For the last week, Cook Children’s Center for Community Health provided mindfulness games and stress-relief techniques for kids, job training and oral health tips with free dental-care kits and cavity-prevention demostrations. KERA shared their family resources with children and parents. JPS shared QPR training, workforce development and lactation education. Friday focused on vehicle safety with Cook Children’s Center for Community Health, JPS Community Outreach & Education and JPS Trauma Injury Prevention. There was booster seat education and sign-ups for free car seat checks, car seat education and installation with a certified child passenger safety technician and motor vehicle crash prevention.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for these past 30 days! Keep an eye out for more events to come in the future!

This fourth week of our 30 Days of Wellness events at the neighborhood health center in Las Vegas Trail was full of fun!

Cook Children’s Center for Community Health shared activity dice games and easy 5210+ lessons. JPS stopped by to give lactation education and a behavioral health overview. Cook Children’s, JPS Health Network, TCC, and Workforce Solutions provided on-site job training information, registration, and answered any questions. The Demo Kitchen held its second nutrition class with practical meal ideas for picky eaters and growing appetites. We had more guided walk-throughs of the facility for local agencies to learn how to collaborate for community care. The week ended with JPS’s Connection Program Engagement and Cook Children’s Health Plan Engagement Table.

We had lots of smiling faces at our third week of our 30 Days of Wellness events at the neighborhood health center in Las Vegas Trail!

To kick off the week, The Parenting Center shared tips on discipline, positive communication and stress management while KERA Family Resources offered their services for kids and parents. JPS Connections program explained their financial resources and JPS Women’s Services provided support for breastfeeding families. The American Heart Association stopped by with lifestyle coaching to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes. Cook Children’s Center for Community Health brought fun fitness stations for every age and ability. Wednesday focused on poison prevention with Cook Children’s Center for Community Health and poison education with North Texas Poison Center. Jacob’s Journey stopped by to distribute naloxone as well. The Demonstration Kitchen hosted its first infant nutrition class alongside Mother’s Milk Bank.

The week wrapped up with CHAMP Texas having peer-led discussions and referral information. Cook Children’s, JPS Health Network, TCC, and Workforce Solutions had on-site job training information, registration, and answered questions. JPS Community Outreach provided information on behavioral health service lines, programs, and clinic locations. Cook Children’s Center for Community Health had several nutrition booths providing information on growing healthy foods, making healthy snacks, and promoting healthy development in your family.

We loved having our second week of our 30 Days of Wellness events at the neighborhood health center in Las Vegas Trail! It was the first full week of events and we were thrilled to see so many new faces stop by.

To celebrate the first week of school, the NHC Demo Kitchen invited kids to create quick, nutritious treats they can make at home for an after school snack. Cook Children’s Center for Community Health had multiple events throughout the week covering various topics such as asthma action plan basics for kids, safe sleep education, infant resources and parenting tools for communication, routines and resilience. JPS also hosted several events about their Connection Program, behavioral health services, diabetes education as well as lactation education. My Health My Resources (MHMR)  shared early-childhood development screening and support referrals. Lastly, Cook Children’s had art projects that teach kids to identify and express emotions and support coping skills.

This week kicked off the first few days of our 30 Days of Wellness events at the neighborhood health center in Las Vegas Trail! Volunteers from the Parent Pass phone app stopped by to explain how to navigate the app and share about all the local events and opportunities in the area. Cook Children’s Center for Community Health’s “Aim for Safety” initiative leaders and the JPS Trauma department shared hands-on firearm safety knowledge and safe storage resources. The Fort Worth Police Department demonstrated child-proofing essentials and gave tips to secure your home. It was a successful first three days and we are looking forward to more!

Join us for a full month of free wellness activities, education and family-friendly celebrations designed to help our community thrive. Every weekday (Aug. 6 - Sept. 5), you’ll find hands-on demos, health screenings, safety workshops, nutrition classes and more, all hosted by Cook Children’s and trusted local partners. No registration is required unless noted.

When: Aug. 6 – Sept. 5, 2025
Where: The neighborhood health center in Las Vegas Trail
2800 S. Cherry Lane, Suite 100
Fort Worth, TX 76116

They pull back the curtain on the realities of burnout in modern medicine, why corporate health care is driving unprecedented levels of stress, and how they’re working to reimagine the way doctors practice. From the evolution of work-life balance to deeply personal journeys that shaped their mission, this episode is an eye-opening look at the hidden struggles doctors face—and the hope for a healthier future.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to restore the passion for medicine, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

The start of a new year provides a great opportunity for self-reflection and New Year’s resolutions. While adults all over the world are reflecting and hoping to improve certain areas of their lives, this is a great time to connect with our kids and help them to look back on things that were hard or amazing and look ahead to the things they hope for. 

