Older Dads, Younger Kids
A National Book Award-winning author discusses his experience as a first-time dad at 56, and now as a 73-year old father with teenagers.
Psychology of Adoption: Birth Mothers
Birth mothers have historically been shunned and stigmatized, and often still do not receive the grief counseling and mental health services they need. Open vs. closed adoptions also differ. An expert psychologist and birth mother-author discuss.
Growth Hormone For Short Kids
Thousands of parents take their children to doctors each year seeking synthetic growth hormone to cure their relatively short stature, even though most of these children are merely late bloomers. Plus, studies show that short stature generally does not create psychological damage. Experts weigh in.
Sudden Unexplained Death of a Child
Each year, some 400 U.S. children over age one, most of them toddlers, die for no known reason. Families, longing for answers, often find that their families, friends, and even pediatricians are unfamiliar with this classification of death, or that they even occur. Family members who have lost a child, a medical examiner, and a research expert who has lost a …
Should We Report “Bad Parents?”
Just about anyone can report a parent to a child abuse hotline. It’s meant to protect children, but often, parents are reported when no abuse or neglect exists in order to retaliate for a divorce or some other grievance. Some parents are reported for merely letting children play outside or walk to school without an adult in attendance, what was once thought …
“Flat Head Syndrome”
Since the beginning of the “baby on back” movement to reduce sudden infant death syndrome, many more infants are developing misshapen heads with a flat spot in one place. An expert discusses whether this is serious.
Time Blindness
Someone who is always late for everything and never finishes any project on time is often labeled as irresponsible, lazy, or purposely insulting. But they may be suffering from a brain abnormality called time blindness that’s often a part of ADHD, with often sad consequences.
Imposter Syndrome
Many people who are smart, talented and successful still believe they are incompetent on the inside and that others will eventually find out. This “imposter syndrome” can undermine careers and lead to psychological distress.
Back To School 2020: Can Kids Attend, Or Will Remote Learning Rule?
Many school districts are delaying decisions on whether students will attend in person or will be taught remotely once again to reduce the risk of Covid-19 to children and staff. Experts discuss the methods under consideration to lower risks and whether that will be enough to open for classes.
PTSD in Children
Mental health experts once believed that children were too young to remember traumas well enough to suffer much from post-traumatic stress disorder. Now they know that children as young as 2 or 3 can be affected, often for the rest of their lives. An expert discusses PTSD in children and its treatment.
What Every Parent Should Know: “It Doesn’t Look Like Drowning”
Seven hundred children under age 15 drown in the US each year, most within sight of a parent or other adult. Experts discuss one major reason: drowning doesn’t look like most people picture it.
Medical Notes: Week of April 19, 2020
If you’ve been taking the drug Ranitidine for reflux or ulcer prevention, the FDA says stop. Then, a new study shows that parents are yelling at their children more since most of us have been ordered to stay home. And finally, with Covid-19 testing in such short supply… why not let a dog do it?
