Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or vapes, are increasingly popular amongst teenagers. Unlike adults who may use vapes to wean themselves off cigarettes, it is many teenagers’ first entryway into using tobacco products. Dr. Crystal Cole, an adolescent medicine specialist at Akron Children’s, shares her insight on three myths related to vaping. Myth #1: […]
TikTok: A guide for parents
With so many social platforms popping up each year, it’s tough for parents to keep track of what’s what. So it’s no wonder TikTok has many of us scratching our heads over what this latest trend in social media is all about. The social network for watching, making and sharing user-generated short videos — often […]
Social media’s impact on body image
The effects of social media on body image and disordered eating among adolescents are becoming clear, so it’s important for parents to be aware and take steps to blunt the negative influences. That’s the message from Dr. Crystal Cole of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Akron Children’s. New studies are showing a pronounced relationship […]
The ups and downs of teen emotions and how to help
It’s not easy for adults to manage their emotions, so imagine how difficult it is for kids. In the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Akron Children’s, Dr. Crystal Cole not only tends to physical health needs of her patients. At times, she helps them understand their feelings. Her patients are at an emotionally vulnerable age. […]
Snapchat: A guide to keeping our teens safe
If you have teens or tweens in your house, you’ve probably heard about Snapchat — the uber-popular social messaging app that users use to exchange pictures and videos (called snaps) that capture life’s everyday moments. But while many parents have heard about Snapchat, most of us can admit we don’t know the ins and outs […]
10 tips to help kids deal with school anxiety
For some kids, anxiety can be short-lived nervousness at the start of the school year. For others, school can be a constant source of stress that can lead to intense anxiety. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, school-related anxiety affects 2 to 5 percent of children and teens, commonly between ages 5 […]













