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Citing the latest research on the brain, experts say chess, Scrabble, Monopoly -- even jigsaw puzzles or tic-tac-toe -- help children build analytical, organizational and creative skills.
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Having a make-believe friend is a normal part of your child's growth and usually happens between ages 3 and 6.
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Each fall you hear that the flu threatens senior citizens and folks with chronic ailments. But the rate of hospital stays is highest in another group—young children.
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How often do you and your family all manage to sit down together for dinner? Your answer means far more than a chance to find out what's going on in school.
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Crooks from computer experts to purse snatchers can steal personal information and run up bills in victims' names. Clearing up the mess can be costly and stressful.
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Some kids need plenty of time to warm up and become independent, and others would leave home if you let them.
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Health professionals say that the number of classes or activities isn't what's important. It's the nature of those experiences that counts.
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The key is communication. Talking to your children is only half the answer. Listening is the other half.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association have guidelines that can help you make up your mind.
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Orthodontic treatment most commonly begins between ages 9 and 14 because kids in this age range have at least some permanent teeth and are still growing.
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Here are tips for helping (not forcing) your grade-schooler to drift off to dreamland.
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So who's in charge, the parent or grandparent? Experts say it's the parent's job to parent unless grandparents are told otherwise.
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Power tools make yard work easier, from mowing the lawn to trimming the bushes. These tools, however, also pose a threat to children if precautions aren't taken.
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All 50 states have a combination of laws that require drivers to restrain children in car seats, booster seats, and seats belts. Specifics vary by state, based on the child's age and size.
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While you want to make sure your child gets the right vitamins and minerals, it's best for kids to get all the nutrients they need from food. But there are some children who may need a supplement.
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Children have fun exploring, and you can keep them safe by controlling the household terrain.
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Make Moving FunWe should be good at this by now. The U.S.
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What do children need most to grow into healthy, successful adults? Self-confidence, say the experts. Here's what parents do to bolster their children's self-confidence?
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The number one rule when shopping with your children is to remember you're shopping with your children. Keep an eye on them at all times.
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Children of different ages have different sleep needs—from 10 hours for younger kids to 8-/12 or more for teens.
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Kids' Boredom Busters: Quick, Fun ActivitiesSummer months are prime time for "informal learning," child development experts say. Brain research shows as children play and pretend, they are re-enacting experiences they've had and trying to make sen...
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Most headaches in kids are caused by tension, not disease. Your pediatrician can determine what kind of headache your child has.
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Here are recipes that fit the bill for teaching some baking basics and setting some good nutrition patterns early. All you'll need are some simple tools and tolerance for a few spills. These recipes are safe for a child to make (with adult help) and are practically foolproof.
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Although most adolescents who use drugs don't become drug abusers or drug addicts in adulthood, drug use in adolescence can put their mental, emotional and physical health at risk.
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Hepatitis B is a highly contagious, sexually transmitted disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver, possibly causing lifelong liver infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer and death.
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As they assert their growing independence, young people naturally want to act and make decisions on their own, but they still need and want to maintain a close relationship with the adults in their lives, experts say.
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Divorce can be an emotional train wreck for both parents, but often the family members hurt most have the least control -- the children. What's the best way to help children adjust to divorce?
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To fight the harmful rise of obesity in the young, many schools, towns and states are revamping food and fitness programs, often at parents' urging.
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Excess childhood weight is placing "an unprecedented burden" on children's health. It's triggering a host of dangerous health problems once seen only in adults.
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Kids who have strict mothers are five times more likely to be overweight than kids who have flexible moms, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.
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Talking with your child about drugs, alcohol and tobacco is tough. But you can't afford to ignore these topics. Children learn about these substances and feel pressure to use them at a very young age.
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Can a child have scarlet fever more than once?
Henry (Hank) Bernstein, D.O. is a Senior Lecturer in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School. Formerly the Associate Chief of General Pediatrics and Director of Primary Care at Children's Hospital Boston, he currently is the Chief of General Academic Pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. He has extensive and varied experience as a primary care pediatrician, and is a spokesperson for the news media on a variety of pediatric health care topics, including vaccination, common childhood illnesses, and practical information for caregivers.
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Are children at risk for DVT when flying long distances?
Claire McCarthy, M.D., is a senior medical editor for Harvard Health Publications. She is an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Boston, and co-director of the pediatrics department at Martha Eliot Health Center, a neighborhood health service of Children's Hospital. The author of two books, "Learning How the Heart Beats" and "Everyone's Children", Dr. McCarthy was a regular columnist for "Sesame Street Parents Magazine" from 1995 to 1998 and is currently a contributing editor for "Parenting Magazine".
