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Beyond Trust: Kali’s Story Krystin Sylva always says her twins came into the world like a storm. Kali and Jada were 28-week preemies born during an actual ice storm in January – at 3:33 am, three seconds apart. They started life in the NICU at Danbury Hospital, receiving care from Connecticut Children's

How to Talk to Kids About Scary or Tragic Events in the News By Robert D. Keder, MD: In the wake of the mass shooting on August 27, 2025 at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, MN, children will likely have many questions. In addition to seeing disturbing footage on the news and on social media, they are also likely picking up on the stress and sadness

Open Hearts Beyond Imagination: Ayla, Naomi & Daniel’s Story In September 2019, Ellen and Jon Lindblom traveled to China to bring home the newest member of their family — Ayla, then a shy 6-year-old. They carried a letter from Connecticut Children’s Felice Heller, MD, urging the agency to expedite the adoption so Ayla could get immediate

Is My Child Experiencing Weight Stigma? By Vanessa R. Laurent, PhD: Kids come in different shapes, sizes and personalities! It is important to recognize, however, that there is an ongoing childhood obesity problem in this country—for many reasons. This means, unfortunately, children and adolescents with obesity struggle with teasing, bullying and

6 Ways to Teach Your Teen Financial Independence By Lauren K. Ayr-Volta, PhD: When your teen is nearing the end of high school, they’ll suddenly need to take control of lots of aspects of their lives, from meal planning to healthcare. That includes finances. As adults, we sometimes assume that once a teen is a certain age, they’ll naturally know how to

Fevers: to Worry, or Not to Worry By Saima N. Jafri, DO: Maybe you’re a first-time parent or maybe this isn’t your first rodeo. Either way, many of us parents still “fear the fever.” Do we need to be worried when our kids spike a low- or high-grade fever? Dr. Saima Jafri, pediatrician with Connecticut Children’s Care Network, lays out

10 Quick Tips to Help Your Child Reset From Stress By Kelly Ann Maynes, PsyD: When our electronics act up, we can usually just unplug to reset them. If only our emotions were so simple. But during moments of stress, there are still some trusty methods for kids and teens – and parents – to calm themselves down. We could all use the practice! Connecticut

16 Comfort Items to Bring to Your Child’s Doctor Appointment There are a few tried-and-true ways to prepare your child for a doctor’s visit: Talk about it ahead of time. Pretend through play. Practice calming exercises like making a coping toolbox. Best of all? Bring a few comfort items! (Your child will love this step.) Put your child in

Beyond Crouzon Syndrome: Emma’s Story By Monique France, Emma’s mom and Clinical Care Coordinator, Craniofacial Team at Connecticut Children’s When our daughter Emma was born, I was fortunate to work as a nurse in the Division of Otolaryngology (ENT) at Connecticut Children’s. Almost immediately we noticed that her

Beyond Wrist Surgery: Arianna’s Story When she fell hard after whiffing on a ball during club soccer practice, 14-year-old Arianna P. nearly laughed out loud through the pain. “Here we go again,” she said to her mother in the hospital room. She’d managed to break her wrist for the second time. Deep down, she knew

3 Ways Connecticut Children’s Supports LGBTQIA Patients and Families Connecticut Children’s is committed to making our patient care environment as welcoming and inclusive as possible for our patients and their families. As part of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey, our organization celebrates the steps we are taking to ensure our

Beyond Muscular Dystrophy: Jacob’s Story Six-year-old Jacob doesn’t walk. He runs. He’s either climbing up or jumping off of something. He has devoted a lot of time to perfecting his Spiderman impression, and it shows. “He is always on the go,” says Jacob’s mom, Rachel. “He’s so, so active.” Jacob is also living with

6 Must-Know Water Safety Tips for Parents By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: We all want our children to have a fun, memorable and active summer. Water play is a major part of making summer memories and many kids are eager to splash around, swim or attend pool or beach parties. However, we need to be mindful that water can be dangerous and children

8 Mental Health Tips for Parents By Bradley S. Jerson, PhD: How can parents and caregivers check on their own mental health so they can be there for their children? Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologist Bradley S. Jerson, PhD, joins the Growing Healthy blog with tips.

10 Ways to Keep Kids Safe From Playscape Injuries By Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FACS, FAAOS: Want to make sure your child’s time on the playground is as safe as it is fun? Follow these safety tips from orthopedic surgeon Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FAAOS and the Injury Prevention Center’s Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA. Playground injuries are common, but preventable. Each year