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As the World Shut Down: Emilia’s Story Emilia Galarneau was born March 6 – exactly a week before the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency. “The world seemingly shut down as we drove her home from the hospital,” says mom Brittaney. Two days later, she and Emilia’s dad, Eric, made the decision to pull

Signs Your Child Might Be Depressed or Anxious – and What to Do Next By Lauren K. Ayr-Volta, PhD: Over the last few years, some parents and pediatric experts have noticed an increase in youth anxiety and depression. For general advice on how to support your teen, check out Is Your Teen Stressed, Sad or Angry? They May Be Feeling Grief . If you’re wondering how you’ll know

Mask Up! Tips to Make Kids More Comfortable With Masks, Broken Down by Age By Kathryn Robbins: Masks are one of the best ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus . But even if your child knows they’re supposed to wear a mask out in public, it can take some practice – and positive reinforcement – to get them in the habit. Child Life specialist Kathryn Robbins, MS, CCLS

7 Ways to Introduce Your Child to Wearing a Mask By Kathryn Robbins: As part of Connecticut Children’s Safe and Sound program, every team member, visitor and patient over age 2 wears a face mask. To prevent the spread of coronavirus, masks should be a habit for your family too, especially as you venture out to public places for summer fun . But it

Grow Focused: Michael’s Story At indoor track practice this past winter, Derby High School shot putter Michael Hyder, age 15, was hit in the back of the head with a shot put – a metal ball about the size and weight of a small cannonball. It knocked him unconscious, and he fell face-forward onto the gravel

Meet Emma: A Journey from the Adult Surgery Unit to the Pediatric ICU Emma got her start working in adult healthcare, but always knew she wanted to work with children. Now a nurse in the Pediatric ICU, Emma knows firsthand the incredible fulfillment and inspiration that comes with a career in pediatrics.

Explaining Anesthesia to Younger Kids By Sarah Malvezzi: At Connecticut Children’s, we know how to make kids feel comfortable and special, including explaining medical procedures in a way that doesn’t feel intimidating. If your child has a surgery or procedure scheduled, you’ll probably want to talk to them about it at home too. To get

6 Reasons Why It’s Important to Cook With Your Kids By Nancy Trout, MD: By now, you and your child may be discovering the fun of cooking together. Want to make kitchen time even more meaningful? Primary care pediatrician Nancy Trout, MD, MPH, co-director of the Kohl’s Start Childhood Off Right program at Connecticut Children’s, joins the blog with

The Office’s Three Roles By Scott Orsey: By: Scott Orsey Promoting the optimal healthy development of children. That’s what we do here at the Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health (the Office). It sounds fairly straightforward, right? Getting kids programs and services to help them achieve their best

5 Healthy, Easy Lunchbox Snack Ideas By Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP: Healthy snacks are a great way to keep your kids energized and boost their essential nutrient intake – but sometimes, it’s hard to come up with ideas that are both interesting and easy. Luckily, Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP, has lots of tips.

Your Summer Reading List by Age By Robert D. Keder, MD: As parents, we can’t deny that reading is one of the safest summer activities that exists. Long before the electronic era, everyone read books, heavily, every day. So, encourage your kids to take a digital detox and travel to space this summer with space-themed reads. Here are

4 Nutrition Tips for Athletes to Feel and Perform Their Best By Haley Duscha, RDN, CDN: An athlete’s body needs plenty of fuel, whether they’re just starting out or part of an elite team. All those sprints, drills and fitness challenges take a lot of energy! Luckily, some simple habits go a long way. Connecticut Children’s dietician, Haley Duscha, RD, CDN, outlines

Carter’s Story: Empowering Families to Support Kids Ashley Burkman and her husband, Matt Chella, were thrilled to welcome their twin sons Calvin and Carter into the world in May 2019. The pregnancy had been a healthy one for Ashley with no signs of anything abnormal for the babies. However, shortly after the boys’ birth at 38

4 Questions with David Hersh, MD By David Hersh, MD: As part of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey, Connecticut Children’s celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month , which honors the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. As part of our organization’s recognition of this month and other

Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Why the New National Advisory? By Bradley S. Jerson, PhD: On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a new warning over social media and youth mental health. Connecticut Children’s Pediatric Psychologist Bradley S. Jerson, PhD, answers popular questions from parents about this advisory…