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And while it is important for parents to instill healthy habits surrounding social media use—including limiting and monitoring time online—it is also important to recognize that social media is not a bad thing. It only becomes a bad thing when people misuse it for bullying, public shaming, and rumor spreading. In fact, research shows there are numerous benefits to social media use. Benefits of Social Media for Youth While the overuse of electronics and social media can certainly be a problem, there are also numerous potential benefits of social media for youth, including the following:...

Safety is the most important feature in toys, so you’ll want to avoid anything with small pieces. While keeping toy safety in mind, also consider the entertainment value of the toy to ensure your kiddo has fun while learning. We carefully looked over toy safety, along with design, material, age recommendations, and value. As they get older, children can work those fine motor skills by pushing the balls directly into the hole in the front of the toy, then watching them move swiftly into the back dump, all while the toy makes fun dump truck sounds and noises....

When shopping for a backpack for your little one, consider your child’s size in comparison to the backpack to ensure that it is worn properly with the weight evenly distributed. “Students should be encouraged to wear both straps fastened, so the backpack sits close to their back,” Brian Reilly, MD, a sports medicine physician at Akron Children’s Hospital, tells Verywell Family. “Wearing just one strap can put the spine and neck in an unnatural position....

To buy: Viv+Rae Hubble 4-in-1 Convertible Crib, $267 (normally $684), wayfair.com This stunning yet simple convertible baby crib is more than $400 off. It’s available in four color options to match any nursery decor style and adjusts to four mattress heights to grow with your child. To buy: Kolcraft Love & Comfort Lightweight Infant and Toddler Mattress, $60 (normally $80), walmart.com This crib mattress is made from upcycled materials, like plastic water bottles....

In addition to ensuring your child’s glasses fit properly, you also want to ask your child for their opinion on style. Two experts we spoke to, ophthalmologist Catherine Jordan, MD, and optician Heather Heil, agree: children will be more willing to wear their glasses if they’re involved and get to have a say in which pair you buy for them. We carefully considered styles, frames, lenses, age recommendations, value, design, and fit when reviewing products....

Beyond the size and fit, You’ll want to consider the different types of lining commonly found in snow boots, like faux fur, fleece, and felt. You should also check to ensure the boot is waterproof to keep feet not only dry, but warm, too. We carefully considered sizing, insulation, material, value, and design when reviewing products. Here are the best snow boots for kids. Price at time of publication: $55 Price at time of publication: $39 Price at time of publication: $60 Price at time of publication: $65 Price at time of publication: $70 Price at time of publication: $56 Price at time of publication: $99 Price at time of publication: $43 Your best bet for sizing is for your child to try on the boots themselves....

The IEP team is charged with making educational decisions for students, and addresses issues such as eligibility, evaluation, program development, and placement of a child in special education or gifted programs. Parents and guardians know their kids better and should be very involved in the IEP process. Don’t let school personnel intimidate you in this process. Your role as an advocate for your child is paramount. Parents may not be educators themselves, but they bring their years of experience in other professions and aspects of life to the process, along with their experience with their own child....

Start Using a Timer For certain tasks, like checking email or scanning news headlines, it can be so easy to get distracted and fall into the rabbit hole of all those viral videos and GIFs that are calling out to you, enticing you to click on them. Before you know it, you may have spent way longer than you intended to do online. To prevent this from happening (and it happens to all of us), set a timer when you need to do a certain task....

When Your Kids Hate Your Partner Your child’s dislike for your partner can manifest itself in a variety of ways. It might involve acting passive aggressive or ignoring your partner, or it might entail open anger and hostility. Kids might act cold, yell, not listen, or even refuse to spend time around your partner. Depending on how your partner responds, this conflict might create a roadblock in your relationship. It also can make your home life more difficult if your child is acting out or refusing to speak to you or your partner....

While you can pick up some items at your destination that you forgot to pack, it isn’t easy to get or replace a passport or another vital document. Know what you need before you go. Letter of Permission Although most grandparents will never have to show it, carrying a letter of permission is advisable. Templates for such letters are available online, and you can create your own letter of permission using instructions....

Ideally, universal pre-K programs should be made accessible to any child in a given state, regardless of their abilities or their family’s income status. According to a statement on advancing equity in early childhood education made by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 2019, “All children have the right to equitable learning opportunities that enable them to achieve their full potential as engaged learners and valued members of society....

There is good news on the horizon. This time next year there may be an RSV vaccine to protect newborns. Pfizer recently released the results of its Phase 3 clinical trial for a vaccine to be given to a pregnant person before giving birth, transferring immunity to the newborn. Pfizer says the vaccine has an efficacy of 81.8% for newborns in their first 90 days. Up to 6 months, the efficacy is still 69....

“Will your doctor be at the hospital?” she asked. I was confused by the question. “I assume so,” I replied. She told me that hers wasn’t, that her baby was delivered by the OB who was on-call when she went into labor. “Oh. I guess I should ask then,” I said. But even after this conversation, I still assumed my OB/GYN would be there. When I asked at my next appointment, I remember saying, “So when I decide to go to the hospital, I call you and you meet me there?...

The information provided during the ultrasound allows healthcare professionals to either rule out potential heart issues, treat problems before birth, or even plan for an emergency situation at birth. If you have an upcoming fetal echocardiogram, it’s important to note that many times these tests are ordered for precautionary reasons. So try not to panic if your healthcare provider refers you to a pediatric cardiologist. Even if a heart defect is found, the advances in medical technology allow for the vast majority of issues to be treated effectively....

CDC Guidelines While the CDC doesn’t go as far as mandating schools to open, its recommended mitigation strategies—including universal mask-wearing and physical distancing—are designed to get kids back in the classroom without causing future COVID-19 outbreaks. The guidelines also highlight the need for deep cleaning of facilities, personal hygiene, and contact tracing. The agency said there is strong evidence that schools can now reopen, especially at lower grade levels. But it’s only going to go smoothly if there’s a high level of commitment from everybody involved, public health experts warn....

There are lots of resources available to you, from your pediatrician to baby food cookbooks to books such as “Your Baby’s First Year” from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Learn more about when and what to start feeding your baby solid foods. Feeding Solids by Age, A Month by Month Guide It’s important to follow baby food feeding guidelines. Make sure the sources that you are relying upon are current and up-to-date....

Average Age of Puberty Puberty normally occurs in a series of five stages (Tanner stages) that typically begin between the ages of 8 and 13 for girls and 9 and 14 for boys. For girls, the average age for puberty to start is 10 1/2 years, For boys, it begins at an average age of 11 1/2 to 12 years. Puberty is considered early (precocious) if it occurs before the expected timing....

Although the best time to figure out where your family will get a flu shot is before flu season really gets started, you can likely still find a flu shot if you need one. Find a Flu Shot A good supply of flu shots doesn’t necessarily mean that every family will be able to get a flu vaccine for their kids, though, as flu shots aren’t necessarily cheap. Large numbers of kids without insurance and other family’s without the money to cover doctor co-pays could make you think that a flu shot is too expensive this year....

When you first get to the NICU, it can definitely be overwhelming and a little confusing. It may help relieve some of the stress if you know and understand the role each person has in the care of your child. Of course, you can always ask your baby’s nurse to explain who each person is and what they do. But, for additional information or a quick list you can reference, here’s an overview of the members of your premature baby’s health care team....