Healthy Children

Setbacks and failures can be educational, but you hate to see your child experience disappointment.

It’s important to differentiate between traumatic events and disappointments. Traumatic events are usually harmful and result in a permanent change of one’s psychological makeup. Disappointments come from reaching for something and falling short of that goal.

Children manage disappointments differently over time. Youngsters may be upset and take action; shouting, hitting, crying. As they grow older, they may think about how things could be different.

Invite discussion about the disappointment. Let your child come up with answers. Change the language to suit your child’s age and maturity level.

The first time your child starts interacting with an invisible friend it can be a little worrying. But it turns out, it's much more common than you think!

Imaginary friends help build social and communication skills, imagination, and more.

Joining us to talk about all kinds of magical and mystical friends, and why you most likely don't need to be worried, is Dr. Datta Munshi. Dr. Munshi is a community pediatrician with a strong interest in pediatric behavioral health. She completed her pediatric training in Philadelphia before moving to Georgia in 2001 and has worked in the urgent care setting at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and private practice in the North Fulton, and South Forsyth area for more than 15 years.

She is currently completing her Masters in Population Health Management at Johns Hopkins University and is working towards increasing collaborative and comprehensive mental healthcare for our children.

With gadgets so integrated into daily life, it can be tough to find non-digital gifts for your children. How do you manage your child’s holiday expectations?

Discuss how wish lists work. Items on the list are not guaranteed. Manage those expectations.

Non-Digital Gifts by Age

Little ones: pop-up tunnels, stacking blocks and cups, board books, pretend play sets, modeling dough, crayons
School-age children: model planes and cars, building kits, board games, toys that stimulate the imagination
Tweens & teens: board games, journals, art supplies, cookbooks, things that can bring people together

Listen as Dr. Corinn Cross joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share ideas for non-digital gifts.

Firearm ownership is hotly debated. No matter your opinion, it is imperative to keep children safe.

We've all probably had to deal with picky eaters at some point (even some adults). But when it comes to our kids, how can we teach and cultivate a diet that's not only healthy but diverse!

Natalie Digate Muth, MD, MPH, RDN, CSSD, FAAP, FACSM is on a mission to help families thrive. She does this through many roles including as an award-winning author, pediatrician and registered dietitian, and educator. She helps families improve health in 5 key areas (nutrition, activity, sleep, stress management, and screen time limits) as the founder and director of the Children's Primary Care Medical Group W.E.L.L. nutrition clinic and Walk with a Doc-Carlsbad. She also teaches college students about nutrition as an adjunct assistant professor at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. 

Today we talk about the importance of a mother's diet during pregnancy & breastfeeding, how the strategy changes for picky eaters at different ages, and when to bring up the issue with your pediatrician.