While setting New Year’s resolutions may be a high expectation for our kids, we can certainly help them look at their life currently and reflect on their thoughts and desires for the future. Self-reflection and self-awareness are such important practices for our children to learn to be able to grow and change. Asking a couple of questions about where they are and where they would like to be can help to set the stage for kids to grow. Even preschoolers can reflect on things they love and things they wish they could do better. 

It’s great to ask questions. Doing this alongside your children gives you a chance to share your own reflections with them, further developing your relationship. Having these conversations and documenting your children’s responses also provides an opportunity to touch base throughout the year and take inventory of how things are going. 

For younger kids, you could ask just two questions: 

• What is one thing that is hard for you that you wish you could do better?
• Who is one person that you would like to get to know more (or spend more time with)?

For older kids, you could ask them to look at things a little more in-depth: 

• Friendship – Who is one friend that you are glad to have in your life? Who is someone you would like to spend more time with? How can you be a good friend to them? 
• School – What do you love about school? What is one thing you wish was could be different at school? What is one thing you would like to improve in at school? 
• Home – What is your favorite thing about our family? Is there something you wish looked different at home? What is one thing that you would like to improve on at home (chores, tidiness, sleep, etc.)? 
• Hobbies – What is one thing you love doing? What is one new thing you would like to try? 
• Health – What is your favorite activity or sport to do? What is one way that you could choose to be healthier this year? 

Asking questions that allow your children to reflect on one thing they are grateful for now and one thing they want to change is a good format for self-reflection and self-awareness. Allow your children to come up with their own answers. As parents, we always have our own ideas of what we hope can improve for our kids. Sometimes we wish they read more, cleaned up their room more frequently or made their beds every day. This is not an opportunity for you to share what you hope they improve on. However, your child may need some guidance when answering the questions. Your positive reflections of their life and character will always be encouraging. So you could help them by saying, “I see you being a good friend when you _____. “ Or “I know you’ve said you wished you could _____.” These are great positive prompts to help your children learn to be self-reflective. 

I cannot ignore that some pre-teens and teens may roll their eyes at an activity like this. I encourage parents and caregivers to use this as an opportunity to connect. Take your kiddo to lunch or set up a picnic. Do something a little out of the ordinary to help them have a positive experience with this self-reflection. I would not encourage having this conversation at bedtime.

Finding ways to remind one another of these reflections and desires can be helpful. For younger kids, that may look like hanging a poster in their room to remind them of their answers and focus for the coming year. For older kids, it may be a journal or a piece of paper they can have readily available to look back on. 

New years are not a magical reset – it takes some kind of intentional reflection. New years provide a space for new beginnings and can be a beautiful opportunity to reset and connect with ourselves and others. I encourage you to use this new year to connect with your kids and provide a space for open dialogue that helps them reflect on themselves and their place in this world. The hope is that they can see what brings them joy and help to bring others joy as they grow! 
 

Making Healthy and Realistic Resolutions

Erin Bridgewater, M.D., a pediatrician at Cook Children’s Pediatrics in Celina, advises making resolutions specific and easy to track. “Instead of ‘Spend more time with grandparents,’ aim for ‘Spend one afternoon a month with them,’” Dr. Bridgewater said.

Cook Children’s psychiatrist Akemi Watkins, M.D. emphasizes that kids should choose goals based on their own values. To help them identify those values, ask questions like:

• What kind of person do you most want to be?
• What did you do last year that went well for you?
• What kinds of new things do you want to learn this year?
• How would you like to help others this year?

After identifying their values, children can create more attainable resolutions by following the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. Remember to keep resolutions fun and meaningful!

“Focus on activities that foster a sense of purpose and joy,” Dr. Watkins recommended. “If your child likes reading, set a goal to read one new book per month.”

Working Together

Making resolutions as a family can boost motivation, create bonding experiences and teach kids commitment. Dr. Watkins suggests activities like weekly game nights, cooking together or having phone-free dinners.

To stay on track, writing down resolutions and keeping them visible in places like on the refrigerator or a family calendar can be helpful.

Setbacks are normal. Instead of focusing on not meeting a goal, encourage do-overs and celebrate successes.

