The COVID-19 pandemic hit everyone hard, but especially kids. During key periods of growth, their social lives screeched to a halt. They spent more time on screens and less time outside. Not to mention the stress and uncertainty of a worldwide pandemic. Even healthy kids began to struggle in their development and well-being. 

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk to Dr. Rebecca Jackson about child development, the disruptions of COVID, and how parents and kids can move forward together. 

You can purchase Dr. Jackson's book, "Back on Track," at Mayo Clinic Press.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

In the U.S., iodine is somewhat taken for granted. However, it’s an important thing to keep an eye on because globally, iodine deficiency, especially during pregnancy and the first few years of life, is the leading cause of intellectual impairment.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we’re talking with Dr. Elizabeth Pearce to learn more about iodine and how we can help make sure our iodine levels support growth and intellectual development.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Growth underscores pretty much all of childhood. There’s the fun side: watching kids get bigger, growing into new things and out of old ones. But then there’s the more complicated side: worrying kids are growing too fast or too slow compared to other kids their age.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, Dr. Siobhan Pittock is here to talk to us about growing up—literally.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Eating disorders can be tricky because they affect both physical and mental health. On top of that, the symptoms aren't always obvious. But diagnosing and treating them is really, really important. Getting a kid treatment is not only essential to their well-being, but sometimes even their survival.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Jocelyn Lebow, a clinical psychologist and expert in childhood eating disorders, about diagnosing eating disorders and how to help kids heal their relationships with food, their bodies, and the people around them.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

ADHD — attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder — is everywhere. Statistically, every classroom is likely to have a child with ADHD. So whether your kid has ADHD or not, it’s probably part of your kid’s life. So how do you tell the difference between everyday distraction and ADHD?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Eric Pease about attention and what an ADHD diagnosis might mean for your kid.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Teeth are so easy to take for granted. And they're the only part of your body that doesn’t fix itself! That's why dental care is so important — we only get two sets, and it’s our job to make sure they last a lifetime. And that work starts when you’re a kid. So how do we teach kids good dental habits from the start? What if they hate brushing?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Elise Sarvas about baby teeth, cavities, fluoride — and sharks.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Mental health is not “all in your head.” It's intertwined with physical health. And in 2021, nearly 1 in 3 students experienced poor mental health. So in this big, complicated world where everything’s stressful all the time, how can we be supportive adults? And what other kinds of help are out there?

On this episode of Kids Health Matters, we talk with John MacPhee and Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth from The Jed Foundation about how to get your teen the help they need, when they need it.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

When it comes to childhood epilepsy, no two seizures are exactly alike. Some seizures have the convulsive, jerking movements that most people think of when they imagine epilepsy. But other types of seizures can be subtler, and even possible to miss altogether.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk to Dr. Anthony Fine, a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist, to help us make sense of this very complicated condition.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Roughly half the world's population will experience periods at some point in their life. Some people dread them. To others, they’re a rite of passage. And periods can range all over the place: light, heavy, long, short, frequent, irregular — everyone’s is unique. But how do you help your kid navigate getting theirs and understand when something’s wrong?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Asma Chattha about menstrual health, as well as signs that something more serious may be going on.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

When it comes to sports, it’s all fun and games — literally — until someone sprains their ankle. Or gets a concussion. Or breaks a finger. We know kids need physical activity to be healthy, but how do we keep them safe at the same time?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric sports medicine specialist Dr. David Soma about kids sports injuries: What the risks are, how we minimize them, and how we help our kids recover and get back out there.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].