News Articles

• AHA News: The Heart Health Risks of Being a Single Parent

  

  "This is a group of people who are kind of carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, right?" said Dr. Natalie Stokes, a cardiology fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "You're taking care of kids. You're trying to provide for your family." More...

• Poll: 1 in 3 Parents Pick Holiday Gathering Over COVID Safety

  

  In a new nationwide poll of 1,443 parents, about one in three said the benefits of gathering with families for the holidays outweighed the risk of spreading the virus. More...

• Does Parents' Nagging Kids About Screen Time Even Matter?

  

  Parents' constant refrain, telling their teens to turn off the TV, stop playing video games or put down the cellphone, may not be necessary. More...

• Too Many Kids Still Get Antipsychotics They Don't Need

  

  Doctors are continuing to prescribe the drugs "off-label" for kids with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression and conduct disorders, the research found. More...

• Is the Pandemic Harming Kids' Mental Health?

  

  The findings suggest the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on children because of disruptions to their everyday life, anxiety about illness and social isolation. More...

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• Kids With Food Allergies Can Become Targets for Bullies

  

  As if having food allergies isn't hard enough on a child, new research shows that almost 1 in 5 of these kids are bullied. More...

• Almost 1 in 5 Parents Are 'Vaccine Hesitant,' Study Finds

  

  Nearly one in five American parents described themselves as "hesitant about childhood shots" in 2019, a new U.S. government study finds. More...

• Are Healthy Kids Getting Too Many Heart Tests?

  

  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is advising parents and pediatricians to avoid unnecessary tests, and has released a list of common medical practices and therapies that may not be needed for young patients. More...

• Lockdowns Can Widen Kids' Waistlines – Here's How to Curb That

  

  Stuck at home, bored. Fiddling with their phone or playing video games. Munching on snack foods to while away the time. More...

• Social Media 'Kid Influencers' Are Promoting Junk Foods

  

  In a new study, researchers viewed the top 50 kid influencer videos on YouTube and found that 9 out of 10 featured unhealthy foods. Nearly 1 in 3 promoted a fast-food chain. More...

• It's Tough to Change the Minds of 'Vaccine-Hesitant' Parents, Study Finds

  

  When parents have concerns about the safety of childhood vaccinations, it can be tough to change their minds, as a new study shows. More...

• Your Guide to a Safe and Happy Halloween

  

  The truly scary thing about Halloween this year is that it's occurring during a pandemic, but there are safe ways to celebrate, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says. More...

• Plan Ahead to Keep Halloween Safe for Kids With Asthma, Allergies

  

  his Halloween may be especially challenging for parents of children with asthma and allergies, as they also have to guard against COVID-19. More...

• Parents Often in the Dark When Kids Take Up Vaping

  

  Parents are often clueless when their kids start smoking e-cigarettes, a new study finds. More...

• FDA Warns of Danger From 'Benadryl Challenge,' Asks TikTok to Remove Videos

  

  Parents and other caregivers need to be more aware of the potentially lethal "Benadryl Challenge" circulating on social media, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday. More...

• Holidays Can Be a Fright for Kids With Food Allergies

  

  Parents of kids with food allergies probably won't be surprised to hear that Halloween is an especially risky time for their youngsters. More...

• How to Help Ensure Your Students Get Enough Sleep

  

  Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. parents say their children don't get enough sleep on school nights, an American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) survey finds. More...

• More Than 1 in 3 U.S. Pediatricians Dismiss Vaccine-Refusing Families

  

  Parents who choose to forgo or delay their children's vaccinations may quickly find themselves without a pediatrician. More...

• Are At-Home 'Learning Pods' the Right Fit for Your Family?

  

  For many families, the 2020 back-to-school season is anything but normal. While school officials throughout the country have worked to figure out how to safely educate students during the pandemic, parents have been coming up with their own plans. More...

• TikTok 'Benadryl Challenge' Has Killed at Least One Teen

  

  A new internet dare, broadcast widely on teen-friendly TikTok, urges kids to overdose on the over-the-counter antihistamine Benadryl. But the "Benadryl Challenge" has already killed one teen and sent others to the ER, experts warn. More...

• AHA News: Healthy Food for At-Home Students Starts With This

  

  Alexis Wood, assistant professor of pediatrics-nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, agreed. "Parental stress and guilt is not going to help anything," she said. "It's going to make it worse, if anything." More...

• AHA News: How to Keep Kids Active While Learning From Home – and Why That's Vital

  

  When schools close to protect families from the coronavirus, the main worry for many parents might be the lost learning. But for students who end up staying indoors and staring at phones and monitors most of the day, there could be health costs, too. More...

• Cyberbullying Could Rise During Lockdown, But Parents Can Stop It

  

  Cyberbullying is less common among teens who feel loved and supported by their parents, new research shows. More...

• AHA News: As the Coronavirus Upends Schools, Experts Say Don't Forget the Arts

  

  For some parents and schools, education amid a pandemic will mean a focus on reading, writing and arithmetic. But brain experts say don't forget the singing, dancing and painting. More...

• How to Keep Your Kids Trim Through Quarantine

  

  A lot of kids have been pushing up the scale numbers while home during the pandemic -- and parents need to take steps to prevent the dreaded "quarantine 15," an expert says. More...