“As the year progresses, check in with your child regularly about their progress without judgement,” Dr. Watkins said. “It’s working toward the resolution and not just the achievement where children can learn valuable lessons.”

Making Mental Health a Priority

Our mental health significantly impacts how we process information, make decisions, and interact with others. Prioritizing mental health can help families build resilience and manage challenges.

Here are some ways to promote mental well-being in your family:

• Build strong support systems
• Eat healthy and exercise
• Practice mindfulness and meditation
• Learn and use coping strategies to manage stress
• Reduce screen time
• Get enough sleep
• Practice self-care and compassion 

If you or your child are reaching a health crisis, don’t wait to get help.

“The critical first step for dealing with mental health issues is asking for help or giving help when asked,” Dr. Bridgewater said.

Mental health professionals are available with Cook Children’s Behavioral Health and the National Institute of Health Suicide Prevention provides resources and education.

For immediate assistance, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Staying Motivated

Staying motivated is a challenge many people experience when creating long-term goals. Having a roadmap and celebrating achievements along the way can build confidence and make goals more realistic.

“There’s an old adage ‘A goal without a plan is a wish,’” Dr. Bridgewater said. “If you have a big goal or one that stretches out far into the future, break it into pieces that are achievable in the short term and build toward the ultimate goal.”

Beyond traditional goal setting, some families embrace a more holistic approach to New Year's resolutions. Instead of focusing on specific achievements or plans, they select an intention or a guiding word for the year. This word then serves as a compass, influencing their daily choices and shaping their overall experience.

“Intentions are present-focused mottos that guide you toward your goal,” Dr. Watkins said. “Simple, sometimes one-word intentions that provide a clear theme for the upcoming year like self-love, change and patience.”

Showing these words in places where everyone can see them can help families stay motivated and keep the words top of mind when making decisions. You never know how one thought, deed or action can create a ripple effect in your life and in the lives of those around you now or in the future!

“What have you been up to this summer? Did you play outside at all or has it been all video games?”

“Pretty much video games.”

“Oh cool, what kind of games do you like? Sports?”

“No, stuff like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.”

It would be one thing if I was having this conversation with a teenager (still not ideal) but this CHILD was 7 years old.

Twenty years ago, considering TV alone, a study estimated that children see 8,000 murders and 100,000 acts of violence before middle school. With the TV, movies, social media and video games available today, there is no telling what that number would equal.

Studies are clear that exposure to virtual violence increases aggressive behavior and thoughts. Yet, the means by which children can be exposed to virtual violence seem to increase exponentially every year. A recent statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics encouraged pediatricians to talk with families about virtual violence and to provide guidance for how to address virtual violence in well-child visits. I read through it and, frankly, was tempted to throw it out with some of the other policy statements, etc. that I don’t think apply to me. Here are four reasons why I NEARLY ignored the new virtual violence policy statement:

1. I have too much to do in a checkup as it is. It’s true that there are a lot of things to cover in a checkup and it’s possible that I won’t get to the topic of virtual violence every time, but when I can I should.

2. Kids are dealing with real-life violence. I work in a clinic where tragically, for some kids, being exposed to virtual violence might be a good day for them. Again, we need to provide the best possible pediatric care for the patient in front of us. If a child needs to be physically safe that should take priority but if, for another, virtual violence is their biggest risk, we should address that as well.

3. Kids have started with violent media before I even get a chance. See conversation above. This may be a real concern, but it means that I should start the conversation earlier, not ignore it all together.

4. Parents who let their kids be exposed probably don’t care about what I have to say about it. It’s possible that one parent is concerned and the other not. Perhaps my information and support might be enough to cut down on or eliminate virtual violence exposure.

I’ve always had casual conversation about media with my patients. Despite my reluctance to focus on this, I think it’s an important piece of information for parents to consider for their children. Here are some tips that you can use to help decrease you child’s exposure to virtual violence:

1. Start early engagement with your child about screen time and habits. If you let your child watch unlimited screen time as a one year old, imposing strict restrictions on anything related to screens later only gets harder.

2. Co-watch almost everything with your child. I get it. I’m a parent and I’m tired of watching kid shows. I’d rather be on Twitter. But if there’s anything new or potentially risky, I watch it or play it with my kids.

3. Don't let your child play first person shooter games or any game where the goal is violence or killing. They don't have the ability to separate real vs. virtual violence and their growing and developing brains cannot handle that level of exposure.