"They grow up so fast." For some parents, this fact of life makes it difficult to stop micromanaging their teens; for other parents, it causes them to stop teaching life skills at a crucial stage of development. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner helps parents find the golden mean of parenting preteens when it comes to eating, sleeping, and exercising.

It’s kind of gross to talk about, but you can learn a lot from snot. While mucus may be a bit of an annoyance, it plays an important role in your child’s body. Mucus lines organs with a protective layer, keeping dust and dirt out to help fight off infections. But not all mucus are the same. Different colors can mean fungal infection or other serious health issues. And mucus from allergies is different from that of the common cold. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains what the different colors of mucus coming out of your child’s nose really mean, and when you should visit the doctor.

Foot skin issues are common among teenagers—and no, it’s not always athlete’s foot. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about three common foot skin issues in teenagers, and how to identify and treat those issues without a trip to the doctor.

How much sugar is too much for kids? Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains that a sugar-loaded diet contributes to childhood obesity. She recommends that children have no more than 45 grams of sugar in a day—the equivalent of about 15 sugar cubes—even when it comes to foods that we generally consider healthy, such as fruit juice and yogurt.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a virus that can cause rashes on the hands and feet and sores in the mouth—and can sometimes be mistaken for the strep throat infection. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner tells you how to distinguish the virus from strep throat and other similar illnesses. She also provides tips for treating the virus and how to help your child stay comfortable through their symptoms.

After-school programs can provide a safe place for children when parents may not be available. But as children age into preteens, when can they be allowed to stay home by themselves? Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about the different factors that vary from family to family and how to best prepare your preteen for staying home alone.

Nearly 13 million children and adolescents in the United States are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It may seem counterintuitive, but pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner says technologies such as smartphones and fitness trackers can actually help kids watch their own weight by gamifying their exercise and physical activity.

Just like adults, teenagers are susceptible to receiving sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some STIs are curable and have detectable symptoms, but others can last a lifetime and have no known cure. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about how open and honest communications with your children to prevent the spread of STIs.

Mental illness in children is on the rise—one in four children in the United States have a mental health diagnosis. What is behind this increase and what can be done? Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains the new situations of contemporary life that can influence your child’s mental health and how you can help.

We typically think of high blood pressure as a problem for adults, but 3.5% of children in the United States have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about why some children have high blood pressure, what signs to be on the lookout for and the treatments available.