Well it is raining again. Could it get any greener! As my children start the  first day of summer vacation, I can recall the glee felt by all on that last day of school. Happy to say the least, more free time who can complain. Well today when free time means indoor time and more sitting I have to say or do something. The weather is clearly not cooperating. Yard work, swimming outdoors and riding bikes would be a great way to get active-contect with neighborhood friends and just have some…

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The end of the school seems like a happy place to be if you are between the ages of 5 to 18 years. Nothing but summer and fun to look forward to. But before that can happen there are final exams and projects that need to be completed. Pressure to perform well and ontime can send some children into a downward spiral. They cannot sleep, eat or cope with all the pressure put on them.  So what is a parent to do to ease this worry. First and…

As children progress through their many stages of development there may be times when they stall. As upsetting as those stalls may be to any parent, they are also clues to underlying behaviors that may aid in finding a cause. I recall parents telling me their child would/could not keep their clothes on. Feeling frustrated the parent looks at it as abnormal and wants it to stop but does not know how to stop, or why it is happening. Something called Sensory Integration Disorder could be the reason behind the behavior.…

Feeling overwhelmed by all the new and improved nutritional advice to be had? That is OK, take heart some changes now  will help you for a long time. First of all that two thirds of our plate should be vegetables, yes 2/3!!! I actually love vegetables and often feel that eating out shortchanges me on what I consider a balanced meal.  I am not looking for a mound of starch with a few random vegetables mixed in. Or a plate that is 80% protein and a tablespoon of potatoes. I need all the colors of the…

As we flock from indoors to outdoors, we enjoy not only the change of scene but also the change in air. Spring cleaning was historically a way to purge your home of ‘bad bugs (viruses)’ and replace with healthy air. All should be good except if you suffer from allergies. Then those ‘Bad Bugs’ (pollen) will come in and reside in your home causing chaos. probably in the middle of the night. What are we to do? Stay in? NO! Fresh air is clarifying for your body and soul and we…

Spring has given us some warm, sunny weather. It is nice to have sunny days and more opportunities to be outside. Even if it is just laying on a park lawn, the fresh air helps rejuvenate after a long winter. Maybe hiking, biking, climbing, running and outdoor sports are on your weekend agenda. Getting active it is great. But take precautions, too. Now that we have had weather over 60/62 degrees for many days, the bugs will come. With the flies and mosquitos, there will also be ticks. Just walking through a…

From the day we are born, we age. It is inevitable. But did you know that the more sedentary you are, the less efficient all your organs become? And as we age, our ability to make up for this sedentary lifestyle decreases dramatically. As more children are diagnosed with what I refer to as ‘TOO MUCH Sitting Syndrome.’ From urinary incontinence, skin rashes on their laps from laptop computers, lack of normal sleep and chronic backpain and eyestrain, where will our children be at 30? 40? 50? Probably not well.…

As warm weather approaches, some are struggling with allergies. If you and your family are “blessed” with environmental allergies (alleries to things like pollen and mold), then you are likely dreading this time of year. Praying for rain (to clean the air) may be one of your strategies.  And seeing there has been little rain, it is time for  a new strategy. First and formost, do you know what you are allergic to? If not, basic allergy testing could be extremely helpful in determining the culprit of your symptoms. Then you…

Remember when you were a teenager and you had some big test, activity or responsibility coming up, how you tried but just could not sleep? Does it still happen today? Our ability to adjust to stressful events is often also reflected in our children. Yes, does our son or daughter react as you did? How difficult it was for you then and how difficult it is to watch your child going through that anxiety now. What is a parent to do? First, a certian level of anxiety is normal and…

The greatest impact on health can often be found in the mouth. Yes, the health of our teeth when they are first errupting (at a rapid rate in some young children) is when daily dental care should begin. Many pediatric dentists feel that as soon as teeth begin to show, the child should see a dentistm and “baby bottle tooth decay” should be discussed and prevented. Brushing, cleaning and overall oral hygiene should be a natural part of all children’s care. As they age, kids will become more independent and more efficient…