Parents have been painfully concerned that they do not know how to prepare their child for elective surgery. Let me see if I can take the pain out of those concerns and provide some information on this topic. The first step in preparing your child for a surgical procedure is to make sure your child […]
Recently parents have been asking me a mouthful of questions about their child having something called celiac disease. Let me see if I can help them, and you, digest some information on gluten and celiac. Gluten is the term used for a group of proteins found in grains including wheat, rye and barley. Gluten is the second most consumed ingredient in our […]
Parents have been quite anxious to ask me what to do for their child or teen’s feelings of anxiety. Let me see if I can relax everyone with some information on this topic. Anxiety is usually a normal emotional reaction to life stressors. It can also appear physically as dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, difficult breathing […]
We celebrate George Washington’s birthday this month, during a long cold and flu season. Much like President Washington, I cannot tell any lies – about these winter illnesses. Instead, I want to speak the truth about some rumors regarding the common cold. For example, parents ask me if you can catch a cold by being […]
It’s National Ski Safety Awareness Week, so let me glide through a few safety tips on ski and snowboard safety. More than 20,000 children each year are treated for ski and snowboard injuries. These aren’t just the beginners, but those who are into risk-taking on the hills. If you want to reduce your child’s risk […]
We all know that children (and adults!) love Halloween. While we love to see the smile on children’s faces, we have to remember that October can be a chilly time. Before going out in your neighborhood, be smart and think ahead about the weather. Here are some tips on how to stay warm on Halloween […]
A few years ago, I was driving my son and his three teammates to a hockey tournament in Montreal when I noticed it was oddly quiet in my car. Looking around, I saw four boys, all best pals, texting each other while they sat in the same car. That is when the GLOVE BOX RULE was born […]
“Hi, I’m Rebecca with Art from the Heart. Do you want to make paper airplanes to fly at your doctors or nurses?” As volunteers visiting patients and families at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital at the UVM Medical Center, we need quick and playful ways to evaluate how to offer support and offer families […]