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Would you recommend the LAP-BAND procedure for obese children under 10 years of age?
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My 10-year old son sometimes complains of pain in the lower portion of his knees. Otherwise he is healthy and active. His diet is balanced and he loves to eat fruits, veggies and poultry. What could be causing this pain?
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My daughter will be 1 year old on May 8, 2005. She does not know how to crawl yet. She also does not know how to stand holding on very well. Should I be concerned?
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My child, age 3, grinds his teeth at night. What can we do to prevent him from doing this? What is this doing to his teeth?
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Should my 4-year-old get his immunizations if he has cold symptoms?
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My 4-year-old daughter recently started having fits where her whole body arches and her calves tighten up and her ankles twist inward. What could this be?
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Can I give my 10-year-old child, whose weight is 140 pounds, adult acetaminophen? If so, how much?
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Cough is very common in children. When your child coughs, he is pushing air out of his lungs to clear his breathing tubes, which can be blocked for all sorts of reasons. Infections (from the mild common cold to the more serious pneumonia), asthma, and allergies are among the more common causes, but cough can be caused by other things as well.
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The most common cause is an infection from germs (bacteria or viruses) that are passed from person to person. However, conjunctivitis also can be caused by an allergic reaction to something (for example, tree pollen), by contact with something irritating (for example, smoke in the air or chlorine in a pool), or rarely, by problems of the eye.
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We will be living in Nigeria with a 15-month-old child. Is there a way to prevent malaria in children this age?
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Is tuna fish OK for an 18-month-old toddler to eat?
Claire McCarthy, M.D., is a senior medical editor for Harvard Health Publications. She is an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Boston, and co-director of the pediatrics department at Martha Eliot Health Center, a neighborhood health service of Children's Hospital. The author of two books, "Learning How the Heart Beats" and "Everyone's Children", Dr. McCarthy was a regular columnist for "Sesame Street Parents Magazine" from 1995 to 1998 and is currently a contributing editor for "Parenting Magazine".
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My son is 8. Is it possible for him to have stress problems at this young age? Whenever he gets worried or too hot, he seems to break out in welts.
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My toddler is almost 29 months old and weighs 41 pounds. She has been obese since she was 4 months old. She is a very active child who does not eat meat. When should I start to be concerned about her losing the weight?
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Can I still give my 1 1/2 year old cold/cough medicine? Is it safe?
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Should children ages 6 to 15 be allowed to drink "energy drinks" such as Red Bull?
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What is the normal blood pressure rate and heart rate in children (ages 8,10, and 12)?
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My daughter was out in the sun all day. For two days she has been running a fever as high as 103. Could this be caused by too much sun?
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What is dyscalculia, and what are recommended treatments for it?
Henry (Hank) Bernstein, D.O. is a Senior Lecturer in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School. Formerly the Associate Chief of General Pediatrics and Director of Primary Care at Children's Hospital Boston, he currently is the Chief of General Academic Pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. He has extensive and varied experience as a primary care pediatrician, and is a spokesperson for the news media on a variety of pediatric health care topics, including vaccination, common childhood illnesses, and practical information for caregivers.
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My 8-year-old daughter has a high fever and I would like to give her something to reduce the fever, but she is vomiting also. Is there anything you can suggest?
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My 14-month-old son has a cough. Infant medicines have been pulled off the shelf, but he weighs enough to take the smallest dose of children's Robitussin. Is it safe to give it to him considering his age?
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How long is scarlet fever contagious after treatment is given?
Henry (Hank) Bernstein, D.O. is a Senior Lecturer in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School. Formerly the Associate Chief of General Pediatrics and Director of Primary Care at Children's Hospital Boston, he currently is the Chief of General Academic Pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. He has extensive and varied experience as a primary care pediatrician, and is a spokesperson for the news media on a variety of pediatric health care topics, including vaccination, common childhood illnesses, and practical information for caregivers.
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How common is it to treat constipation in a child with Miralax -- for more than three years? Are there other treatments? Can it be controlled by diet?
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Research shows some marked differences in the development of children born to schizophrenic mothers.
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Caring for a child with a mental health problem causes a greater financial burden on the family than caring for a child with some other type of medical problem.
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Siblings of children with autism are at higher risk of developing the disorder. A study suggests that these at-risk children should be screened around their first and second birthdays to increase the chance of detecting warning signs.
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International adoptions turn out to have surprisingly good outcomes, according to a study.
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The death of a child???one of the severest forms of stress???can increase the risk of psychiatric hospitalization, a study reveals.
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How important is a good breakfast for children?
Q. How important is a good breakfast for children?
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Supplying rewards for desirable behavior may be helpful in the treatment of substance abusers and children with behavorial problems.