• Help Your Child Cope With Back-to-School Jitters

  

  Back-to-school season can be a time of stress for many kids -- even in the best of times. But pandemic fears add to the anxiety many kids will experience with the start of the 2020-2021 academic year, according to David FitzGerald, a child and adolescent psychologist at UConn Health in Farmington, Conn. More...

• As Pandemic School Year Starts, Survey Shows Most Parents Are Overwhelmed

  

  As the school year begins across America under the shadow of COVID-19, a new survey shows most parents are feeling overwhelmed and abandoned. More...

• Help Your Kids Navigate School Amid a Pandemic

  

  This school year comes with special challenges for kids as the United States grapples with a coronavirus pandemic, but experts say parents can help their children navigate the tough emotional terrain. More...

• 2 in 3 Parents Nervous About Childhood Vaccines During Pandemic: Survey

  

  With coronavirus cases climbing in the United States, many parents are wary of taking their kids in for vaccinations, new research finds. More...

• Spanking on the Decline in American Homes

  

  About one in three parents said they spanked their kids in 2017 compared to 50% in 1993, new research shows. More...

• Parents: Sharpen up on Your Sunscreen Knowledge

  

  Most American parents know that sunscreen is important for their children, but there are gaps in their knowledge of its proper use, a new survey finds. More...

• Stalking, Harassment of Partners Common Among Teens

  

  Nearly half of U.S. teens have been stalked or harassed by a partner or done the deed themselves, a new study finds. More...

• When Teens Feel Loved, Conflicts With Parents Are Easier to Manage: Study

  

  Parents can ease conflict with their teens by showing them warmth, researchers say. More...

• How the Pandemic Is Changing Summer Camp

  

  If your children are going to summer school or camps this year, you may need to prepare them for safety precautions that will be in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, an expert says. More...

• Keep Your Kids Safe in the Water. Here's How

  

  Trips to the beach or a pool add to summer's fun, but parents need to ensure that children are safe in and around the water. More...

• 2 in 3 Parents Would Send Kids to School in Fall: Survey

  

  About two-thirds of U.S. parents say they'll send their kids to school again this fall, and most also support COVID-19 testing and social distancing policies for schoolchildren, a new survey finds. More...

• Should You Send Your Kid to Summer Camp? Expert Offers Advice

  

  Summer camps are an annual ritual for millions of children, but one expert offers advice on how to determine whether it's safe to send your kids to one during the coronavirus pandemic. More...

• Practice Gun Safety for Your Kids' Sake, Especially During Pandemic

  

  With kids staying at home because of the coronavirus pandemic, it's vitally important to keep guns locked up, advises the American Academy of Pediatrics. More...

• Don't Let COVID-19 Scuttle Your Child's Health Exams

  

  Wondering whether stay-at-home advisories mean you should skip your child's check-up? According to one pediatrician, parents should keep their kids' regular health appointments during the coronavirus pandemic. More...

• Adult Life Tougher for Teens Who Had Controlling Parents: Study

  

  Back off, Mom and Dad: Teens who feel their parents are overly controlling may have more difficulty with romantic relationships as adults, a new study suggests. More...

• About 1 in 15 Parents 'Hesitant' About Child Vaccines: Survey

  

  One-quarter of U.S. parents are hesitant about seasonal flu shots for their kids, and roughly 1 in 15 feel the same way about routine childhood vaccinations, a nationwide study finds. More...

• Stay-at-Home Orders Could Mean More Obese Kids: Study

  

  As if the childhood obesity epidemic isn't bad enough, new research warns that over one million more American boys and girls stand to become obese if coronavirus-related school closures continue through the end of the year. More...

• Parents Unaware of Young Kids' Smartphone Use: Study

  

  Preschoolers may spend more time on smartphones or tablets than their parents realize, and some use apps intended for teens and adults, researchers report. More...

• 6 Expert Tips for Defusing Kids' Quarantine Meltdowns

  

  When kids and teens chafe under COVID-19 quarantine, how can parents stop the meltdowns and misbehavior? More...

• For Many Kids, Picky Eating Isn't Just a Phase, Study Finds

  

  Researchers found that choosy 4-year-olds were still turning their noses up at many foods at age 9 -- suggesting their finicky eating is more of a trait than a phase. More...

• Sure-Fire Solutions for Managing Lockdown Temper Tantrums

  

  Experts suggest parents start with understanding. Children and teens miss the lack of personal connection they're used to, and online-only encounters are losing their allure. More...

• Pandemic Has Overburdened Parents Stressed Out: Poll

  

  If there's such a thing as a "new normal" during the coronavirus pandemic, it's a constant state of stress. More...

• Keeping Kids Slim, Fit During Lockdown Isn't Easy: Here Are Some Tips

  

  Lots of TV time, no PE classes, and a fridge full of food: It's a recipe for weight gain for kids under "stay at home" rules. More...

• Pets May Help Parents of Kids With Autism Fight Stress

  

  Pets are stress-relievers for parents of children with autism and benefit their kids, too, a new study suggests. More...

• Best Ways to Help Kids Through the Pandemic

  

  They're not at school. They miss their friends. And Mom and Dad look worried. Lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic can take a toll on everyone, especially kids. More...