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EPA and DHA Omega-3
Both EPA and DHA support heart health and come in the same fish oil supplement. Find out what makes each omega-3 different and why it matters for your health goals.
Ready for School: Preparing Your Child for Academic Success
Hi. I'm Doctor Jennie. Welcome to Kid's Corner. Today, we're gonna be talking about 'school readiness', which is important any time of the year, but especially at the start of a new school year. This can be a nerve-wracking time for both parents and children. The fear of the unknown can be scary for some kids and even for adults. It's normal to feel some nerves when starting at a new school. Starting school means your child must learn to be more independent, and it's not just reading, writing, and math that they learn in school. Your child will also gain crucial life skills like how to make and keep friends. It's important to be aware of some of the common challenges children might face in school so that you can start to prepare them ahead of time and hopefully prevent some of these issues. One of the common school challenges your child may face is time management. Some kids may need help adjusting to new subjects and increased homework. For some children, academic challenges, or poor grades can be a problem. Others might have performance anxiety. Some kids can get very nervous about every assignment, quiz, and test that they have. Bullying is another issue, and this can lead to serious problems for your child. It can interfere with social and emotional development and school performance. And remember, for older kids, bullying doesn't just occur in the classroom. It can also happen online so be careful of social media use and delay it as long as possible. Similar to bullying, many children face peer pressure. Check in with your child and let them know that they should always listen to their inner voice and never feel that they have to do anything that feels unsafe to them. And don't worry, you can help prepare your child for the adjustment to school. Talk to your child about starting school one to two weeks beforehand and all throughout the school year. Listen to your child's concerns and offer support. Validate any emotions they may have, whether it's fear, anger, excitement, or worrying. Let them know it's okay to feel scared and that it's normal to be worried about something they haven't done before. Try to help your child get familiar with their new school. If it's the start of a school year, if possible schedule a tour or drive by the campus before the first day. And try to attend any start of the school year events that might be scheduled. You can even create a map of their school and the classrooms before school starts or if you're moving to a new school. This can help relieve some anxiety. And have fun with it. Use bright colors or stickers for the playground, the cafeteria, or favorite classes as you map out their school. Try to get your child excited about school. Try to sound positive and upbeat when you talk to your child about starting school. Remember, children feed off of and even mimic their parents' energy. If your child can sense that you're nervous about school, it could make your child feel more anxious about their school as well. Some ways to get excited about school can be back-to-school shopping, reading children's books about starting school, or identifying any friends that might be in their new class too. So next, let's talk about some of the areas in which your children may need more parental guidance. The first is time management. Help your child set short-term and long-term goals. Teach your child to do the most important tasks first. You can even get a calendar or planner and show your child how to list out all their responsibilities like homework and afterschool activities. Next is grades. Check in often to make sure your child is completing their homework and help them get extra help or tutoring for any areas they're having difficulty in. Reward success all throughout the year. Even if your child is struggling, it's still important to support any efforts they make. Let them know it's okay as long as they're working hard and doing their best. Encourage your child to ask their teachers questions and let them know it's okay to ask for help. When your child does make a mistake, talk to them about how they can learn from it. Remember, practice makes perfect. Approach any failures your child has with compassion. Let your child know that a bad grade does not make them a bad kid. And that you love them the same amount regardless of their grades. You also wanna talk to your child about self-esteem and social skills. You can do this by helping your child learn how to make and keep friends. Try to teach your child some of the following: to let other people know that your child appreciates them, to avoid gossip and putdowns in any kind of negative talk, to seek out kind respectful people as friends, and to not let a simple disagreement hurt their friendships. You can also nourish your child's self-esteem by helping them recognize and grow their talents. Encourage your child to take part in afterschool activities that they're interested in. This can be sports, drama, or anything else. These can really help to raise a child's confidence. Talk about all the successes your child has had. Examples include doing well on a test, learning new spelling words, trying a new skill, reaching out to a new friend, or completing an art project. Communicate with your child's teachers often to help identify any potential issues. The earlier you reach out to their teachers, the more time you allow for your child to improve. Finally, talk about any potential problems with your child before school starts and all throughout the year. To help them deal with peer pressure, teach them to say no and to choose friends who treat them kindly and with respect. Talk with your child about bullying. Teach them the importance of using kind words and treating others as they would like to be treated themselves. Help your child come up with a plan in case they do have to deal with the bully. For example, they can walk away or they can look the bully in the eye and say, "leave me alone." And that they should always talk to their teacher or parent for any problems that arise. It's also important to talk to your child about the importance of eating snacks, meals, and drinking water while at school. Unfortunately, I've had so many patients who don't eat at all while at school and this can really affect their learning and their growth. Check in with your child, send them to school with a refillable water bottle, and if it's possible, add some non-perishable healthy snacks to their backpack, so they always have a backup option for nutrition. I usually recommend low-sugar granola or protein bars, fruits, like apples, and nuts or nut butters if allowed by their school. If your child has a learning disability or developmental delays, then it's important to speak to your child's school early to arrange for any accommodations or extra support they may need. It's important to know what kind of disability your child has. It also helps to know what their strengths are. If your child hasn't been tested, talk to their school about doing a comprehensive assessment. Your child may be able to get help from a learning specialist at school. And if so, your child will likely get a learning plan, which is called an individualized education plan, or also known as an IEP. If your child doesn't qualify for services or an IEP, work with the school to find the best ways to help your child learn. For example, your child might need extra time to finish tests and school work, or there might be tutoring options available through the school. Remember, you can use these tips not only for back to school, but throughout the whole school year. I'm Doctor Jennie, and see you on the next Kid's Corner.
