The start of a new school year is always exciting with new challenges and new expectations.   Everything that occurs during the school year from September through June will impact our children’s health – mostly in positive ways but there are always a few speed bumps along the way at unexpected times.  Here’s a snapshot of the most important issues nuts and bolts to consider as you march through a new school year with your kids.

The Annual Well Child Examination
When a Child Is Sick
Common School Year Illnesses
Medication Use In School
Immunizations
Special Vaccines
Unexpected Problems

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A child’s backpack is an amazing amalgam of fashion and function. As our children get solidly into elementary school and beyond, the look of the bag becomes as important as what is inside – and perhaps even more so. They must have some sort of magical power because they can hold a seemingly endless array of stuff. Given how large these bags become when fully loaded, it’s not a surprise that few backpacks are actually carried on backs. You’ll see them everywhere else, however: slung over shoulders, pulled on wheels, sitting on the ground, and even airborne. If your children are in any of these categories, then a lifetime of back woes likely has already begun. Continue Reading

Safety proofing. One of those necessary evils of parenting we love and hate all at once. We love the fact that we are protecting out infants and very young children, yet if only it were easier to accomplish at times…and if our tots had a bit less Houdini in them. Still, safety proofing measures do minimize injury and provide us with peace of mind during a very chaotic time in our kids’ lives.

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Attending conferences and events, I’m always amazed by the new parenting devices and  gadgets that appear on the market. What’s timeless, however, are the questions parents have about the health of their young families.

Here’s a sampling of those common parents of new babies or of young children typically ask:

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Having “the talk” with our kids is never easy. Just getting through saying the various anatomic names can be daunting for even the most savvy or parents.  It used to be that we would talk about the basics, reproduction, and add sexuality, birth control and life issues like babies later on as our kids got older. The news of 17 pregnant teens in Gloucester, MA in 2008 rocked our beliefs to their core and there was a great deal of talk about how we can improve on reaching teens more effectively.

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