Reading is good for both children and adults. Reading shapes a child’s brain by building stronger nerve pathways, growing white matter tracts, and increasing the surface area of the cortex.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: Children, teens and their adult caregivers should always wear a sport-appropriate and correctly fitting sport helmet during participation in recreational sports, including, but not limited to, bicycling, snow sports, ice skating, and equestrian sports.

DEET functions to produce a vapor layer distasteful to mosquitoes extending about 1.5 inches above the skin. The product comes in concentrations of from less than 10 to 100%, so check the label on the product you choose. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that DEET should not be used on babies under the age of two months. Older children can use DEET concentrations up to 30%.

A friend is someone you know and have a bond of mutual affection.

Water is the most vital of human’s macronutrients. Without water we die and quickly.

All operators and passengers are legally required to wear an appropriate safety helmet and eye protection. OHVs cannot be driven on roads for amusement, anyone under 16 cannot cross a highway without a safety certificate and an adult.

In this KKH article, Dr. Robinson discusses the importance of tummy time and sleep standards. .

In this KKH article, Dr. Robinson discusses the importance of reading to your babies.

In this KKH article, Dr. Robinson discusses the importance of sleep and tips to help your child sleep soundly.

Healthychildren.org has an article by Dr. Lauren Zajac on tips for healthier breathing at home. Levels of some pollutants can be 2-5 times higher indoors. Children’s lungs are more sensitive to smoke, chemicals, dust, and other pollutants.

There is lots of confusion about health information for children. Parents are subject to information coming from social media, podcasts, TV, politicians, parents, doctors, neighbors and, of course, newspaper columns. It might be easier to determine what to believe or what to do if everyone said the same thing. Or if there was someone trusted as an expert. There is so much information available now it is hard to know what is right for your child.

Treatment of scalds is to place the scalded skin in cold water or apply cold wet cloths. If still red, hurting or blistered after 30 minutes, go the ER. Do not apply any cream, ointment, oil or ice.

Hearing connects us to the world around us. A quote from Helen Keller is “Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people”. Bill Bryson in his book The Body, has a section on hearing. He says that “hearing is another seriously underrated miracle”.

A confidential 24-hour hotline with resources to aid every child abuse situation is 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/. If you think you need help or know someone who does, please reach out.

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a framework that shifts the focus from "What’s wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?" Expanded legal-health partnerships can help provide a safe environment as can schools and early childcare settings.

It is probably surprising that these creepy, wiggly bugs are part of the pollination of more than 90 million commercial crops and 20-30 billion dollars in agriculture revenue and are critical to keep US food supply stable. There are many pollinators besides honeybees, and their survival is also critical.

The risk of melanoma has been increasing in children. The incidence has increased 2.9% per year from 1973 to 2001 in patients younger than 20 years. Melanoma accounts for only 4 % of skin cancer but is responsible for 80% of skin cancer deaths.

The Clean Fifteen identified are conventionally grown produce with the lowest pesticide levels. Pineapple, sweet corn and avocadoes top this year’s list followed by papaya and onions. The other clean samples include frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, watermelon, mangos, bananas, carrots, mushrooms and kiwi. Nearly 60% of the Clean Fifteen had no detectable pesticide.

Stress is associated with mental health problems and there has been a notable increase in children/teens with mental health difficulties in the last decade. If parents notice mood swings, irritability, anger, changes in sleep or eating patterns, academic struggles or any other change in behavior that worries them, it is important to mention this to their primary caregiver. Mental health problems are not something to be ashamed of as they are most likely a metabolic problem. Early diagnosis can be helpful is getting appropriate therapy and medication.

When only some are vaccinated, illness spreads. When everyone is vaccinated, diseases can’t spread. It helps keep children and their families stay healthy while protecting the others in the community who cannot get vaccinated (called herd immunity).