When your child is the bully: Tips for parents
It’s bad for children’s health, makes headlines, and defies most attempts to prevent it. Bullying has become the “big tobacco” of the 21st century. What can a parent do when their child is engaging in behavior that’s condemned by nearly everyone? We talked with Dr. Peter Raffalli, a neurologist and director of the Bullying and ... Read More about When your child is the bully: Tips for parents
Dealing with peer pressure: How to empower your teen
With every coming of age almost inevitably comes changing friendships, relationships, and social pressures. But gone are the days when it was considered best practice to tell young people to ignore their peers’ bad behavior or troubling situations. So what should you do? Here, social worker Nanci Ginty Butler, director of mental health services in ... Read More about Dealing with peer pressure: How to empower your teen
The dos and don’ts of potty training
Eager as parents may be to start potty training, it can be a period filled with a lot of uncertainty and frustration. For insight on your most pressing potty training questions and effective — and not-so-effective — strategies for helping your child, we spoke with Wanessa Risko, MD, DSc., a pediatrician and founder of Singular ... Read More about The dos and don’ts of potty training
Covid variants 101: What parents should know
First came Alpha, then Beta. It’s all about Delta right now, but Mu is already making headlines. You almost can’t keep track of COVID-19 variants without a scorecard. And as a parent striving to protect your family, this seemingly endless parade of variants may have you concerned about what’s next. We asked three infectious disease ... Read More about Covid variants 101: What parents should know
Teething: Which remedies are safe for babies?
The arrival of your infant’s first tooth is a milestone. But it can also signal the beginning of a trying phase for both of you: teething. Your baby was born with 20 teeth below their gumline. “The timing of teething varies from child to child. “Teeth may begin to erupt anywhere between 4 and 12 ... Read More about Teething: Which remedies are safe for babies?
Teens, anxiety, and depression: How worried should parents be?
Part of the work of being a teenager is making connections outside of the family and becoming attuned to world issues. But add social media, an ongoing pandemic, and academic and extracurricular pressures to the mix, and teens can become vulnerable to mental health issues. “Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health concerns ... Read More about Teens, anxiety, and depression: How worried should parents be?
Navigating friendships and vaccines
With kids finally back at school and other activities after more than a year, many families now find themselves facing yet another chapter of the COVID-19 pandemic: contending with those who don’t share their views on getting vaccinated. We spoke with Erica Lee, a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital, about navigating ... Read More about Navigating friendships and vaccines
Losing a parent or caregiver to COVID-19: Advice for families
Ed. note: This story was updated on October 7 with new data on COVID-19 deaths. A recent international study estimated that at least 104,884 U.S. children lost one or both parents to COVID-19. And that was as of April 20, 2021, before the highly contagious Delta variant became widespread. A more detailed study of U.S. deaths ... Read More about Losing a parent or caregiver to COVID-19: Advice for families
More than the blues: Navigating postpartum depression
Whether you’ve given birth to your first child or you’re adding a member to your growing family, childbirth is a profound experience. After that, caring for a newborn is a round-the-clock endeavor — even if you’re prepared. The transition from pregnancy to parenthood is called the postpartum period. For insight on what parents can expect ... Read More about More than the blues: Navigating postpartum depression
What to expect from cold and flu season this year
At least fewer people came down with colds and flu in 2020: That’s one of the few positive things we can say about the year of widespread social distancing. Rates of influenza and several other viral infections were historically low, and even the common cold seemed to take the year off from making kids and ... Read More about What to expect from cold and flu season this year