“Food has always been associated with holiday parties and celebrations in my program but it hasn’t always been healthy,” says Renate Zahn the owner of Renate Zahn Family Child Care Program in St. Louis, Missouri. Zahn discovered that many of the parties in her program included the usual cakes loaded with sugar and topped with […]
Holiday gift-giving season is here, and for many parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, it can be challenging to find gifts for the children in their lives. Too often, gift givers find themselves wading through a sea of toys at their local big box or online stores. For children under the age of 10, pediatricians believe […]
Childhood obesity is a serious health problem and disproportionately affects children of lower income and racial/ethnic minorities. Contributing factors to childhood obesity include the neighborhood environment, social influences, economic factors, the home environment, parenting behaviors, and child behavioral and biological factors. Previous pediatric obesity prevention interventions have been less effective than expected, perhaps in part […]
Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of asthma and allergies in infants, but only about half of American mothers breastfeed their children through their first 6 months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s breastfeeding report card. Physical complications, such as insufficient milk supply, can discourage mothers from breastfeeding or expressing breast […]
We know breastfeeding protects infant and maternal health, saves the economy money, and, once it’s going smoothly, can be simpler, easier and cheaper than having to prepare formula. But getting to a place where it feels “smooth and easier” can be tough. Although many women start off breastfeeding, many drop off from doing it after […]
According to moms.com, parents aren’t expected to have everything magically figured out by the time their child turns 5, but there are certain things that pediatricians want parents to know by the time their child starts kindergarten. Doctors are great resources, but moms, dads and other caregivers should be expected to take an active role in […]
As part of their continuing efforts to help transform the culture of breastfeeding, the lactation pod pioneers at Mamava released their list of the ten best airports for breastfeeding moms in the United States. The recent passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 features provisions for the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act, including a […]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five U.S. school-age children and young people ages 6 to 19 years suffers from obesity, a tripling of such numbers since the 1970s. For individual children, genetics, eating and exercise all play a role in weight status—but the influence of a community’s design, programs […]
Rachel Allison is the new director at Greentree Learning and Child Care Center in Rolla, Missouri. Rachel’s goal was to create an inclusive atmosphere while promoting a healthier lifestyle for families. In 2017, Rachel participated in the Early Care and Education Learning Collaborative (ECELC) where she learned different ways kids can be active. After discussing […]
Every parent is concerned about their children’s safety. At the same time, it is important for kids to socialize at a young age and be able to have a certain level of freedom to grow and develop independence. It’s all about finding a healthy balance, which can be tough. While ideal, constantly keeping your eyes […]