Parenting

Remaining hopeful and mindful during tough times

Fatima Malik, MD | August 12, 2020 |

As we watch the news, it seems that summer is not bringing what we thought was promised in late winter - the end of the pandemic. Cases are going up across the nation, instead of down. Summer, typically a carefree time, is instead strained by canceled vacations, worries the next school year, financial struggles, lost jobs and concerns about keeping well. The anxiety that was stoked months ago has proven to have some undying embers.

In my discussions with families at their checkups, the typical topics of eating, sleeping, development always come up, but now we inevitably meander... Read More

Keeping Kids Healthy: Immunizations & Well Child Visits

Maggie Chou, MD | June 02, 2020 |

As we adjust to life in our new environment, I would like to remind families about the importance of staying up to date with immunizations and well child visits. While there is not yet a vaccine for COVID19, we do have vaccines that protect children from 14 other serious diseases. Delaying immunizations can put children at risk for these illnesses, especially for those children ages 2 and younger. Well child visits are also important for making sure children are on track with their development and growth... Read More

Tips for Teens to FACE COVID

John Schulze, LH | April 13, 2020 |

FACE COVID is a way to respond to the sometimes overwhelming flood of emotions you may experience in a crisis. Dr. Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap, developed a simple reminder on what to do in those moments. After watching this brief video, try out the tips below and see what works for you!

F = Focus on what's in your control

There are things you can control (your actions, what you choose to focus on, your words) and things you cannot control (other people, the weather, what might happen in the future). You... Read More

Surviving the Stay at Home order… with Kids!

Shaunnacy Blood, PsyD | April 03, 2020 |

Isolating yourself from your friends and family for weeks on end can have some serious mental health ramifications. No matter the age, boredom, and crankiness can be tough to beat when you’re stuck at home for days (or weeks) on end. Here are a few tips for parents who find themselves struggling to enjoy this extra family time.

Re-connect family members.

Take 15 minutes for each child (or spouse) per day and allow them to pick a fun activity to do together. You have more time together anyway so you might as well use it for something good. During this time, no criticism or touchy... Read More

Thinking of adding a new family pet?

Emily Waight, ARNP, IBCLC | July 26, 2019 |

Having a pet join your family can be a wonderful experience and can bring great joy. Here are a few things to consider before adopting a pet or when bringing a new baby into a household where pets are already part of your family.

Do pets cause allergies and asthma?

If you already own a pet, there is good news! The latest data from the National Institutes of Health, Jama Pediatrics and the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that early pet exposure, especially in the first year, can reduce the risk of your child developing asthma before the age of seven. These... Read More

Sports Physicals

Aisha Reuler, MD | July 13, 2017 |

Did you know that the State of Washington requires children in grade 6 and up to have a sports physical prior to participating in new sports activity or season? Sports physicals help to determine whether it is safe for a child or adolescent to participate in vigorous or competitive physical activity. With the first day of school less than 2 months away, I encourage my families to get their children in for an exam at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the sports season. This allows enough time for a follow-up on health issues that may be identified during the physical.

Together we... Read More

Have a plan when giving your child their first smart phone

Sara Tamarin, MD | July 06, 2017 |

Have you ever wanted to go back in time and not give your child their first taste of candy? Or perhaps you wished you didn’t show your child their first episode of “Thomas the Tank Engine?” As parents, we know that a treat or indulgence we’re excited to share, can end up becoming the bane of our existence and the never-ending pleas for ‘just one more’ becomes routine.

Imagine that kind of regret, but multiple it by a really big number, and that’s what can happen when parents give their child their first smartphone without laying out a clear set of rules and expectations. We must do... Read More

Well-Child Visits

Aisha Reuler, MD | September 22, 2016 |

"Do I have to get a shot, Mom?" This might be the first thing your 4-year-old asks when you tell them it's time to head to the doctor's office for a check-up. And while the answer to that particular question might be yes, depending on their age, immunizations are only one aspect of your child's check-up, physical or well-child visit.

I am often asked by new parents how often they will need to bring their children to the Clinic for a routine examination. The American Academy of... Read More

National Preparedness Month

Curt Dooley, Security & Preparedness Manager, Staff | September 08, 2016 |

Recent disasters, both natural (floods, fires and earthquakes) and man-made (mass shootings, terrorist attacks) remind us that life can change at a moment’s notice.

September is National Preparedness Month. This month and throughout the year, here are few actions you can take to get prepared.

Make a Family Emergency Plan Here's how: Identify an out-of-town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among... Read More

Digitally savvy parenting

Wendy Sue Swanson, MD | August 09, 2016 |

As a pediatrician, I encourage families to search online for health advice. Yet how you search and where you click matters. Tips for you and your time with “Dr Google” or “Surgeon Bing.”

The Pew Internet Project’s research finds that over 70% of Internet users in the United States say they have looked online for health information. Furthermore, most health information seekers (i.e. freaked out parents searching in the middle of the night) don’t start their health search on their pediatrician’s... Read More

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