lot of buildup for any holiday, making it tough for the day to live up to the hype. Acknowledge the special day but recognize that it’s another day. Not everything will be thrilling. There will still be frustrations and disappointment. Reduce expectations so the day doesn’t fall short. Mental Health Tips: Get adequate sleep to arm yourself for the holiday excitement. Sleep supports mental health. Exercise. Intense exercise is a great stress buster, even if you do it in four-minute blocks. Eat well. Consume a reasonable amount of fresh food. Make a decision about what you’ll eat before the food is in front of you. Set a budget for gifts. It’s better to give things that are memorable than to give filler presents. Give presents that will make a difference for the recipient. Listen as Dr. David Hill joins Melanie Cole, MS to discuss mental health tips for the holidays.

What should you do when you want to start your infant on solid foods?Your infant will eventually be ready to start eating solid foods to complement milk or formula consumption. Don’t start solids until baby is at least four months old. Breastfed babies should start solids around six months. Every baby is different. A good sign is that your child can sit in a high chair and stares down your plate at dinner. First foods can be instant oatmeal, avocados or bananas. Use some breast milk or formula to thin the foods and introduce them to baby. Wait three days between new foods and see how your baby does with each food. Introduce your baby to lots of tastes and textures in that first year. Just be sure food is smashed up so baby won’t choke. If you notice what could be an allergic reaction, see your pediatrician. Listen as Dr. Natalie Muth joins Melanie Cole, MS to discuss how to introduce your baby to solid foods.

Make the most of your holidays while easing your stress and delighting your children.Kids get excited while parents are stressed over the winter holidays. How do you manage the holidays while still making sure they’re enjoyable despite the activity? Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor First, manage your child’s expectations. Instead of a list of every possible thing they want, ask them to narrow it down to what’s most important to them. Talk about that thing and what is realistic and appropriate but will still enjoyable for your kid. Second, help your child think about others. Take a laundry basket through the house with your child and collect up toys and games that aren’t often used. Discuss how these toys can benefit others who aren’t as fortunate. Additionally, encourage mindfulness. Embody the season with activities that create a great family time. Schedule it but don’t stress out about it. Decorating a gingerbread house, baking cookies or viewing holiday lights in the neighborhood can be very enjoyable. Be present and put devices aside as you share the activity. Listen as Dr. Corinn Cross joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how to make the holidays kid-friendly. Sponsor: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%