Home About Featured Work Books Contact

More Writing Samples - Parenting

YaleNews •

Child deaths from opioids nearly tripled in recent years, says Yale study

Close to 9,000 children and teens in the United States died from opioid poisonings over the last two decades, representing a nearly three-fold increase in mortality rates, Yale researchers said. These findings illustrate how the opioid epidemic continues to evolve and harm children even as efforts to confront the crisis through treatment and limits on opioid prescribing ramp up, they said.

The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

While the high opioid overdose death rate among adults has
YaleNews •

One in three young adults has ridden with an impaired driver

One-third of young adults aged 19 and 20 report riding in a motor vehicle with an impaired driver at the wheel at least once in the past year, according to a new study co-authored by Yale researcher Federico Vaca, M.D., M.P.H, and his colleagues at the National Institutes of Health, and led by Colorado State University investigators. Driver impairment was more likely to be caused by marijuana use than alcohol, the researchers said.

The research team used data from the NEXT Generation Health Stu
Yoga Journal •

10 Natural Remedies for Kids' Colds

Parents won’t be surprised to learn that kids get an average of 8 to 10 colds a year. But they may think twice about reaching for over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, which were recently deemed unsafe for children under age two by the Food and Drug Administration. Even older children may be at risk for serious side effects.

To ease cold and flu symptoms, parents can instead try effective and safe nonpharmaceutical remedies. (Experts caution that for infants you should always consult a pra
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child about poverty and homelessness (ages 5-8)

BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.

What your grade-schooler knows – and needs to know

Five- to 8-year-olds are transitioning from being me-centered to seeing themselves as part of a group. "So it's a good time developmentally to talk about hunger and poverty," says Susan Linn, a child psychologist at H
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child about a layoff

How to break the news

Don't put it off. As soon as you have a sense of how the layoff will affect your family, talk to your child. "It's dangerous for parents to assume that kids aren't paying attention," says Judith Myers-Walls, a professor of child development and family studies at Purdue University.

School-age kids will pick up on a shift in routine – if you start packing lunch instead of sending lunch money, for example, or if Dad is still in his pajamas after breakfast. They could also he
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child about interacting with strangers

What your child knows – and needs to know

What you say to your child about talking to strangers depends on her age. Preschoolers, for example, don't know what a stranger is and can't tell who’s safe and who isn't. You can begin to teach these little ones basic safety, but they're not yet ready for conversations about how to deal with strangers.

By age 4, many children have heard about strangers and can start learning safety rules. However, they're still too young to be unsupervised in public b
BabyCenter •

How to tell your child you're getting divorced (ages 5 to 8)

BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.

What your school-age kid knows – and needs to know

School-age kids know that divorce means their parents' marriage has ended. They may have friends whose parents are divorced and may be familiar with the concept of a mom and a dad living apart. "Expect them to be most
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child when someone is seriously ill

BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.

What your preschooler knows – and needs to know

Because a preschooler's understanding of illness is limited to sniffles and coughs, she won't react the way an adult would to news that someone is very sick. Two- and 3-year-olds may have no response at all, or, if they
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child about a deployment (ages 5 to 8)

BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.

What your school-age child knows – and needs to know – when someone in the family is deployed

Grade-school kids are deeply affected when a parent or close relative goes to war. Because 5- to 8-year-olds can understand that war involves fighting and dying, they'll worr
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child about nontraditional family types

BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.

What your preschooler knows — and needs to know

If your family is nontraditional, you're in good company. These days, many kids live in single-parent, blended, adoptive, or gay- and lesbian-parent families. Two- and 3-year-olds aren't likely to ask any questions about
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child about a move

It's important to be positive. Talk about the new things you'll see and the new people you'll meet. If you talk about the move with a resentful edge – "We can't stay because my boss is a jerk and I got fired" – your child will absorb this attitude. Instead, show him bright spots. Maybe you'll be near a science museum or a waterfront good for scootering.

If you're being forced to move to a smaller place, explain that the new house won't be as big, but add a positive spin, advises Judith Myers-Wa
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child about race

Despite what many of us have been taught, there's nothing wrong with talking about the color of people's skin. In fact, the opposite is true: Teaching kids not to talk about race can contribute to the problem of racism. It's never too early to begin cultivating a healthy awareness of diversity in your child.

Preschoolers are too young to understand the social meaning of race the way adults do. But they are not colorblind and they do notice physical differences. Don't be surprised when you hear
BabyCenter •

How to talk to your child about disabilities (ages 5 to 8)

If your child hasn't already encountered a person with a disability, it's likely he will at some point in school, where children with special needs are often in the same classroom with other kids. Be ready: Your curious grade-schooler will probably ask lots of questions.

How you respond is likely to affect the way your child thinks about disabilities and treats others as he grows up. It's also an opportunity for you to foster an attitude of inclusion and acceptance.

How to talk to your child a