It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year but, for many, the holidays can be a difficult season when feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, loss and grief are at an all-time high—and that’s in a normal year. But 2020 has been anything...
By Ashley ParrottWidespread change due to the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the nation, which has left many parents struggling to keep essential appointments with, not only their physicians, but with behavioral health specialists as well. Parents are n...
You’re holding your child’s hand on your way to the first day of school. The squeeze on your hand is tighter than usual. Then suddenly your little one sees a friend, smiles, releases your grip and you watch them run to school together without a care ...
The number of children showing up in emergency rooms for suicidal thoughts and attempts is on the rise, especially during the school year.
According to a new study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids ages 5 to 17 were admitte...
So here we are again. Another school shooting. As adults, we are the ones kids look to for comfort. The ones they depend on to be strong. How many adults are feeling just a bit weak or overwhelmed with the news of yet another shooting? I’ll admit I a...
As has been shown in the Cook Children’s NICU, skin-to-skin contact helps preemies thrive and develop. However, that need for touch and interaction doesn’t end when we move past infancy or even toddlerhood.
The need for closeness, kindness and tou...
On the top floor of the brand new South Tower building at Cook Children’s Medical Center sits a facility most people will never see. The doors are locked from inside and out. The only access granted comes with the swipe of a badge. This is the Rees-J...
Thanksgiving should be a time for families to come together and be thankful. After all, it’s the reason for the holiday, right?
But too many Thanksgivings end up with huge fights or arguments in front of the kids. The past few months have been esp...
It’s hard for most children to sit still even for a little while. But how do you tell the difference between normal and hyperactivity? Furthermore, parents may wonder, “If my child is hyperactive, does that also mean that he or she has Attention-Defi...
A study published in Pediatrics shows an increase of kids in the U.S. going to the ER for treatment of self-inflicted injuries, such as cutting. From 2009 to 2012, self-injuries increased from 1.1 percent to 1.6 percent of all visits.
While the in...
ESPN’s recent 30 for 30 special, “I Hate Christian Laettner,” looks at the subject’s controversial time as a standout basketball player for the Duke Blue Devils. Laettner was despised by many basketball fans because of the way he played the game, inc...
Many parents have been caught off-guard by their child using an expletive. While you may be shocked, your reaction to the word can be one of the biggest influences on the situation occurring in the future, making it important to think before you reac...
Parenting is tricky stuff. Just look at the enormous collection of materials in the "Parenting and Family" section at your local bookstore or online. Blended families face additional challenges (they even have their own section of shelves). How can t...
Every time your children score a point, gain lives, beat a level or win a prize on a video game or gadget, they arereceiving one of many frequent intermittent rewards that keep them hooked and focused. And parents wonder whytheir child is struggling ...
We talked to Joy Crabtree, a licensed psychologist with Cook Children's, about suicide and children. She discusses the warning signs and how to discuss this topic with your child after a suicide occurs in your community. We hope you find it helpful. ...