Healthy Children

Invisible & Imaginary Friends

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 ped...

Non-Digital Gifts for Children

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 imaginati...

Firearm Safety

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 ...

Picky Eaters & Vegetarian Kids

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 man...

Holiday Mental Health Tips for Kids and Parents

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. In...

Anxiety, Depression and Eating Disorders in Teens

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...

Marijuana Legalization and Kids

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 joi...

Uptick in Kids’ Respiratory Infections (RSV)

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. S...

Safely Playing Team Sports During COVID

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, a...

Masks & Hand Sanitizer: How School Supplies Look Different This Year

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...

Flu Shots & Other Vaccines This Fall

Teens & Vaping

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 ...

Let's Talk Sexual Health and Contraception

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 pat...

Creating Positive Relationships with Kids to Build Resilience

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...

Encore Episode: Body Image and Eating Disorders: How To Spot Them and What To Do

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 ...

Encore Episode: When to Discuss Weight with Your Child

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 c...

Body Image & Back to School Clothes Shopping

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...

Dealing with Back to School Dread and Anxiety

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...

Encore Episode: How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change

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. Liste...

Encore Episode: Cross Cultural Kids & Identity

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...

Encore Episode: Talking To Children About Racism

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 ...

Encore Episode: Should Your Kid Make Breakfast?

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 independ...

How to Travel Safe and Sound this Summer

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 Academ...

Safe 4th of July Celebrations

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 (e...

Keeping Children Safe Around Pets and Other Animals

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, allergie...

Encore Episode: Hot Car Deaths: How Are They Still Happening?

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 ...

Swim Safety and Drowning Prevention

Summer is on its way, and being outside is still the best place to have fun during the COVID-19 pandemic. With some restrictions being lifted, more people will be traveling to beaches, hotel pools, and other summer fun spots near the water. So today we are talking all about swim safety and drowning prevention. Dr. Gary Kirkilas is one of our regular doctors here on Healthy Children. He is a pediatrician in Phoenix, Arizona with a unique mobile practice, as well as a spokesperson for the AAP...

As the World Starts to Open, Is Summer Camp Safe This Year?

This summer everyone is excited to make up for 2020 and get as many plans in as they can. But there is still so much that's unknown about the virus still. So, is sending your kid away to summer camp okay? Well, Dr. Alison Tothy says summer camp is a go this year! Dr. Tothy is a fan favorite here at Healthy Children: she is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and a spokesperson for the AAP. In this episode, she guides up on why it's important to get your kids back to camp, how to ask y...

COVID-19 Vaccines for Ages 12 and Up: What You Need To Know

COVID-19 vaccines recently opened up to kids ages 12 and up, so what does that mean for you and your children? Dr. Hina Talib breaks down the rule changes for the Pfizer vaccine, dosage, side effects, and more. Dr. Talib (She/Her) is a board-certified Pediatrician and Adolescent Medicine specialist, writer, and teen media creative based in New York City and Bridgehampton. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology & Women’s Health at the Children’s Hospital at...

How The Pandemic Has Changed How Our Teens Sleep

The pandemic has affected our children in so many ways, including their sleep patterns. With new school routines and quarantining, sleep has fallen to the waste side, and bedtimes are all over the place.  Sleep has actually been on the decline in recent years in our kids. Listen as Dr. Cora Collette Breuner talks about the ongoing mental health crisis that contributes to sleep issues, managing wake-up times (even on the weekends), and of course, cutting that screen time at night.  Dr. Cora ...

Encore Episode: How To Talk To Teens About Taking Responsibility For Their Health

As our children grow into teens (and eventually adults), there comes a time where we need to sit them down to talk about handling and advocating for their own health. Whether it's nutrition, a chronic health problem, or personal hygiene, sometimes kids as early as 11 or 12 are ready to take on these activities.  While the timing comes down to your child and their maturity level, there are a general set of tips that can help any parent whenever it's time to pass that responsibility along. D...

Talking To Kids About Racism Towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)

A disturbing trend has been on the rise in the United States: racism against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. So how do we discuss this hate and violence with our children? Bring up the topic of racism in general, and simply teach empathy? Dr. Steph Lee is back again to help us approach this conversation with our children. She is a pediatrician with Penn State Health and specializes in preventive medicine. She is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics and often speaks t...

Summer Plans with Vaccinated Parents: What Can We Do this Year?

While your younger kids probably won't be vaccinated this summer, most adults in this country will have the option to be! This means we have a few more freedoms back this vacation season.  So what CAN we do this year? Listen to this episode for some safe summer vacation ideas, should you go to summer camp?, tips for traveling safely, and of course, ways to get your kids outside in nature, still, the safest place to be. Here with us is Dr. Cori Cross, a board-certified pediatrician at Childr...

How Can Kids Help Stop Climate Change?

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.  Dr. Steph Lee is joining us for that chat. She is a pediatrician with Penn State Health and specializes in preventive medi...

Encore Episode: Digital Media and Virtual Schooling

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 Pu...

Your Child Comes Out To You, What Happens Next?

