Eating out seems like the easiest choice for a family meal after a busy day at work, but getting your kids to help in the kitchen is a great way to make it seem like less work, said Virginia Dolan,…
Effective for the 2013-14 school year, all Illinois students entering sixth through 12th grades must have proof of receiving the Tdap booster in an effort to better protect young people from whooping cough, also known as pertussis. “Whooping cough is…
Flu season has struck early, including in Illinois, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported high influenza-like illness (ILI) activity in recent days, and this year’s peak is not yet in sight. Flu activity likely will…
Traumatic events, such as the recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., can be a challenging topic for parents to discuss with their children. Not only is it an emotional topic, but there are questions that cannot…
Do you need to pick up some quick snacks for those always-hungry and busy kids? Snacks can be a helpful addition to a day’s meals if good choices are made. Children should eat every 3-5 hours during the day in…
We’ve heard it over and over again: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” But let’s face it — it’s not always easy to get your kids moving in the morning. Here is a great motivator: According to…
As a fair-skinned mom to three fair-skinned children, all of whom love to be outdoors, pediatrician and internal medicine physician Cara Vasconcelles, MD, is particularly attuned to proper sun protection. “I usually start applying sunscreen whenever the kids can be…
All parents want their babies to grow up happy and healthy. From the moment of birth, humans are social and emotional beings. This means infants, toddlers and young children have mental health needs. Although thinking of infants and mental health…
If you are the parent of a child who has been diagnosed with autism, or suspect he or she may fall on the autism spectrum but have not yet received a diagnosis, the symptoms your child is exhibiting may be…
Remember the saying ‘You are what you eat?’ Well, it also rings true for your mood. Nutrition plays an important role in physical health, but it also affects your behavior and brain function. “The brain is a metabolically active organ…