Connecticut Children's Blog

By Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, MS, CCC-SLP CCRP Kids with autism and other special needs can have a tough time getting used to new routines, people and places. And of course, a new school year includes all of the above. This year, your child may need extra help with transitions. After all, they aren’t just adjusting to […]

UPDATE: Pfizer recently asked the FDA to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 to 11! Learn more. With the highly contagious Delta variant taking hold in communities across the country, and a new school year on the horizon, parents are eager for kids of all ages to have the protection of a COVID-19 vaccine. […]

Many kids and teens haven’t been inside a school building since early March 2020 – and while some can’t wait to return to full in-person classes, others would just as soon stay home. For these students, remote learning was a break from social pressures, certain learning challenges, or other classroom stressors. If your child is […]

For many kids and adolescents (and their parents!) one of the toughest aspects of the pandemic was not seeing friends in person. But with COVID-19 vaccines available for anyone 12 or older, more social activities are ramping up – plus full in-person learning! As exciting as this is for many kids, there are plenty of others […]

Updated on August 19, 2021 The Delta variant may be the most contagious COVID-19 strain yet, causing outbreaks around the globe – even in places where the virus had previously been under control. In the United States, it has quickly become responsible for more than 90% of all COVID-19 infections nationwide. What does that mean […]

Last year, with schools closed due to COVID-19 and quarantine in full swing, many teens became even more glued to their screens. In many ways, that was OK: Teens are wired to be social, and social media helped them stay connected to friends. Technology was essential for remote learning. But screens of all kinds, from […]

Whether from homework assignments on a computer or tablet, or remote instruction during COVID-19 quarantines, screens are probably a big part of “back to school” for your child. Connecticut Children’s pediatric ophthalmologist Janine Collinge, MD, shares tips. Want more articles like this from pediatric experts you trust? Sign up for our newsletter. Subscribe Problem: Digital […]

After months of sleeping in, staying up late, and enjoying a lot less structure, it’s a big adjustment for kids and teens to head back to school. You can set them up for an easier transition with these tips for a great morning – right down to packing a backpack the night before. Want more […]

By Amy Watkins, MPH It’s back to school time, and that means school buses, crowded drop-offs and bicycling or walking along busy roads. Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States, so it’s important to talk to your child now about being safe around buses and cars.  Amy […]

Seven-year-old Claire is never one to drag her feet. “She doesn’t walk, she bounces,” says mom Tracy. And that was true even before she was born, when at 33 weeks pregnant, doctors announced that baby Claire was on her way – seven weeks early. She would need highly specialized care from the moment she was […]