When confronting the challenge of disciplining their children, moms and dads often default to the ways their own parents disciplined them, sometimes with harmful results. But mom and practicing pediatrician Dr. Candice Jones shows parents a better way, helping parents understand child development and how the ways that children are disciplined shape not only their behavior but their overall health and well-being. Dr. Jones coaches parents to understand their child’s developmental stages and their...
Jan 11, 2022
Setbacks and failures can be educational, but you hate to see your child experience disappointment. It’s important to differentiate between traumatic events and disappointments. Traumatic events are usually harmful and result in a permanent change of one’s psychological makeup. Disappointments come from reaching for something and falling short of that goal. Children manage disappointments differently over time. Youngsters may be upset and take action; shouting, hitting, crying. As they grow olde...
Jan 04, 2022
The first time your child starts interacting with an invisible friend it can be a little worrying. But it turns out, it's much more common than you think! Imaginary friends help build social and communication skills, imagination, and more. Joining us to talk about all kinds of magical and mystical friends, and why you most likely don't need to be worried, is Dr. Datta Munshi. Dr. Munshi is a community pediatrician with a strong interest in pediatric behavioral health. She completed her pediatric...
Dec 28, 2021
With gadgets so integrated into daily life, it can be tough to find non-digital gifts for your children. How do you manage your child’s holiday expectations? Discuss how wish lists work. Items on the list are not guaranteed. Manage those expectations. Non-Digital Gifts by Age Little ones: pop-up tunnels, stacking blocks and cups, board books, pretend play sets, modeling dough, crayons School-age children: model planes and cars, building kits, board games, toys that stimulate the imagination Twee...
Dec 21, 2021
Firearm ownership is hotly debated. No matter your opinion, it is imperative to keep children safe. Firearms should be locked in a child-proof manner with ammunition stored and locked separately. Firearms should be unloaded when stored. While your child may be trained in firearm safety, any visitors they bring into your home may not. Always treat weapons as if they are loaded at all times. Children are curious and don’t always have the best judgment. Be mindful of weapon-like toys and non-powder...
Dec 14, 2021
We've all probably had to deal with picky eaters at some point (even some adults). But when it comes to our kids, how can we teach and cultivate a diet that's not only healthy but diverse! Natalie Digate Muth, MD, MPH, RDN, CSSD, FAAP, FACSM is on a mission to help families thrive. She does this through many roles including as an award-winning author, pediatrician and registered dietitian, and educator. She helps families improve health in 5 key areas (nutrition, activity, sleep, stress manageme...
Dec 07, 2021
Holidays bring stress, even though the goal is a fun and festive time. There’s a lot of buildup for any holiday, making it tough for the day to live up to the hype. Acknowledge the special day but recognize that it’s another day. Not everything will be thrilling. There will still be frustrations and disappointment. Reduce expectations so the day doesn’t fall short. Mental Health Tips: -Get adequate sleep to arm yourself for the holiday excitement. Sleep supports mental health. -Exercise. Intense...
Nov 30, 2021
Kids are now back in school and social situations with their peers. And we know that anxiety levels have been at an all-time high throughout this pandemic. So today we're talking about anxiety, depression and how that manifests physically in eating disorders, and more. We talk about how the easing of the pandemic is changing mindset in our kids, why anxiety is increasing now in kids even as restrictions decrease, and how we can help our kids get through this tumultuous time. Dr. Katherine Willia...
Nov 23, 2021
Many states are legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical use. This adds complications for parents when discussing marijuana. The Federal government still classifies marijuana as illegal, even though 27 states have legalized marijuana for different uses. Parents must have age-appropriate conversations with children. Six percent of high school students report having used marijuana before age 13. Discuss short-term and long-term effects of marijuana. Listen as Dr. Margaret Stager joins Mel...
Nov 16, 2021
By this time of year, our kids have gone back to school and most of them are now in person. Some of them are masking, some of them are vaccinated if they're lucky, but we're also concerned about other things that go on in school. There are lice and there's still colds and there's still all of these other things. But one of the things that pediatricians and physicians have been seeing is an uptick in respiratory infections. Dr. Claire McCarthy joins us today to talk about these infections. She's ...
