Choosing an Eye Doctor
Why do I — or members of my family — need to see an eye doctor? Sooner or later almost everyone will need to use eyeglasses. Vision problems are generally divided into two categories: nearsightedness (being able to see clearly only when things are c…
Learn MoreChildren and Pain
If you’ve ever watched a nurse take a blood sample from a newborn’s heel, you already know that even the youngest children can feel pain. Babies and toddlers may not always be able to put their feelings into words, but their pain is real. According to…
Learn MoreAttention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Ages 6 to 12
What is attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder?ADHD (commonly known as ADD) is a behavioral disorder. Basically, children who have it find it difficult to concentrate, or are excessively active, or both. The American Psychiatric Association calls th…
Learn MoreAttention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Ages 12 to 16
What is attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder?ADHD (commonly known as ADD) is a behavioral disorder. Basically, kids who have it have difficulty concentrating and are extremely restless, or both. The American Psychiatric Association calls the disti…
Learn MoreThe Alcohol Talk: What to Say if Your Teen Is Already Drinking
If you’re talking to your kid about the important issues in life, the subject of alcohol is bound to come up. In some ways, the “alcohol talk” is a lot like the “sex talk”: Ideally, you’ll have the discussion long before your child really needs it. Le…
Learn MoreHigh School Students and Drinking
When it comes to teen drinking, parents would be wise not to look the other way. The consequences — from drunk driving accidents to date rape and violent crime — make it clear that teen drinking is much more than just harmless youthful experimentati…
Learn MoreWhining, Ages 6 to 12
How can I get my child to stop whining?A school-age child who whines can be a serious nuisance and may earn a reputation as a complainer at school. Ending the habit isn’t easy. Find the patience and resolution to help your child by reminding yourself …
Learn MoreWhining, Ages 1 to 3
How can I get my child to stop whining?That depends on why he’s whining. If he’s hungry, tired, or bored, give him what he needs: a snack, a nap, a suggestion of something to do, or maybe just a hug. Then you can figure out how to curb his fussy behav…
Learn MoreHarry Potter and Divorce Among the Muggles
We were listening to a tape of the most recent Harry Potter volume, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, on the way back from the beach, my three children and I. It was late, and everyone was sunburned and sandy, stunned into peaceful silence. T…
Learn MoreNight Terrors
If you’ve ever seen a young child in the grip of a night terror, you’ll never forget it. He’ll wail in panic, scream, and thrash about like a small animal. His eyes are wide open but he doesn’t recognize or even see you. A child with a night terror is…
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