Family Health

Baby-proofing is an important step in every parent’s journey. As children grow, so does their curiosity. The goal is to make your home a safe place for them to play and explore without risking injuries. To create our baby-proofing guide, we reached out to two pediatricians — Jonathan Miller, who practices at a Nemours Hospital clinic in Wilmington, Delaware, and …

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the nation and affects approximately one in 54 children. Early intervention for children diagnosed with autism is pivotal in helping them learn, cope and discover new possibilities. Knowing the key indicators of ASD and the first steps in getting screened helps countless children avoid the pitfall of having a late …

  Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can often exhibit sensory issues such as hyper- or hypo-sensitivity to various stimuli. As many as 70% to 96% of those diagnosed with autism can display signs of sensory dysfunction. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association added sensory sensitivity to a list of symptoms that help diagnose ASD. Much like symptoms of …

By Tanni Haas Most families find it difficult to get everyone together at the dinner table on a regular basis. We’re all so busy with after-school activities, late meetings at work and long commutes; it really is too bad. Researchers have learned that eating dinner as a family is extremely important to kids’ physical, mental and emotional health. As Dr. …

Riding a bike is not only an excellent source of exercise, but it is also a fun activity for families. Whether your child is an experienced or new rider, safety is the top priority. Did you know that more than 2.2 million children have visited an emergency room for a bike-related injury? According to a study from the Center for …

The news of tragic deaths of children and adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, May 24, is harrowing and heartbreaking. The deaths of innocent young people is indeed horrific and incomprehensible, even as we are still crawling out of a massive global pandemic and reeling from its aftermath. Our kids have felt the weight of these …

Youth sports can be beneficial to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If parents consider the sport, communicate with the coaches and listen to their children about how much they want to participate, if at all, their children may be able to enjoy the experience. Coping with ADHD Brian Kowitz has an 18-year-old daughter with ADHD who played sports …

As the weather warms, we are venturing outdoors more and more toward sports fields, bike paths and the open road. With our ever-increasing time spent outside and traveling comes greater risks of injury–particularly brain injury. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified brain injury as the leading cause of disability and death in children and adolescents in …

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, child development specialist Dr. Mary L. O’Connor Leppert has noticed a significant drop in referrals to the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program, the state’s early intervention program. Referrals have also declined at Kennedy Krieger Institute, where clinicians diagnose and treat pediatric developmental, behavioral and mental health disorders. The drop appeared to be quite …

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new and unprecedented challenges for children—from quarantines and new protocols to illness in families and the loss of loved ones. A U.S. Surgeon General report found that between March and October 2020, the percentage of mental health emergency department visits for children ages 5 to 11 rose by 24%. With the level of adversity that …