Fall

Dangerous Decibels

From iPods" to cell phones, ear buds are suddenly sprouting up all over. The tiny transmitters that nest inside the ear pack a lot of sound, and high volume and overuse can blossom into a serious hearing problem. Parents have long known that loud noises can harm their child's hearing... [More]

Routine Vaccines Thwart Childhood Illness

Today, vaccine-preventable childhood diseases in the United States are at or near record-low levels. This does not mean such diseases have totally disappeared, however. Sheela Geraghty, MD, in the Division of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, urges parents to talk routinely with their child's doctor about... [More]

Healthy Attitudes About Mental Health Disorders

Dirty looks, intrusive comments. Most parents have endured these at some time when they've taken their child out in public, but parents of children with behavioral or emotional disorders meet more than their share of public disapproval. "I encourage parents to educate themselves, then educate others," says James Myers, PhD, clinical pediatric psychologist... [More]

How much is too much when it comes to my child's extracurricular activities?

Summer is a time for kids to wind down from over-scheduling and recharge their minds. Your children may envision the next three months sleeping until noon, playing video games and watching TV. Is it truly in their best interest to file away pencil and paper until fall? Research suggests the answer is no... [More]

More Signing, Less Whining

This bowl of yogurt is so yummy that the 9-month old wants more. Which age-old method will she use to signal her needs: Crying? Kicking her legs? Tossing her bowl? This 21st-century baby simply touches the fingertips of each hand to their respective thumbs and then brings hands together and presents them to her mother... [More]