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A long-term study on the efficacy of psychosocial treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
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Your child is nearsighted if far away objects look blurry. Your child is farsighted if close-up objects look blurry. Other common eye problems: wandering eye, injuries and infections.
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If your child starts hanging around with an imaginary friend, enjoy the company. It's often part of a child's development and usually happens between ages 3 and 6.
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Sports and other physical activities can help kids stay healthy and physically fit, but they also can result in injuries, such as scrapes and sprains.
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Over-the-counter drugs can help ease a child's aches and pains, but you should know a few things before you pop open a bottle.
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Walkers can cause children to roll down stairs, causing head injuries and even death. This is the most common way children get hurt in walkers.
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Many childhood illnesses are mild enough to be treated at home. But what about when the symptoms are more severe?
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Most weight problems are caused by too little activity and too much food. Most children who are overweight don’t need to diet.
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You can play a significant role in protecting your child’s health and life by being involved, asking questions, and learning about your child’s conditions and treatments.
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Grandchildren really do like learning about how life used to be, even if they don't directly say so.
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Don't argue about cost. Do talk with your children about money management and media messages.
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Learning how to express anger assertively and constructively can improve your personal interaction and your health.
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Women experience symptoms of stress 30 percent more often than men, research has shown.
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Whether you’ve already gained a few extra pounds or have yet to reach perimenopause, here are strategies to help you maintain a healthy weight in midlife and beyond.
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Pregnant women with asthma are just as likely to have healthy, normal babies as women without asthma -- as long as their disease is kept under control.
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As a woman, your body is much more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and more easily damaged than a man’s body. Because women have less water in their body than men, alcohol doesn't dilute as much and more of it gets absorbed into the blood. That’s why women suffer greater physical damage and often become more intoxicated than men when they drink identical amounts of alcohol.
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A survey of women who had recently been diagnosed with depression found that at least half of them had opted for an alternative form of treatment, such as massage or yoga, in addition to conventional forms of treatment such as medication and therapy.
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Personality changes in adults are most likely to happen during the earlier adult years, up to around age 40.
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Research into the long-term effects of hormone therapy found that women who were more physically active were less likely to suffer cognitive decline than those who exercised less often.
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A brief look at state-by-state rankings in health-related categories, with a link to the government report.
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A study found that women who had off-pump bypass surgery had much lower rates of heart attack, stroke, or death during the operation or shortly after, more so than for men.
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Two studies evaluate supportive underwear meant to ease pain and speed recovery after bypass surgery.
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Older women are less likely to exercise. A supplement containing bitter orange caused chest pain. A healthy heart may help protect mental health as well.
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Can vaginoplasty assist with bladder incontinence and sexual satisfaction for a 33-year-old woman with three children?
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I'm 51 and in menopause. What degree of protection from ovarian cancer would a prophylactic oophorectomy provide? My mother contracted ovarian cancer at 62, already in stage IIIc, and died one year later. Is there still a risk of developing ovarian cancer?
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If a Pap smear result came back with "high risk HPV," what does that mean?
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How long do I have to wait after a diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease to have sexual intercourse?
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I am currently dating someone with HIV. He and I have never been sexually active, but are considering marriage. My question is in regards to sperm washing to possibly have children. How effective is this procedure? Is it done often, and does it work?
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How is mammography done after a breast augmentation?
Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
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Can a tubal banding be reversed?
Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
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A correction to the November 2005 Women's Health Watch.Correction Our article about the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (“New trial to test hormone therapy in younger women,” HWHW, November 2005) should have included Salt Lake City in the list of locations of participating centers (the others are Boston; New Haven; New York; Rochester, Minn.; San Francisco; and Seattle). To learn more about the trial, call 866-878-1221 toll free) or visit www.keepstudy.org on the Web.
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This year I've had four urinary tract infections. Each cleared up with antibiotic treatment. Now, my doctor is prescribing a prophylactic antibiotic, Bactrim 400/80, that I'm supposed to take every day. Are there long-term risks in this?
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Women with a higher body mass index, even those with a normal BMI who are not in the overweight portion of the scale, face an increased risk of gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD).
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A new technology called oscillating plate therapy may increase bone muscle mass in humans via barely perceptible vibrations.
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I'm a healthy 65-year-old woman and just had my first bone density test. How often do I need to have it repeated?
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Women with advanced ovarian cancer may benefit from a treatment that sends anticancer drugs directly into the abdomen.
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Researchers found that women who did not express their feelings during marital arguments were at higher risk of dying prematurely.
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A Harvard Medical School physician answers your question about women's loss of interest in sex after menopause.
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