Child & Teen Health Archive

The Parkland shooting is a painful reminder that too many lives, including those of children, are taken by gun violence and firearm injuries. We all – parents, policymakers, gun owners — can take action to help prevent these tragedies. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers some specific suggestions.

Parents can help protect their children from sexual abuse by teaching children about their bodies and what is and is not appropriate behavior by adults.

Ask the doctor

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Q. I keep hearing that concussions can cause problems later in life. Should I be concerned about my grandkids playing sports, particularly football?

A. Sports teach kids many important life lessons, like the value of teamwork and hard work, and the importance of tenacity and resilience. The most popular sport in the United States is football. Yet evidence has emerged that repeated head injuries (common in football) may lead to a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This disease, which currently can be diagnosed only at an autopsy, causes difficulty thinking, severe mood swings, anger, violence — and death.

It’s difficult to understand why teenagers would willingly engage in risky behavior like the Tide Pod Challenge. It’s due to the combination of young brains that are still growing and forming, the need to learn to take risks, and the attention and pressure from social media.

Proper nutrition is crucial for mothers-to-be and their babies, as brain development depends on many nutrients and vitamins, but it’s not always easy or affordable for people to get the healthy foods they need.

New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for grownups. Taking small steps toward a healthier, more connected life as a family can be fun and help lay the foundation for a lifetime of wellness.

As new research shows that children who are obese are likely to remain so throughout their lives, emphasizing healthy eating and regular physical activity becomes even more important.

While the holiday season brings excitement and activity, it also creates stress for many people, and that can affect children too. With some thought and planning, parents can make the holidays more enjoyable for their kids and themselves.

Doctors want their patients to have access to accurate and helpful health information, and today that means online. Researchers found that expectant mothers who used a website that provided information about vaccines were more likely to get their babies vaccinated.