Category: Family

Signs Your Children Are Overdosing on Halloween Candy

On Halloween, kids eat all the candy they can find and sugar levels will be through the roof. But how much sugar is too much, and what are the signs your child is sugar overdosing? How Much Sugar Is Too Much? For children, it depends on their age and their calorie intake, but 12-25 grams… Continue reading Signs Your Children Are Overdosing on Halloween Candy

Setting up a Sensory Bedroom for a Child with Autism

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental brain disease we are still learning a lot about. As the “spectrum” of the term implies, symptoms and severity vary from child to child. While the two disorders are not always co-occurring, many children with autism also have some form of sensory processing disorder, or SPD. Children with sensory… Continue reading Setting up a Sensory Bedroom for a Child with Autism

“Relationship ADHD”: Have We Lost the Instinct for Commitment?

Relationships have always been complicated. It takes time and effort to develop trust and intimacy and the deep love that sustains a couple over many years and through the rough patches. It takes sacrifice and compromise and putting another person’s wants and needs ahead of your own. These are timeless truths. Yet it seems that… Continue reading “Relationship ADHD”: Have We Lost the Instinct for Commitment?

Tips to Help Parents Reduce Food Waste Due to Picky Eaters

When it comes to teaching children to eat a healthy diet, patience is necessary. Kids may love a food one day and hate it the next. Some foods may need to be presented 15-20 times before a child takes a liking to it. For pickier eaters, they many need even more tries before accepting an… Continue reading Tips to Help Parents Reduce Food Waste Due to Picky Eaters

Parents Need to Have “The Talk” More Than Once With Their Kids

Patting yourself on the back for gritting through “the talk” with your kid? Not so fast: new research from Brigham Young University family life professor Laura Padilla-Walker suggests that when it comes to your teens, one generic conversation about sex is not enough. In her study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, Padilla-Walker found… Continue reading Parents Need to Have “The Talk” More Than Once With Their Kids

Hugs May Help Protect Against Conflict-Related Distress

Receiving hugs may buffer against deleterious changes in mood associated with interpersonal conflict, according to a study published October 3rd 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Michael Murphy of Carnegie Mellon University, along with co-authors Denise Janicki-Deverts and Sheldon Cohen. A release from the publisher notes that people who engage more frequently in… Continue reading Hugs May Help Protect Against Conflict-Related Distress

Lack of Sleep Leads to Risky Behavior in Teens

High school students who don’t get enough sleep are likelier to engage in risky activities ranging from carrying a weapon to attempting suicide, according to research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.. Previous studies have demonstrated that insufficient sleep among youth can result in learning difficulties, impaired judgment and risk of adverse health behaviors.… Continue reading Lack of Sleep Leads to Risky Behavior in Teens

Despite Restaurant Pledges, Most Children Still Receive Unhealthy Items with Kids’ Meals

Seventy-four percent of children still get unhealthy drinks or side items when their parents buy them “kids’ meals” at the four largest restaurant chains, a new study shows. The finding, part of a report from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut, analyzed meals bought at McDonald’s, Burger King,… Continue reading Despite Restaurant Pledges, Most Children Still Receive Unhealthy Items with Kids’ Meals

Limiting Children’s Recreational Screen Time to Less Than 2 Hours a Day Linked to Better Cognition

Limiting recreational screen time to less than two hours a day, and having sufficient sleep and physical activity is associated with improved cognition, compared with not meeting any recommendations, according to an observational study of more than 4,500 US children aged 8-11 years old published in September 2018 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health… Continue reading Limiting Children’s Recreational Screen Time to Less Than 2 Hours a Day Linked to Better Cognition

Are You Stuck in A Toxic Friendship?

  Friendships can bring about some of life’s greatest joys and shared moments. But what happens when a friend makes you feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells and doing something wrong? Even if she’s a close friend, it doesn’t mean she’s a “good” friend—in fact, it means she’s a toxic one. “A toxic friendship… Continue reading Are You Stuck in A Toxic Friendship?

Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet

Pets are family. Do you have a plan for your pet in an emergency? Including pets in emergency plans helps your family’s ability to respond to an emergency. Be prepared: make a plan and prepare a disaster kit for your pet. Leaving pets out of evacuation plans can put pets, pet owners, and first responders… Continue reading Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet

10 Dos and Don’ts of Caring for Seniors

If you’ve ever cared for an elderly loved one you know how challenging it can be. The fact is that it’s difficult to watch someone close to you struggle mentally and physically, and being there for them around the clock can take a toll on you. What are the best ways to cope and make… Continue reading 10 Dos and Don’ts of Caring for Seniors

Tips for Ensuring Safe School Lunches

September is National Food Safety Education Month and with kids back in school, now is a good time for parents to become knowledgeable about how to prevent foodborne illness from school lunches—whether packed at home or purchased in the school cafeteria. Stop Foodborne Illness, the leading national advocate for safe food, is shining the spotlight… Continue reading Tips for Ensuring Safe School Lunches

10 Dos and Don’ts of Caring for the Elderly

If you’ve ever cared for an elderly loved one you know how challenging it can be. The fact is that it’s difficult to watch someone close to you struggle mentally and physically, and being there for them around the clock can take a toll on you. What are the best ways to cope and make… Continue reading 10 Dos and Don’ts of Caring for the Elderly

Fresh and Raw Diets for Dogs May Have Health Benefits

Many dog owners think of their furry companions as part of the family, and now products are available to feed them that way, too. Some owners are moving away from traditional extruded kibble products, instead choosing ultra-premium fresh and raw diets found in the refrigerated aisle. The foods may look more similar to what we’d… Continue reading Fresh and Raw Diets for Dogs May Have Health Benefits

Vigilance and Patience Are Key for Parents with Autistic Children

Young children require parents to adopt careful safety precautions for the first several years of their lives. That generally means blocking off staircases, keeping small objects put away, and making sure knives and other sharp items are out of reach. For children on the autism spectrum, household safety is a major concern. Autism may cause… Continue reading Vigilance and Patience Are Key for Parents with Autistic Children