Nov 09, 2021
It is an especially difficult time to be a parent, with all of the different forms of schooling going on during the pandemic. Whether you're homeschooling, helping with virtual lessons, or sending your kid to physical classrooms, learning is not what it used to be. Helping us navigate through all of these options today is Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, he is a pediatrician and spokesperson for AAP, as well as an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public...
Nov 02, 2021
Organized sports pretty much came to a halt when the rest of the world stopped during COVID-19. So today we are talking all about navigating youth team sports with school and sports starting up again even as the pandemic rages on. We'll touch on deconditioning and overuse injuries, the benefits of sports and social interaction, as well as managing that COVID-19 infection risk. Joining us is Dr. Susannah Briskin is a Pediatric Sports Medicine specialist in the Division of Sports Medicine, and an ...
Oct 27, 2021
If you're a parent, you know that this school year looks a little bit different. Even from last year! It certainly did when our kids were staying home, some of us got to save on some school supplies! But now most are back to learning in person. So what about this school year is different due to the COVID-19 pandemic still going on? What's the best type of mask for a full day at school? and how have supply lists and classroom managing styles changed with the coronavirus? Joining us for this discu...
Oct 19, 2021
Oct 12, 2021
As a parent, we do our best to know what our children are doing when we can't be with them. But when it comes to vaping and e-cigarettes, they're a bit easier to hide than traditional marijuana use or cigarette smoking. Dr. Susan Walley is a Pediatrics Specialist, as well as the chair of the AAP Section on Tobacco Control. In this back-to-school episode from September 2021, she breaks down what e-cigarettes are, why people think they're "safer" when they're really not, and all of the lung proble...
Oct 05, 2021
If you're a parent of preteens, tweens, or teenagers, you're going to want to listen to this episode, as we dive into talking to your kids about their sexual health. Information is more accessible now than ever, but it's not always correct, so it's still important to sit down and have this conversation with your child. Joining us is Dr. Laura Grubb, an adolescent medicine specialist, and general pediatrician. In this encore episode from November 2020, Dr. Grubb and Melanie discuss the patterns w...
Sep 21, 2021
Building relationships with your children can be difficult (especially teens). But having that stability helps them in the future to overcome adversity, build resiliency , and face any tough times ahead. Dr. Michael Yogman is chair of the Massachusetts American Academy of Pediatrics Child Mental Health Taskforce, as well as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. He joins us to talk about what resilience is, and how it applies to our children, reserving judgment, and how ...
Sep 14, 2021
The daunting challenge of stopping climate change can feel like a lot. Especially when you are a kid or a teen. Really it's their future we're trying to save. So how can young people help ease the effects of climate change, and be more earth-conscious? In honor of Earth Day this week (April 22nd), we're talking all about ways kids can do their part to help the planet. With the release of the UN's disheartening climate report last month, we thought it was a good idea to revisit this episode from ...
Sep 07, 2021
Our kid's schedules are all over the place these days, that also includes their eating schedules. Some kids are stressed and not eating at all, while others are bored and home all day eating more and more. So how can we tell when a problem is budding, and how can we get our kids back to eating healthy? Dr. Anisha Abraham, MD, MPH is a frequent guest on Healthy Children, she is a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent health specialist with 25 years of global experience. Anisha treats and co...
Aug 31, 2021
Are you concerned about your child’s weight? You don’t want to ruin their self-esteem by bringing something up that may not be a problem, but you also don’t want your child to endure the health risks connected with being overweight or obese. Processed foods are dense in calories but not necessarily packed with nutrients. Today’s children aren’t as active as those in the previous generation because of technology and cultural lifestyle shifts. Environmental toxins are everywhere and hard to comple...
Aug 24, 2021
Developing a healthy body image and sense of self in our children is so important. And as we round out the end of summer, you might be heading to the mall or other store to pick up some new clothes for your kids for this school year. So how can you keep that experience positive and constructive? Ellen Rome, MD, MPH, currently serves as Head of the Center for Adolescent Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. She is a board-certified pediatrician who was also among the first in the Unit...
