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.
7 tips for less stress this holiday season
The holiday season is here! While it’s an exciting time of year filled with traditions, treats and fun, this time of year can also cause stress and anxiety. The shopping, cleaning and planning can feel endless, and, while we want to celebrate with all of our friends and family, sometimes schedules and budgets won’t allow it. If you are struggling with making holiday decisions and talking about them with family, we hope you find these tips helpful.
Holidays traditions to start with your family
The holiday season is all about making memories. When you think back on the holiday magic of your childhood, you probably remember the traditions and time spent with your family over any gift or toy. If you’re looking for a new holiday ritual to start with your own family, Children’s Mercy employees have you covered! See some of the annual traditions our staff members look forward to each year.
Make holiday meals safe and fun for everyone! Tips for families with food allergies
No matter what holidays your family celebrates, chances are good that many of your gatherings involve special foods. While most of us look forward to these seasonal delights, for families of kids with food allergies, holiday gatherings can add pressure and anxiety to what’s meant to be a fun and festive time of year.
Antibiotic FAQs – What parents need to know
The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also bring about a not so fun season of illnesses. Knowing whether your child’s illness needs an antibiotic to get better can be hard during this time of colds and “Flu.” We’ve answered some frequently asked questions below, and your child’s primary care provider (PCP) is a wonderful resource if you have questions or concerns about your child’s illness.
Preparation for successful sitters
Being a good babysitter starts with being prepared. While the babysitter themselves is responsible for some of the preparation, there are several important steps parents can take to set the babysitter up for success. Experts from Charlie’s House have outlined a few topic areas you should go over with each babysitter you hire.
Raise "champions" of giving this holiday season
While children spend time sifting through catalogs and making wish lists during the holiday season, this special time of year is also perfect to begin teaching children the importance of giving back.
When your child’s ‘winter blues’ become something more serious
As much as so many of us complain about daylight saving time, it’s always a shock to the system when it ends. This year, we’ll turn the clocks back on Sunday, Nov. 5, and we’ll start preparing ourselves for shorter days, leaving work when it’s already dark and just that feeling that, yes, winter is coming.
The power of self-esteem: How to prevent bullying in children
Self-esteem begins to develop in early childhood when children start to develop their sense of self. As children begin to understand and know who they are, they start to identify the key qualities and aspects of themselves. Self-esteem plays an important role in early development and continues to be impacted over the course of development for a child.
BEWARE! Or Be Aware of these Halloween safety tips
Keep kids safe this Halloween by avoiding the most common injuries that bring little ones to the emergency departments: falls, burns from flammable costumes, injuries from collisions with vehicles and eye injuries from sharp objects. Follow the tips below for a Halloween of all treats - no tricks!
A safe and affordable way to DIY Halloween
With spooky season here, trick-or-treating is near! The Child Life Department at Children's Mercy Kansas City has outlined 4 crafty costumes for you and your family to DIY together this Halloween.
Top questions for your pediatrician at all ages
When you have your first baby, they unfortunately aren’t born with a handbook. Even if they were, every child is different and may not follow exactly what would be “outlined.” As a first-time parent you are going to have lots of questions and those questions won’t stop until your child is grown. You may first start asking questions about milestones your child should be reaching in their early years, but will eventually transition to questions on when you should bring up topics like the birds and the bees.
Communicating about suicide, and what to do if you're a concerned parent
The thought of losing your child is one many caregivers try to avoid. And yet, suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens across the nation and in Kansas City. We want to help change this trend. Here are some ways to start.
Family-friendly activities to make this fall a ball!
The leaves are changing, the air is getting crisp and pumpkins are popping up everywhere. We talked to Children's Mercy families about some of their favorite family-friendly fall activities - whether you prefer to get into the fall spirit at home or get out and about in the Kansas City area.
COVID-19, RSV and the Flu: What you need to know
Viral respiratory season is quickly approaching. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory viruses seem to circulate in new patterns, so being prepared is important! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics last flu season a record number of children under the age of 4 years old were hospitalized. Here’s what you need to know to help keep your family safe and healthy.
Keeping kids safe while safely storing firearms
Conversations about firearms are tough conversations to have with a child. However, gone are the days of only teaching kids about gun safety to keep them safe. Telling your child not to touch a firearm if they find one is no longer enough. Now, firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in the United States. The best way to keep your children safe is keeping firearms stored safely.