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8 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month with Kids February is Black History Month. The month honors the cultures and contributions of Black Americans in the United States. It provides a great opportunity to teach children about the history of the month and try out new activities to build appreciation and allyship for others

Gardening With Kids: How to Plan, Grow & Enjoy a Garden By Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP: This article was originally published in 2021 and has been updated for accuracy. Your family may be dreaming up a spring or summertime bucket list. A garden project is a perfect addition! Stacy Chandna, Director of the Office of Research and Quality Assurance, joins the blog with

Beyond Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID): Aria’s Story In August 2021, Shauna and Tim Barrett were enjoying the first days of newborn bliss with their second child, Aria, when they received a life-changing call from their pediatrician. Aria’s newborn screen had returned abnormal results. This single phone call would alter everything

Beyond a Brain Tumor: Ciri's Story For a few weeks, she’d been getting the same call from the school nurse. Her daughter, Ciri, had vomited again during class. No fever. No sniffles. No explanation. The pediatrician guessed anxiety. That didn’t seem right to Krysti, though. Ciri, then 8 years old, seemed so at

Beyond Heart Failure at 2 Months Old: Crew's Journey Following a series of concerning symptoms, a diagnosis of SVT-induced cardiomyopathy became a reality for baby Crew, Mom and Dad. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) happens when the heart beats too quickly. Because of this, the heart doesn’t work as well and can eventually cause

10 Ways to Get Your Teen (and Family) to Try a Digital Detox 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

Addressing the Root Causes of Racism, Discrimination and Bias The annual Juneteenth celebration provides an important opportunity for all of us to reflect on the progress we have made individually and as a society in addressing racial and social injustice, while also acknowledging the tremendous work that still lies ahead to eliminate

8 Tips to Get Kids Involved in the Kitchen, By Age By Haley Duscha, RDN, CDN: This article was originally published in May 2020 and updated in December 2023 for relevance. Cooking together is a great way to get your child interested in healthy eating, and teach them important skills. Where to start? Haley Duscha, a pediatric dietitian in the Division of

Become a Breast Milk Feeding Advocate in 5 Steps By Mary M. Lussier, BSN, IBCLC: Many of us have heard or seen the phrase, #normalizebreastfeeding, but what does it mean, exactly, to “normalize” something that’s seemingly so… normal? It starts with being an advocate for the breastfeeding community—regardless of your personal journey. Connecticut Children's

How to Help Teens Stay Motivated During the Summer Months By Preeti Sandhu, PsyD: Summertime is often seen as a time for teenagers to relax and have fun, but boredom and lack of motivation can also set in. As a result, teens may find themselves feeling restless and uninspired. Connecticut Children’s mental health expert Preeti Sandhu, PsyD, shares 6 ways to

Rhinovirus: More than the Common Cold? Runny noses, sneezing, sore throats and coughs—all par for the course during cold and flu season and a childhood rite of passage. One of the most common causes of these symptoms is a virus called rhinovirus. Turn to the ones parents trust to know what to expect if your child is

Strengthening Families: Insights from Jeanika Browne-Springer of Hartbeat Ensemble By Annika Anderson, MPH: This is the third blog in a three-blog series regarding North Hartford Ascend’s Inaugural Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework Community of Practice facilitated by Childhood Prosperity Lab . Jeanika Browne-Springer, Director of LifeLong Learning at HartBeat

Beyond Hearing Loss: Annabelle’s Story When you are a child growing up with hearing loss, or the parent of a child who’s diagnosed with a hearing condition, you likely have lots of questions. What challenges will we face? Where can we find advice? Who else will understand? Annabelle Jacobs, age 17, has made it her

8 Ways to Celebrate Pride Month With Kids June is Pride Month in the United States, a time to celebrate and support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA) community. It’s a great opportunity to teach kids about the different ways that people can identify and love one

Preventing Eye Strain During Your Child’s Screen-Based Learning By Janine Collinge, MD: 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.