It's not perfect. It's parenting.
Sometimes you need answers to the little everyday things that parents encounter. And sometimes, you just need someone to encourage you through all of the craziness and challenges of parenthood. Welcome to Parent-ish, a blog from the experts at Children's Mercy.
When to go: Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care
School is out for the summer – that means playground visits, pool days or play dates that could result in an unexpected injury or illness for your child. And of course, it always happens when your doctor’s office is closed. So, the dilemma every parent faces …do you go to the Emergency Room (ER) or Urgent Care?
7 ways to keep pools safe this summer
Multiple layers of protection are needed to prevent drowning. Drowning continues to be the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children aged 1 to 4 years and they are more likely to drown in a home swimming pool. Here are some important water safety tips to keep your young children safe around water.
How Moms are Celebrating Father's Day!
In life they are often called our coaches, mentors and superheroes. But the most cherished name they go by is dad! A father’s strength and role in the family never goes unnoticed. That’s why it’s important to celebrate everything they do and show just how appreciated they are.
6 Most Preventable Childhood Injuries
Most childhood injuries can be prevented and knowing how to prevent an accident is key to keeping children safe. We’ve all been taught the basics. Buckle-up in the car, wear a bike helmet and look both ways before crossing the road.
Improve Your Sleep, Improve Your Mental Health: 8 Steps to Better Sleep for Your Family
Getting more sleep—for you and your child—is a goal many parents dream of. After all, sleep has a significant impact on our mental and physical health.
What Parents Should Know About Fentanyl
My nephew, Cooper, was a fun, adventurous, outgoing kid that everyone loved to be around. He was kind-hearted, strong-willed and hard-headed. He was drawn to extreme sports like snowboarding, rock climbing, motorcycles and cliff jumping. He was a risk-taker…absolutely fearless. Cooper also thought he was invincible.
How Dads are Celebrating Mother’s Day
It’s often said a mom’s job is never done. From birthday parties to school plays to graduations, and everyday love and support, moms go above and beyond to make sure their youngsters always feel special – so, it goes without saying they deserve (at least) one day a year where they are the ones doted on!
How parents can make a healthier environment for healthier kids (on Earth Day and every day)
This Earth Day, your family might be spending time in local community gardens, planting trees with neighbors, or gathering to celebrate in the great outdoors. These are great ways to support Mother Nature, and there is still a lot we can do to combat the effects of climate change right where we are.
Eyes Up, Phones Down: Modeling Good Behavior for Teen Drivers
Remember the first time you got behind the wheel of a car? Hands at 10 and 2 on the wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead, all systems checked before you shift out of park...on that day, driving had your full and complete attention. Fast forward to today, when you’re juggling carpool lines, soccer practices across town and constant notifications, and it’s easy to see why distracted driving is a major safety concern.
Why siblings fight and what to do about it
National Siblings Day is approaching, providing a chance for brothers and sisters everywhere to celebrate each other and their bond. But anyone who grew up with a sibling knows that fighting comes with the territory, but when our own kids get into it, it can be worrying. We wonder, “Are they creating lasting damage to each other?” or “Will they ever get along?”
Add Safety to Your Sprucing This Spring
Nearly 4 million kids across the country take a trip to the emergency department each year for injuries that happen at home. Even more eye-opening: many of them can be prevented. While January gets the credit for fresh starts, it’s spring that often powers the potential for change. Warm weather and longer days inspire cleaning, decluttering and a general refresh of our spaces and lives. This season, as you tackle cobwebs, windows and floors, add safety to your sprucing scene with these 10 tips
How to Have a Memorable Spring Break at Home
Spring break is here, but a week-long beach vacation isn’t on the agenda for all families. If schedules, budgets or other reasons are keeping you home this spring, here are some ideas to keep your kiddos entertained and have a memorable “vacation” right here at home!
Keeping kids safe from accidental poisonings
According to the American Association of Poison Control Center, over 91% of poison exposures in Missouri and Kansas occur in the home, and over 45% of those cases involved children under the age of 5.
Eating disorders: First warning signs
Eating disorders do not discriminate, anyone can develop one. Eating disorders are a serious but treatable mental illness. The quicker the behaviors are recognized and addressed, the more likely there is to be a positive outcome. Recently our team worked with parents from our Eating Disorders Parent and Family Advisory Council to develop a series of videos to help support the community. In the video below learn more about early warning signs of an eating disorder.
Marijuana edibles: Staying safe around kids
With the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Missouri, we are seeing more children accidently consume marijuana edibles. As these foods often look like your everyday treats—cookies, brownies, chocolate or gummy candies—children may eat them, unaware they contain marijuana. Despite preventive regulations for child-resistant packaging, warning labels and public health campaigns, unintentional ingestion continues to rise, so below are some frequently asked questions about the dangers of marijuana ingestion in children, how to safely secure these items and what to do if you expect your child has ingested edibles.