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7 Strategies to Help Autistic and Special Needs Kids Prepare for a Doctor's Visit By Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, MS, CCC-SLP: Kids with autism and other special needs can have a tough time getting used to new routines, people and places. Doctor’s visits can be especially challenging, because these visits are rarely frequent enough for kids to remember what to expect. But a little preparation goes a long

CDC, aka the Centers for Disease Control and Promotion [sic]? By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD On March 15, I was honored to participate in Public Health Grand Rounds, which is a monthly activity of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The session focused on the important issue of “ Addressing Health Disparities in Early Childhood

Personal Hygiene Milestones: A Guide for Parents By Andrew Carlson, MD: Good hygiene habits start young. As kids develop, they reach important milestones and one of the most noticeable ones is personal hygiene. Proper hygiene is your child’s foundation for good health, confidence and a solid social life—and it’s so much more than learning about

Screening for Social Determinants of Health By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD It’s important that physicians screen for problems related to the critical social determinants of health. Those are the circumstances in which people live and work, such as food insecurity, housing insecurity, and transportation, that have been shown to have

First Pediatric ENT Visit? Here’s What to Expect By Rachelle Wareham, MD: A pediatric ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) cares for children with problems related to the ears, nose, throat, upper airway passages, head, and neck. These specialists focus on ENT care 100% dedicated to kids—from babies to teens. Pediatricians refer kids to an ENT for many

Divine Inspiration for CT’s Health Care Transformation By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD The Old Testament seems an unlikely source for inspiration on healthcare reform. Nonetheless, the admittedly commonplace quote, “….a little child shall lead them,” (Isaiah 11:6) may be regarded as applicable to our state’s notable efforts to achieve health

A Visit to the Pediatric Neurosurgeon: What to Expect By Bethany Simonetti MSN, APRN, FNP-BC: If your child has been referred to a pediatric neurosurgeon, you may be feeling nervous or unsure about what to expect. That is totally normal. The idea of seeing a “ brain and spine doctor” can feel scary. But this visit doesn’t always mean your child will need surgery. It

Reducing School Absences for Children with Asthma By Jessica Hollenbach, PhD: By: Jessica Hollenbach, PhD Asthma is the most common chronic pediatric disease, which affects nearly six million children in the United States. Children from minority groups who live in low socioeconomic urban areas experience the highest rates of asthma and associated concerns

The 6 Rules of Sports Injury Prevention for Kids, Teens and Young Athletes By Imran Hafeez, MD: The longer an athlete is inactive, the longer it takes for them to come back to full activity after a break. Connecticut Children's pediatric and adolescent sports medicine experts have been hearing one question a lot: How can athletes prevent injury? Here are 6 tips from our

Deciding to Treat Fetal Renal Failure: Information & Support for Families By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: Until recently, most experts thought fetal renal failure was fatal — period. Expecting parents were simply told they had no options. Today, that’s no longer the case. With special care, it’s possible for a baby with fetal renal failure to survive and eventually thrive. But the

3 Steps for Teens to Master Time Management By Vanessa R. Laurent, PhD: This article was originally published in 2022 and was last updated in June of 2025. Grades, friends, sports, extracurricular interests – teens have a lot on their plates. All of these obligations can quickly go from fulfilling to overwhelming, especially during times of

New Framework for Child Health Services By: Paul H. Dworkin, MD and Lisa Honigfeld, PhD While Connecticut has made much progress over the past decade in improving the delivery of child health services, much still needs to be done to reach our ultimate goal of ensuring the optimal health, development, and well-being of

Pivoting to Address Pandemic Needs of Children and Families By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health is always committed to strengthening families and communities to promote children’s optimal health, development and well-being. However, we find our mission to be of critical importance now more than

How to Pack a Go-Bag for Your Child’s Unexpected ED or Urgent Care Visits If it might be an emergency, don’t wait! Connecticut Children’s Emergency Department (ED) is always open, and our experts provide evening and weekend pediatric urgent care in Farmington. Pack a “go-bag” now, so it’s ready when you need it.

8 Skiing & Snowboarding Injury Prevention Tips | Winter Sports Safety for Kids & Teens By Katelyn Colosi, PA-C: This article was originally published in February 2024 and was updated in February 2026. Skiing and snowboarding are exciting winter sports that help kids and teens stay active during the colder months. But without proper preparation, these activities can lead to injuries