Today we're diving into an important conversation: how to understand and support your children when they come out as gay, bisexual, lesbian, or any other sexual identity and/or sexuality.  Dr. Naveen Mehrotra is joining us again for this episode, he is a board-certified pediatrician with a special interest in child development and early intervention. He utilizes his interest in complementary and alternative medicine to bring an integrated approach to improving a child's health.  We'll talk...

Teaching Our Boys Consent & Respect in Dating

In a previous episode on sex and dating, we didn't focus as much as we could have on the boy's side of the conversation. How do we teach our sons and other young boys in our life how to respect women when it comes to dating? Well, we brought Dr. Gary Kirikilas back on to talk about just that.   He is a pediatrician in Phoenix, Arizona with a unique mobile practice, as well as a spokesperson for the AAP. So in this follow-up show, Dr. Kirkilas covers consent, the public conversation that ha...

Poison Prevention Week: Keeping Chemicals Away From Our Kids

This week is Poison Prevention Week (March 21 - 27 2021) so we're talking about keeping chemicals away from our kids. It's so scary and really so easy for kids to get into things like laundry pods, drugs and alcohol, and other household goods.  Dr. Kevin Osterhoudt is an attending physician in the Division of Emergency Medicine and the medical director of the Poison Control Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He talks about the importance of safety locks, keeping adul...

Body Image and Eating Disorders: How To Spot Them and What To Do

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 ...

Navigating Sexuality and Identity with Our Children

As sexuality and gender continue to expand and be more fluid, it can be hard to catch up as a parent with what our kids identify as. Here to help us break down all of these terms and identities is Dr. Naveen Mehrotra, he is a board-certified pediatrician with a special interest in child development and early Intervention. He utilizes his interest in complementary and alternative medicine to bring an integrated approach to improving a child's health.  He talks about what he sees in his own ...

#CallYourPediatrician and Keeping Confidence in Vaccines

Even with the pandemic going on, it's still important to catch up with well visits and routine vaccines in person. 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.   Anisha's clinical and research work combined with her experience with cultures and transition is the basis for her passion and int...

Media, Kids And How To Explain The News

The last few years have been difficult, and for a while, it felt like every day we were presented with a new and unfathomable piece of news. And social media keeps us more engaged than ever, almost too much. Dr. Donald Shifrin is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and on the show today he'll break down kids accessibility to news and media these days, dealing with news from uncredible sources, creating hope for your family, and using this o...

Building Resiliency for Winter Months & COVID Times

Resiliency is so important to build in our children, but it's especially important during these winter COVID months when we're stuck indoors because of the cold and the pandemic. 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.   Anisha's clinical and research work combined with her experience w...

Cross Cultural Kids & Identity

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...

Substance Abuse & Marketing Towards Teens

Drug abuse has been an issue that really all generations have had to deal with. And Gen Z is no different. But what should we tell out reens about using drugs, and what should we mention about our own history with drugs? Dr. Gary Kirkilas is back to help us discuss drugs with our teens and young adults. He is a pediatrician in Phoenix, Arizona with a unique mobile practice, as well as a spokesperson for the AAP. He'll tell us all about what age to start talking about drugs, how to approac...

Dating & Sex Talk With Your Teens

Approaching the dating & sex talk with our kids is difficult. What age is appropriate, what words to use, and what do they actually know already from being online?! Well, Dr. Gary Kirkilas is here to help us out. He is a pediatrician in Phoenix, Arizona with a unique mobile practice, as well as a spokesperson for the AAP. He'll tell us how to talk about pregnancy, babies, good & bad touch, terminology, and more, to help you get the conversations going within your own families.

Sports, Heart Health & COVID19

Among all the things canceled this year, school and other sports have all but been canceled. Some are missing out on whole seasons of training and competition. Dr. Christopher Snyder is a pediatric cardiologist at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, and he is on the show today to talk about staying healthy and getting movement in during lockdown, the importance of school sports both physically and socially, and how to ease back into exercise if you did get COVID-19. 

Vaccine Confidence & Staying On Top of Well Visits

A lot of parents, including our host Melanie, are wondering about well visits for our children. Is it worth it to head to the doctor's office during COVID-19? To help us navigate doctors' visits and staying up to date on vaccinations during this crazy time is Dr. Candice Jones, a pediatrician, and spokesperson for the AAP. She talks about safety precautions doctors' offices are taking to stay clean, the importance of immunizations, and the myths about vaccines and autism.  You can also li...

Postpartum and Maternal Depression

Today we are discussing postpartum and maternal depression, a difficult but important topic to discuss and watch out for in new moms. Dr. Marian Earls has extensive experience in this field. She is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, is the medical director of Guilford Child Health (GCH), Inc., a large, non-profit, private pediatric practice in her home state of North Carolina that serves families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. She tells us about her work in...

Can Adolescents Safely Socialize On Winter Break?

We are all going through an unprecedented time and our stress levels are extremely high. For our kids, however, this can be magnified as they may be feeling the strains of social isolation and intense worry. Joining to help us to understand COVID 19 and kids is Dr. Margaret Stager is the Director of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at MetroHealth Medical Center and a spokesperson for the AAP. How do we go about leveling expectations? Can my kid have one or 2 friends over outside? Can t...