For parents and pediatricians, spring and summer mean a flurry of activity as we get all of those super important forms filled out for sports, camps and school. As children get older, sports physicals become even more important, with Virginia law requiring a physical for high school athletes and many youth sports leagues also requiring physician approval. Your … [Read more...]

Thanks to technology, parenting has become a lot more complicated these days. One especially tricky challenge is how to navigate social media – especially with younger teenagers, or tweens. Teenagers’ use of social media is on the rise. Common Sense Media found that 75 percent of American teenagers have a social media profile. Studies done on the impact of social media … [Read more...]

Thinking about childhood often conjures up images of carefree kids playing dress up or running outside. But even during this fun and breezy time, children can experience stress and anxiety. This can be especially true as they enter school and experience academic and social pressures. You might be aware that your child has a lot on his or her plate, but when does it … [Read more...]

Screens are a part of life for just about everyone. We work on them, play on them and connect on them. Technology use by children does have benefits, including access to information and social connections. But it also has plenty of drawbacks including sleep disruption and physical inactivity. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than two hours a day of … [Read more...]

Here’s the scoop: the flu is no joke. Parents often confuse other viruses with flu-like symptoms with the actual flu. But if you’ve experienced the influenza virus itself, you know it’s not to be taken lightly. And while the Centers for Disease Control recommends the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older, it can be especially dangerous for little ones under 5 and … [Read more...]

Sleep: it’s something so many of us just don’t get enough of. And with today’s busy schedules and long lists of after-school activities, many children just aren’t getting the sleep they need. But sleep has a huge impact on your child’s physical and mental development, so it’s something all parents need to pay attention to. Why Is Sleep So Important for Kids? The … [Read more...]