New cars and new babies may be a volatile mix. New car smells may be hazardous to humans, especially infants. That odor emanating from the interior of new automobiles, an odor that many of us inhale slowly and deeply to better enjoy the aroma, may be toxic, very toxic. A British newspaper describes the enjoyment […]
Debunking Old Wives’ Tales: Children/Colds/Playing Outside
December 20, 2014 by
Hey parents, stop bugging your kids with antiquated notions about keeping healthy outdoors in wintertime. True, practically none of you still hang garlic around your kids’ necks, or place slices of onion in their socks, or force-feed them cod liver oil, all to ward off cold germs. But let’s face it; some old wives’ tales […]
Backpacks/Children (An update of a previous article)
September 20, 2014 by
Backpacks here. Backpacks there. Backpacks practically everywhere. Toddlers wear them for the sake of wearing them, often empty and in the shape of cartoon characters. Elementary school-age kids pile everything they have into them. High school kids use them as fashion statements; it doesn’t matter what’s in them. But for parents, there are health and […]
How to Choose & Use the Right Insect Repellent for Kids
September 2, 2014 by
There are more than a million known species of insects and, according to experts, millions more waiting to be identified. And it seems as if there are almost as many insect repellents, with new ones popping up frequently, some containing new ingredients and safety warnings aimed at young children. Here is the latest: 1. The […]
Go Take a Hike
July 27, 2014 by
It’s all in the tone of your voice when you tell someone, “Go take a hike!” Are you telling them to “Get lost!” or are you recommending that they adopt a healthier lifestyle? Hiking benefits both kids and adults, combining exercise, quality togetherness and exposure to the outdoors. Hiking requires little or no equipment, is […]
Children away from home/Homesickness
June 15, 2014 by
If you send your child to sleep-away camp, especially for the first time, don’t be surprised if after several days you get a call/email from your neophyte camper demanding that you bring him/her home immediately, that you made a terrible mistake inflicting camp on a child who hates camping, and that you are a bad, […]
Children/Safety/Crossing streets
March 16, 2014 by
The number of children eight years of age and older injured or killed in pedestrian accidents is increasing, some from causes that did not exist a few years ago, says the America Academy of Pediatrics. On the positive side, children’s street safety is being studied intensely and systematically, revealing why mishaps occur and how to […]
Children/Travel/ADHD/Medication
March 4, 2014 by
For children who take medication for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is discontinuing their medication for travel a sensible option? Here are some thoughts: 1. You’re not alone in having to face the question. One in ten American children has been labeled as having ADHD. Four to five million take medication. And the numbers are […]
Planning for your child to be a UM traveler?
February 19, 2014 by
What is a UM traveler, you ask? In airline talk, a UM (usually pronounced “U. M.” but sometimes “um”) is an Unaccompanied Minor traveling without an adult, with airline personnel providing some supervision. 1. Qualifications for UMs are surprisingly scant. On most major US and international airlines, if children have reached their fifth birthday (yes, […]
Kids/Winter/Sunglasses
February 5, 2014 by
Having your kids wear sunglasses when the ground is covered with snow is as important as having them wear them on a summer day at the beach – perhaps even more so. Wearing the right winter sunglasses prevents snow blindness and, more important, helps prevent cataracts in later life. 1. “Snow blindness” is not exactly […]