Aug 17, 2021
Our kids are heading back to school soon, most likely in person this time. But after a year of staying home with no routines, it can be a bit nervewracking to think about heading back to the busy halls of a bustling school. Dr. Jaime Friedman is back on the show today, she is a board-certified pediatrician in San Diego, California. She runs a practice in 4S Ranch for Children’s Primary Care Medical Group, which is affiliated with Rady Children’s Hospital. Today these moms talk about making trans...
Aug 03, 2021
Climate change affects all of us. Your children may have concerns. You want to be able to talk to them about it without affecting them with your own anxiety. Tell your children the truth but frame it with hope. We have the ability to act on climate change right now. Many of the things we can do to help the planet improve our own lives in the short term. Advocacy by young people brings attention to the concerns. Work to empower your children to do what they can to improve conditions. Listen to th...
Jul 27, 2021
Today we are diving into a new and interesting topic here on the show: cross-cultural kids. Dr. Anisha Abraham, MD, MPH is a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent health specialist with 25 years of global experience. Anisha treats and counsels young people with a variety of issues including social media use, drug use, and stress. As a recognized educator, Anisha provides training on adolescent health and wellness to faculty, teens, and parents. Anisha's clinical and research work combined ...
Jul 20, 2021
Protests in the summer of 2020 raged on in most major cities for weeks protesting the death of George Floyd, police brutality, and in support of black lives. All of these are incredibly heavy and complex topics to discuss with children, so where do you begin? In this encore episode from last summer, Dr. Nia Heard-Garris joined Melanie Cole, MS, to help parents discuss this moment in history with our kids. Dr. Heard-Garris is a pediatrician and a researcher in the Department of Pediatrics at Fein...
Jul 13, 2021
When are your kids old enough to make their own breakfast? There's no one-size-fits-all with breakfast preparation, but responsibility can vary by age range. A four-year-old child could put prepared and measured ingredients into a very simple recipe. No knives, no electricity, no stoves or ovens. Yogurt parfaits are perfect for your child to mix with ingredients from containers. Older children can take more responsibility, using the microwave or stove with supervision. Cultivate independence and...
Jul 06, 2021
We'd all like to go on vacation this summer, but what should we know before we head on that road trip or plane during this almost post-pandemic time? We're talking about the current recommendations for summer activities, vaccinated vs unvaccinated, what to do with kids on flights, and how concerned you should be about masks & sanitizing on the road. Our guest today is Dr. Lauren Crosby, a nationally recognized parenting expert, pediatrician, and Official Spokesperson for the American Academy...
Jul 06, 2021
As the summer gets into full swing, and we're starting to think about cookouts and gatherings again, it's important to remember both COVID-19 and regular safety rules when getting together for the 4th! Dr. Jaime Friedman is a board-certified pediatrician in San Diego, California. She runs a practice in 4S Ranch for Children’s Primary Care Medical Group, which is affiliated with Rady Children’s Hospital. She joins us to talk about social distancing rules, the danger of backyard fireworks (even sp...
Jun 29, 2021
A new dog or other family pet has brought so much joy to uprooted lives this pandemic. But with increased numbers of pet adoptions come more opportunities for bites, scratches, and other dog or pet woes. Dr. Alison Tothy is back on the show, she is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and a spokesperson for the AAP, and says dog bites have increased with kids being home more this past year. She tells us about this strange side effect of the pandemic, dealing with animal fears, allergies, and...
Jun 22, 2021
We've heard about it every summer for years, but somehow it still happens, kids dying in hot cars. On average 40 kids die in hot cars every year, with most incidents happening towards the end of a typical work week. Dr. Benjamin Hoffman is a pediatrician and expert on child safety and sits down with Melanie Cole in this encore episode from August 2020 to discuss how fast cars can get too hot, how long it takes for kids to be affected by heat, staying hydrated, and the importance of parents keepi...
Jun 15, 2021
