Kids Considered™ Podcast

In this summer re-play (originally aired July 2019), we revisit a past 2-part episode exploring the joys and challenges of traveling with young children.

We highlight the benefits of travel for nurturing relationships and fostering empathy. We discuss practical tips for travel with different age groups. From air travel tips, to choosing travel destinations this episode will offer valuable insights for making family travel a rewarding and memorable experience.

We thank Amy Zide at the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department at UC Davis Children’s Hospital for reviewing this episode.

We will be back in August 2023 with new content!

In this summer re-play (originally aired July 2019), we revisit a past 2-part episode exploring the joys and challenges of traveling with young children.

We highlight the benefits of travel for nurturing relationships and fostering empathy. We discuss practical tips for travel with different age groups. From air travel tips, to choosing travel destinations this episode will offer valuable insights for making family travel a rewarding and memorable experience.

We thank Amy Zide at the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department at UC Davis Children’s Hospital for reviewing this episode.

We will be back in August 2023 with new content!

Resources

Water Safety – Summer Replay

In this summer re-play (re-aired from June 2019) we revisit our past discussion on the importance of water safety and drowning prevention. Drowning is a leading cause of death in children. We review evidence- based water safety strategies including the importance of pool fences, life jackets, constant adult supervision and lifeguards. We also discuss swim lessons and what is the best age to start them.

Thank you to Dr. Heather Siefkes, a pediatric intensivist at UC Davis Children’s Hospital for reviewing this episode.

We will be back in August 2023 with new content!

Resources

HealthyChildren- Pool Safety

HealthyChildren- Swim lessons

Journal of Pediatrics- Drowning Prevention

Red Cross- Sign up for a CPR class

Middle ear infections, also known as otitis media,  are the most common bacterial illness in children. In this episode, we talk with pediatric otolaryngologist, Dr. Jamie Funamura about this common pediatric illness. We discuss the anatomy of the ear and why young children are more prone to middle ear infections. We review common symptoms and treatment.. We also review “ear tubes,” including when this procedure may be indicated and the specifics of the minor surgery and recovery. 

In this episode we review neonatal circumcision. Circumcisions are common procedures in the neonatal period, with nearly 60% of infant males in the United States being circumcised. Families may choose to circumcise for various reasons including perceived health benefits, cultural or religious beliefs, or family preference. In this podcast review the risks and benefits to circumcision. Discuss the procedure itself and postoperative healing. We also review some of the ethical dilemmas behind circumcision and why family preference is. 

May is mental health awareness month, we are revisiting old episodes on child mental health. Including this episode on separation anxiety- one of our very first podcast episodes from 2018!

Separation anxiety is extremely common in infants and young children. With separation anxiety comes significant distress for parents and caregivers. Is there anything parents can do to help reduce their child’s distress when separating? Will a child grow out of this behavior? How long does it typically last? When should a parent get worried if their child’s anxiety seems unrelenting? All of these issues and more are discussed during this episode.

This episode written by Dr. Lena van der List and Dr. Dean Blumberg.

Supplemental material:

  Childhood Grief

May is mental health awareness month. This month, we are revisiting past episodes on pediatric mental health. 

In this episode, we are joined by Emily McDaniel — a certified child life specialist at UC Davis Children’s Hospital —in the discussion of grief after the death of a loved one. While death may be a difficult concept to talk about with children, it is important to consider the developmental stage of your child and to make sure you have the support of a partner in the discussion. It is important to be open with your child and reassure them that it is okay to be emotional during this time. We share some tips on how you can prepare your child for what to expect after a death, help your child memorialize their loved ones, and signs to look out for that may mean they need extra support from professionals. Be sure to tune in to learn about grief and how to help your children through the process. 

This episode was written by Emily McDaniel, Dr. Dean Blumberg, Dr. Lena van der List & Abby Michalak.

We thank Emily McDaniel, MA, CCLS, RWWP, Child Life Specialist at the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, for joining us for this episode, although Drs. Dean and Lena take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Supplemental Information:

Photo from Healthy Children

May is mental health awareness month. This month we revisit past episodes on mental health, in this episode reviewing teen anxiety.

Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder diagnosed in childhood. And there are many different types of anxiety disorders. In this podcast we discuss generalized anxiety and panic disorder in teens. Including what behaviors are suggestive of anxiety, how its diagnosed, and why cognitive behavioral therapy is so effective for re-framing anxious feelings and behaviors.

This episode written by Drs. Lena van der List and Dean Blumberg.

We thank Dr. Dawn Blacker, psychologist at the UC Davis CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center, for reviewing this episode, although Drs. Lena and Dean take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Supplemental material:

Photo from Medical Daily

May is mental health awareness month. This month we are revisiting past episodes on mental health. In this episode we review depression in teens. 

Depression is very common in teens, with just over 1 in 10 teens experiencing a major depressive episode during this time. Sadly, suicide is now the 2nd leading cause of death in this age group. In this podcast we discuss the importance of identifying depression in teens. What signs to look out for and the steps to receiving a diagnosis. We review treatment options including therapy and medications and how to respond if your teen is having thoughts or feelings of suicide.

This episode written by Drs. Lena van der List and Dean Blumberg.

We would like to thank Dr. Melissa Hopkins, child psychiatrist at UC Davis Children’s Hospital for reviewing this episode, although Drs. Dean and Lena take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Supplemental material:

Photo from LifeWay

In this episode we bring attention to a potentially life saving drug. The FDA recently approved the opioid reversal agent Naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray to be made available over the counter without a prescription. In this podcast we talk with Dr. Daniel Colby, an emergency and addiction medicine physician, about the dangers of opioid misuse, what opioids are, how to recognize an overdose and how and when to administer this life saving medication.

This episode was written by Dr. Lena van der List, Dr. Dean Blumberg & Daniel Colby. 

 Supplemental information:

Photo from health.osu.edu