Connecticut Children's Blog

By: Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP With the end of summer upon us, it’s time for the 100-meter dash to gather all the supplies your child needs for back to school. That includes the ever-important, but sometimes elusive, snack plan. Healthy snacks are a great way to keep your kids energized and boost their essential nutrient […]

By: Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, MS, CCC-SLP CCRP This school year will have its fair share of challenges, both old and new. One that’s a little bit of both? Quarantines. This year, quarantines due to COVID-19 will almost certainly be part of the school experience again. But this time, many schools may have just a handful of […]

Good sleep is essential for a good school year: During the day, a well-rested child has an easier time focusing and behaving. At night, quality sleep allows their brain to organize and store everything they learned. But your child’s sleep schedule probably hasn’t been at its best during summer vacation. After months of sleeping in […]

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. […]

You ask, we answer. In each edition of “Ask a Pediatrician,” Connecticut Children’s pediatric experts respond to a question from our community. It’s almost time for your child’s annual flu shot, which typically becomes available in late summer. A COVID-19 vaccine may be authorized for kids age 5 to 11 around the same time – […]

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 […]