Health & Parenting Features
The ‘Vicious Cycle’ of Using Tablets as Digital Pacifiers
- What Is Cryptophasia (Twin Language)?
Twin speak, aka cryptophasia, can seem like a language all its own. Learn what this phenomenon really means.
- A Simple Fix for Nearsightedness
What's the best thing parents can tell their children to help prevent myopia, or nearsightedness? "Go outside and play,” a researcher says.
- Self-Care Tips for Parents of a Child With Central Precocious Puberty
When raising a child with central precocious puberty (CPP), it’s important to take steps not only to maintain their well-being, but also your own.
- Give Safe Gifts: Avoid These Holiday Toy Safety Hazards
Find out what to look for and what to avoid when buying holiday toys that are safe for kids.
- Choosing Single Parenthood in a Pandemic
Fertility specialists expected to see fewer clients during the pandemic. Instead, they saw a surge – especially among single women.
- Black Families and ‘The Talk’
“The Talk” is a conversation in many Black families about how to deal safely with police. How has it changed over recent years?
- Help Your Kids Manage School Pressure
The stress of academic pressure can show itself in different ways. Pay attention to big shifts in mood or behavior. Big shifts might be a sign of more serious problems.
- The Truth About Children’s Resilience
What does it take for a child to be resilient after a major setback? Find out what makes a difference.
- How to Help Your Daughter Be Ready for Her First Period
Your daughter’s first period can be a confusing time for her -- and for you. Here’s how you can make sure you’re both ready.
- Gone in an Instant: The Tragedy of Child Drownings
Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old and the No. 2 cause of death for those 5 to 9 years old.
- But They’re Still a Kid: The Risks of “Adultification”
Learn what adultification bias is, what it looks like, and what you can do to stop it.
- What to Expect When Your Kid Becomes a Tween
During the tween years (8 through 12), children may become more independent, experience puberty, and value peer relationships over family ties.
- How to Prevent Yourself From Yelling at Your Kid
Experts and parents share tips to help you stop yelling at your kids.
- Internet Addiction: Is Your Teen at Risk?
A new study shows kids with ADHD, hostility, social phobia, or depression may be more likely to become addicted to the Internet.
- Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse in Teens and Young Adults
Learn about the warning signs of childhood sexual abuse in young children and teens.
- Help Your Shy Child Make Friends
Is your child shy? Introversion is perfectly normal. Learn some tips to help you help your child overcome their shyness.
- How To Support Your Shy Child
Is your child struggling socially due to shyness? Learn about how to support them more.
- What to Do if Your Child Has Suicidal Thinking
Learn what to do when your child has suicidal thoughts.
- How to Encourage Your Child Who Is Overweight
Obesity leads to health risks during childhood and later in life. Learn tips for encouraging your child who is overweight.
- How to Support Your Child's Activism
Does your child want to become an activist? Learn how you can support their efforts.
- How to Help Your Teen Learn to Drive
Learn about how to teach your teen to drive, including setting house rules to limit risky behaviors.
- How to Talk to Your Child About Sexual Assault
Wondering how to bring up the topic of sexual assault with your child? Learn more about tools and strategies you can use.
- How to Help Your Picky Eater
Many children have phases in which they become picky eaters. Here's how to help.
- How to Help Your Child Learn to Read
Learn how you can help your child learn to read by reading together and engaging in activities that help your child look forward to reading time.
- How to Help Your Child With Math Anxiety
Is your child struggling with math anxiety? Learn ways to help your child overcome this issue.
- How to Raise an Anti-Racist Child
Raising children to value all people is important. Learn how to teach your child to be anti-racist.
- What Are the Different Parenting Styles?
There’s no one set way to parent your children. Learn about the pros and cons of various styles.
- Home Schooling: Pros, Cons, What You Need to Know
Many parents turned to home schooling in the wake of pandemic uncertainty. If you’re thinking about it, here’s a look at the pros and cons, plus other things you need to know to get started.
- Tips for New Moms: The First Few Weeks
Caring for a newborn is often tiring and overwhelming. Parents share their best advice on how to make it through those first weeks at home.
- Tips for Setting Curfews for Your Teens
Curfews for your teens can be tough to enforce, but it’s important that kids have guidelines to keep them safe and healthy.
- My Pregnancy Was Tough. Here's What Helped
Moms share why their pregnancies weren't the blissful experiences they hoped for.
- What It’s Like Having Three Kids
Thinking of having a third kid? Mom-to-three Diedre Anthony shares the ins and outs of her daily parenting life.
- Tips for Single Dads
Being a single dad can be tough. Get tips on how to set routines, build a support system, and communicate with your ex. Find out how you can make life easier for you and your children.
- Talking To Your Child About Central Precocious Puberty
Puberty is a tough time for kids – especially when it starts early because of CPP. Get tips to help talk them through it.
- Central Precocious Puberty and Your Child’s Social Life
CPP can make your child's life tough to navigate. Learn what you can do to help.
- Catching Germs at School and in Sports
Kids are exposed to all sorts of nasty germs on the bus, at school, and while playing sports. Here’s how to keep them healthy.
- Math Myths: Are Boys Really Better at Math?
Are boys innately better at math and science? That question has generated debate for decades, and new research looking at the brains of children while they do math may help answer the question.
- The Danger of Internet Challenges
A child psychologist advises parents to address the threat of internet challenges with continual, preemptive conversations with kids -- and with special phone settings.
- Why Your Kids Should Spend Time Outdoors
Clinicians and educators are turning to Mother Nature for help in addressing widespread obesity, chronic illness, depression, and behavioral problems among youth.
- Baby Microbiome: Nurturing Your Baby's Healthy Bacteria
The trillions of bacteria that inhabit your gut and other bodily regions can have a critical impact on your overall health. The same holds true for babies, new research shows.
- Childhood in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
The potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to benefit our kids is real. For many of us, it's already integrated into our children's daily routines.
- Teach Your Kids to Give for Financial Literacy
New research suggests that teaching our children how to give their money away makes them more financially savvy adults.
- Feeding Tips for Your Baby
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working on its first dietary guidelines for babies from 0 to 2 years old. Here's the advice the founder of a child health advocacy group would like to see in those guidelines.
- Is RSV Causing Your Baby’s Breathing Problems?
RSV can cause serious breathing problems in infants. Learn to recognize the signs.
- Sugar Binges and Crashes
Researchers note a loss of sensitivity to the hormone that regulates appetite and fat storage in obese children. Does this explain sugar binges and the “crash” that comes soon after?
- Mattel Offers Gender-Inclusive Doll Collection
Mattel has launched a new line of gender-inclusive dolls aimed at making all kids feel welcome during playtime, the company says.
- Back-to-School Sports Test
Kids are getting ready for a new school year. When after-school activities include sports, they may need a pre-participation physical examination, which is different from the yearly physical exam you might be used to for your child.
- The Risks of Becoming a Dad Later in Life
As more men over 40 are becoming dads, a study says older men may be more likely to father children with health woes. But the overall risk of birth problems remains low, an expert says.
- Teens Uniquely Vulnerable to Marijuana's Effects
Remember being told to "just say no" to marijuana and other drugs? Researchers now say "just not yet" to teens considering marijuana, as the drug may affect brain growth.