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Need Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids This Winter? Try Two Takes on Dip By Haley Duscha, RDN, CDN: This article was originally published in 2020. Updated in January 2025. No matter what you’ve got planned to entertain your kids all winter long, you’ll want to keep them fueled up with nutritious snacks. Bonus points for recipes that make it easy to get kids involved in the

How Social Media Impacts Mental Health and Changes Brain Activity, and What to Do By Melissa Santos, PhD: This article was originally written in January 2023 and has been updated as of February 4, 2025. Studies have shown that there is a possible link between social media and brain changes in young adolescents. MRI brain scans showed that teens who frequently check social media had

Recognize the Signs of Heat-Related Illness By John Brancato, MD: This article was originally published in 2022 and has been updated in June 2025. Heat-related illness like heat exhaustion and heat stroke can oftentimes send kids to the emergency room in the summer months. What should you look for and what should you do if your child is showing

Does My Child Need a COVID-19 Booster Shot? By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: This post was last updated May 17, 2022. You ask, we answer. In each edition of “ Ask a Pediatrician ,” Connecticut Children’s pediatric experts respond to a question from our community. The CDC and FDA authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine primary series and booster for anyone

Getting Back to School Sleep Schedules Back on Track By Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD: Academic performance, behavior and mood are all dependent on good sleep. Kids need more sleep than we do (9-10 hours per night for children ages 5-12, and 8-9 hours per night for teens). Here are some helpful techniques to help get your child’s back-to-school sleep schedule back

Putting the Pieces Together: Morgan’s Story One of the scariest parts of any health journey is the beginning: All you have are questions, and all you want are answers. Jennefer Aquavia and Paul Willis know that feeling. This past summer, their 10-year-old daughter, Morgan, starting having seizures – but not like any

7 Ways to Reduce Screen Time By Robert D. Keder, MD: Have you wondered if your child is spending too much time in front of screens? The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend the following: No screen time at all for kids under 2 except for video chatting One hour of screen time a day for kids 2

The New Flu Mutation: What Parents Need to Know By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: If you think back to COVID days, virus mutations are nothing new. This year, health experts are flagging a variant of the seasonal influenza virus that might not be well matched to this year’s flu shot. Connecticut Children’s Ian Michelow, MD, infectious diseases specialist

Developmental Holiday Gift Guide for Kids: OT-Recommended The holiday season is just around the corner, and finding the perfect gift for your child can sometimes feel overwhelming—especially if you're looking for something that’s both fun and beneficial for their development. That's why our team of Occupational Therapists at Connecticut

Connecticut Children's Celebrates Grand Opening Of Landmark Clinical Tower Hartford, Conn. – December 4, 2025 – Connecticut Children’s today celebrated a historic milestone with the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art clinical tower, marking the largest expansion in the organization’s history and redefining the future of pediatric health care in

Sever’s Disease in Kids: Home Remedies vs. When to See a Doctor By Anthony Pastore, MS, PA-C: One of the most common causes of heel pain in growing kids is Sever’s disease, also called calcaneal apophysitis. It may sound scary, but it’s temporary and treatable—and eventually improves as kids grow. Here’s what to about Sever’s disease, how to help at home, and when it’s

$1 Million Gift From Big Y Supports Connecticut Children’s New Clinical Tower and Expanded Pediatric Services Hartford, CT (December 9, 2025) — Connecticut Children’s, the state’s only health system 100% dedicated to children’s well-being, received a $1 million gift from Big Y to support the hospital’s new eight-story clinical Tower, which opened on December 4, 2025. In recognition of

The Power of Place: Rethinking How We Create Social Impact By Annika Anderson, MPH: In 2023, the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University released a thought-provoking report on the significance of place, titled Place Matters: What Surrounds Us Shapes Us . The report details the impact of the social environment, built/natural environments, and

Gifting an E-Bike This Season? What Every Parent Needs to Know By Anna Stern, MPH: E-bikes are everywhere this holiday season. From social media videos to neighborhood rides, electric bikes have quickly become one of the most requested gifts for kids and teens. They’re fun, fast, and promise freedom and independence, while also getting kids outside and moving

Staying Warm, Well, and Supported: Winter Resources for the North Hartford Promise Zone The winter and holiday season is a time for celebration, connection, and community—but it can also come with added stress and unexpected needs. This season reminds us how important it is to lean on one another and the resources that help our community thrive. Just as