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 Hospital. New studies are showing a pronounced […]
Help your teen develop healthy romantic relationships and watch for red flags in unhealthy ones
Teen dating violence is no small problem and, sadly, is much more common than many parents believe. It’s estimated 1 in 3 girls in this country is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Nearly 1.5 million high-school students nationwide experience physical abuse […]
Give your kids the tools to navigate negative peer pressure
“Come on. Let’s cut math class to go grab an iced mocha instead. You in? The girls and I are doing it.” Naomi knows there’s a math quiz today and doesn’t want to get a failing grade, but she also doesn’t want to disappoint her friends. She’s feeling peer pressure. As kids grow, they will […]
Celebrating Black History Month: The people who inspire include well-known people and everyday heroes
When Akron Children’s was founded more than 130 years ago, Akron and the surrounding region already had a reputation as a place that was open to racial and cultural diversity. For example, Sojourner Truth, a woman born into slavery who became a human rights advocate, had given one of the most famous abolitionist and women’s […]
Dr. James Fitzgibbon wins 2020 Distinguished Service Award on eve of his retirement
Dr. James Fitzgibbon, adolescent medicine specialist, originally wanted to be a chemist like his father, but it was his conversations with and mutual respect for teens that led him into adolescent medicine. As the oldest of 13 children, including a set of triplets and twins, Dr. Fitz, as he’s known at Akron Children’s, related […]
TikTok: A guide for curious 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 […]
