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.
Info about the flu and tips for staying healthy
The first cases of seasonal influenza were reported earlier this year than our traditional “flu season.” We are expecting a severe flu season nationally this year. The Southern Hemisphere (including countries like Australia) have seen a worse influenza season during their winter months, which in combination with our earlier than normal rise in cases, makes us believe our season could be worse as well.
Raising kids who love to give back: How to nurture generosity in your child
The holiday season bombards us with messages about all the latest “must-have” toys and gadgets. One great way to break through the noise of commercials and wish lists is to find ways to donate or volunteer as a family.
Sleep for health and sports performance
An overlooked recovery strategy that is vital in supporting both a student-athlete’s health and sport performance, is sleep. Student-athletes should sleep between 9 and 11 hours per night to reach their peak athletic performance.
Lying to your child: Is it ever OK?
If you’ve ever stretched the truth to get your kids to behave, you’re in good company. According to a study published in the International Journal of Psychology, 84% of American parents they surveyed reported lying to their kids to get them to stop unwanted behavior or encourage good behavior. It’s safe to say that lying to children is common. Still, it could come with some guilt and you may wonder whether it does any harm.
Conversations about weight: A focus on overall health
Talking about your child’s weight may feel uncomfortable or challenging to bring up for a variety of reasons. But what if “weight” wasn’t the main focus of the conversation? While weight and height are important numbers to measure as your child grows, there are many factors that contribute to overall health. As a parent, you can be your child’s greatest advocate and help them form healthy habits at an early age.
Tips for a safe Halloween
Halloween is a great time of year for children. But before your kids head out to trick-or-treat here are some safety tips to help keep your ghosts and goblins safe.
Truths about the top 5 excuses for not getting a flu shot
The first cases of seasonal influenza have been reported. We are expecting a severe flu season nationally this year. To put it in perspective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting early increases in influenza activity this year, higher than what we have seen in the last two seasons.
Getting teens to talk
If you have a teenager in your family, chances are they are less chatty with you than when they were little. Before, they used to tell you every detail of their day whether you wanted it or not, but now you ask about their day and they say it’s, “Fine.” A normal part of kids growing up is that they create some distance from their parents or caregivers, but that doesn’t mean it feels good to experience the distance. If you miss talking to your teen, don’t worry, there are things you can do to make conversation more likely.
Tips for surviving toddler behavior
The toddler stage (1-3 years old) is filled with joy, challenges and everything in between. Difficult behaviors often emerge during this time, including the dreaded “meltdowns” or as my old supervisor used to call it, kids “going boneless” during a tantrum at the grocery store. Here are some practical ways to think about and respond to challenging toddler behaviors.
Wellness days for kids: taboo or to do?
Parents can take a deep breath: It’s healthy for kids to take a break from day-to-day life to rest and restore. One way to achieve this is to allow your child a wellness day. What is a wellness day? A wellness day, or mental health day, is taking a break from normal, daily activities to refresh and destress. The strain of academics, social lives and intense schedules can build up; children may need time at home to just be a kid.
Sports concussions: 5 things parents should know
When parents think about sports concussions, football immediately comes to mind. Some parents may argue whether kids should even play football because of the risk. But it’s not just football, concussions are relatively common in other contact sports (soccer, basketball, lacrosse, hockey and wrestling) as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 percent of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly.
What constipation in kids looks like and what you can do
Did you know constipation in kids can look like a lot of other things? You may be surprised to learn constipation in kids is often underdiagnosed and the right diagnosis can help your child finally get relief. Here are some signs to look for when you suspect constipation and how to get unstuck.
Dyslexia: It’s more than mixing up letters
Reading and writing are critical to success in school, so it can be frustrating for students, teachers, and parents when a kid struggles in those subjects. One reason why some children have difficulty learning is because they have dyslexia. The good news is--kids with dyslexia can manage these difficulties. We’re sharing helpful information and resources about dyslexia so your child can learn to enjoy reading and writing.
Medication 101: What you may not realize about medicines
Here’s a fact that will knock your socks off – a medicine cabinet is one of the worst places to store medicine. It’s true! It shouldn’t even be called a medicine cabinet because storing medicine in the bathroom where temperatures and humidity can get high is one of the least stable places to keep medicine. Let’s run through a few other things you may not realize about medications.
Creating a Community of Support: Advice for parents of kids with a new medical diagnosis
As parents, we plan and prepare for all kinds of things – shopping for baby gear, finding the right school, meal prep, you name it. But one thing most of us are totally unprepared for is how to handle an unexpected diagnosis, serious illness or other medical complication with our child.