What To Do if Your Child Faces Mental Health Struggles
Are you concerned about your teen’s mental health? If you are, you are not alone. The CDC found that mental health in high school students is getting worse. More than 1 in 3 students couldn’t participate in regular activities due to feelings of sadness or...
Help Your Family Breathe Easier During the Holidays
Before you put up the tree, light a scented candle, spray holiday air freshener or invite people over, take a minute to learn about seasonal challenges to healthy indoor air quality. During this time of year, we spend more time indoors, breathing the air inside...
Combatting Negative Effects of Screen Time
“I worry that my son spends too much time in front of screens, but there’s not much I can do, “ laments one Austin dad. “He plays games with his friends on the computer, does homework online and watches YouTube on his tablet. When you consider time spent on...
What To Do if Your Child Wants To Go Gluten-Free, Paleo or Vegan
What will you do if your child wants to start a gluten-free, paleo or vegan diet? Here are three steps to help discuss the choice with your child: Step 1. Find Out Your Child’s Motivation Before you react to the news, ask some questions to determine your...
Make Time for Play A Priority
As you plan your family’s summer activities, be sure your child has time each day for play. Play is important to a child’s mental and physical health. It helps children manage stress, develop self-regulation skills and make social connection. The American Academy of...
Is Your Teen at Increased Risk From Lack of Sleep?
Do you know how many hours of sleep your teen gets each night? As kids get older, many parents become lax about monitoring their children’s sleep. The CDC reports that 7 out of 10 high school students and 6 in 10 middle school students do not get enough sleep on...
Savvy Kids on Social Media: 5 Tips for Parents
Recent news coverage about the negative effects of social media on kids have concerned parents. “We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls,” reads an Instagram internal slide as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Other internal research found that...
Basic Facts To Help You Navigate the COVID-19 Information Maze
Although fewer children are affected by COVID-19 compared to adults, children can get sick from the virus, and some develop severe illness. Hospitalization rates of children due to COVID-19 have increased since the beginning of school. As parents, we want to make the...
Six Tips for Teaching Your Teen To Drive
Motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death for teens. Parents can make a difference in teen driver safety. Here are six tips to help make the experience successful and rewarding. #1. Prioritize On-the-Road Practice Inexperience is a major cause...
When Dogs Are More Than a Child’s Best Friend
Dogs can be more than just a child’s best friend. Therapy dogs and their handlers can help bring comfort and reduce anxiety in times of stress. What Is a Therapy Dog? Therapy dogs are not the same as assistance dogs or emotional support dogs. Each performs...
Water Safety Begins on Dry Land
Before you head to the beach or lake this summer, take steps to keep your family safe in and around the water. Drowning is a leading cause of death in toddlers and young children. Teens have the second-highest drowning rate of any age group. Experts recommend layers...
3 Strategies for Dealing With Seasonal Allergies
If seasonal allergies are a problem in your family, you’re not alone. Austin is included in the latest Allergy Capitals Report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The report uses data to rank the most problematic cities for allergies in the United...
