Articles Written Just for Parents
Children’s health is about much more than immunizations and physicals.
Here are additional resources to help you and your child live your healthiest lives.
How Can I Inspire My Child to Be Healthier?
Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic among children in America. Consider the following facts: Since 1980, obesity rates among teens ages 12 to 19 quadrupled, from 5% to 20.6% Today, about 1 in 5 children are affected by obesity. The percentage of students meeting...
High Blood Pressure in Children
Bad eating habits in childhood can cause early obesity and high cholesterol. More than one-fifth of youth in the United States aged 12-19 years have an abnormal cholesterol level. When Children are above the normal weight range they should have their cholesterol...
Is Too Much Screen Time Harming Children’s Vision?
As children spend more time tethered to screens, there is increasing concern about potential harm to their visual development. Ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – are seeing a marked increase in children with dry eye and eye...
How to Tell if Your Child has an Ear Infection and What To Do
Ear infections in children are more prevalent than you think. But, most ear infections when caught early, are not serious. Here's how you can tell if your child has an ear infection. If your child cannot say "My ear/s hurt," then these are the symptoms you should...
Three Signs That Indicate Your Child May Have Vision Problems
As children grow from year to year, so does their vision. During childhood there may be obvious signs where parents can tell that their child has vision problems; symptoms such as squinting, holding a book very close to their face, or complain about blurry vision....
Water Safety for Toddlers – Tips Every Parent Should Know
The toddler years have the highest drowning risk because, for children and toddlers, water is a lovely medium for play. Little ones have no fear and don't realize it can be a danger to them as well. It is up to parents and adults to ensure the safety of our children....
The Best Way to Treat Your Kids Cuts and Scrapes
Temperatures are rising, snow is melting, and summer is coming, yay! Our kids will be out of school, outside playing, exploring, and hopefully away from the computer screens. With warmer weather outside, we often see an increase in cuts and scrapes. Skin is the body's...
Tips For Teaching Children About Feelings
It can be challenging for children to describe when they feel sad, scared, or excited since feelings are a somewhat abstract concept. But, it is important to teach your child about their emotions as early as possible since their emotions will affect every choice they...
Circle of Security Parenting Class
This nationally recognized, evidence-based parenting program is based on the concept that children are hardwired to seek feelings of security and that parents also want security for their children. Parents will learn key ideas for supporting attachment in an...
How To Deal With A Picky Eater?
Food preparation is a challenge in itself, and dealing with a picky eater can test your patience. It's natural for children between the ages of 2 and 5 to be cautious with the food they eat because they are still exploring textures and their environment. But, good...
Breastfeeding Benefits, Health and Diets
Breastfed babies' nutritional requirements rely on their mother's breast milk and healthy diet. A wholesome breastfeeding diet involves a high-calorie, high-nutrition diet similar to that recommended during pregnancy. While mothers in famine conditions can still...
5 Ways to Help Your Child Overcome Anxieties
Sometimes children act as if they don't have a care in the world, and other times they may be overwhelmed with anxiety. Even though children don't have to manage typical adulthood stressors, they do feel tension just like adults. Helping them develop skills to solve...
Parents Help Children Make Healthy Relationship Choices
A recent survey revealed that 9 out of 10 teens would consider postponing sexual activity and avoid pregnancy if they had open and honest conversations with their parents. The research further showed that parents influence a thirty-eight percent of teen's decisions...
Tips for Helping Children Avoid Temper Tantrums
Before becoming a parent, you might have had a different perspective when seeing kids in the middle of a meltdown. But now that you're a parent yourself, you can share the sentiments of all parents when a child throws a temper tantrum. Tip #1: Stay calm and composed...
Is My Newborn Eating Enough?
Congratulations! You are now "officially" a mother. Overwhelmed is an understatement for first-time mothers, especially when it comes to the baby's primary needs. If you have decided to breastfeed your little one, knowing what to expect and look out for in your...
Breastfeeding – How to Ensure a Good Latch
While breastfeeding can be challenging, especially to new mothers, it is the best gift you can give to your little one. Knowing what to do can help you overcome the struggles that come with nursing your baby. What is latching? While babies act on instinct, mothers...
Five Steps to Strengthen Family Relationships
Busy workdays for parents and children can create barriers in family relationships. Building strong family ties when schedules are full requires effort and much patience. Sunshine aims to help families build a strong family foundation. After all, having strong...
How to Safely Help Your Newborn Get Healthy, Restful Sleep
Infant sleep problems are pretty standard. Just ask any honest mother or father! It can be exhausting and frustrating, but most parents consider sleep deprivation a parenting right of passage. Most parents go through a period with their babies when they don't get much...
How To Make Good Dental Habits Fun For Your Little Ones
Is getting ready for bed a struggle, most notably when it comes to oral care? Save yourself from frustration and learn how to make your little ones enjoy brushing and flossing. Many things contribute to why your child tries to escape brushing and flossing. Here are...
7 Tips and Tricks to A Calm Flight When Travelling with Children
Every family dreams of going on vacation. However, every parent knows that traveling with children is not that simple, so here are tips and tricks you can follow. Before the flight: 1. Inform your child about your trip. Like you, your child also needs to know the...
Helping Kids Cope with Disaster
Children may respond to disasters by demonstrating fears, sadness or behavioral problems. Younger children may return to earlier behavior patterns, such as bedwetting, sleep problems, and separation anxiety. Older children may also display anger, aggression, problems...
Digital Media and Young Minds
Are your kids scrolling and screen pinching through life, with rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span? Today’s children grow up immersed in digital media with both positive and negative effects on healthy development. In this article, we break it all down...
Nits and Lice: Pesky ‘Lil Buggers!
Pediculosis, or head lice infection is one of the most dreadful experience one can ever have in their lifetime. Children are the typical victims of these pesky bugs because they are prone to close head to head contact; which is the primary transmission of getting head...
Protecting Children From Predators Online
Today's Internet is an amazing tool that can enrich our lives with educational and informational material, and all varieties of entertainment. However, it can also harbor dangers that you need to educate yourself and your family about. A few examples of online risks...
Pediatric Care at Sunshine
Schedule a visit with and experienced family medicine provider focused on your child’s developmental milestones, safety, nutrition and your family’s emotional well-being.