Positive Parenting: Strategies for Raising Happy, Healthy Kids
Hi. I'm Doctor Jennie with Kid's Corner. Today, I will be talking about something called 'positive parenting'. If you're watching this, you know that parenting can be challenging. Trying to figure out how to do it well is hard. But just by thinking about how to be a good parent, you're already on the right path. Today, we will review some of the cornerstones of positive parenting. To start, it's important to create a safe and supportive environment for your child. It's not possible to give your child too much love. Children thrive with lots of love and attention. Showing affection is very beneficial to a child. To help children feel safe and secure, it's important to provide a stable home environment. This can mean following a clear routine and always communicating with your child about what their day will be like and who will pick them up. Even if your child spends time between two different homes, following the same rules and routines in each of their homes will help them feel secure. Routines help to delineate clear expectations for the day and for your child's responsibilities, which in turn helps to reduce fear and anxiety and ultimately makes your child feel more in control of their day. Next, creating clear boundaries is another important cornerstone of effective parenting. Having understandable rational rules for your family helps teach children about societal norms and helps them gain the behavioral skills they need to be successful in school, relationships, and life. So, here are some tips. Set clear rules, expectations, and consequences. Discipline does not mean punishment. It means setting boundaries. Discipline should be fair and focused on teaching logical consequences. For example, you threw your legos all over the floor so now we will have to clean them up together so that no one steps on a piece and gets hurt. If you throw the legos on the floor again, we will have to put them away for another day. Never use physical consequences like hitting or spanking as they send the wrong message to your child about how to handle their problems. When kids know what the rules are, it can help them feel safe and it can also help kids learn self-control and prepare them to do well in social settings outside your home. Follow through with consequences. Maybe you've warned your child that they don't get to watch a movie if they don't first clean up their room. Kids may try to test the limits that their parents have set. But following through with consequences right away and not playing that movie until they've cleaned up their room, shows them that you're serious about what you expect. Learn where to be flexible at the same time. Giving your child options about how to meet some expectations may work better than a 'my way or the highway' approach. For example, you may expect your child to get dressed before school. You can be firm about this rule, but you might be able to be flexible about when the getting dressed happens as long as it happens, of course, before you need to leave the house. Praise good behavior. Look for chances to compliment behavior that you want to see instead of only criticizing the behavior you don't. This can be hard to remember at times, but this type of positive reinforcement is very effective in children. Children yearn for our attention so giving praise often will only teach children to keep doing those positive behaviors. Unfortunately, when we give big reactions to bad behaviors, children actually might continue those bad behaviors just as an effort to gain your attention. Remember that it's okay to say no sometimes. You know what your child needs to be safe, happy, and healthy. If your child wants to have something, do something, or go somewhere that you don't agree with, you can say no. And if you don't like using the word no often, then you can try offering alternatives instead of saying no. For example, if your child asks to have candy for breakfast, you can say, candy isn't on the menu for breakfast today, but we do have strawberries and waffles, or oatmeal with bananas, you can choose. Another important cornerstone of effective parenting is open communication. Talk to your children often. Ask open-ended questions. Ask about their feelings and validate any emotions they may have. Try your best not to diminish their feelings with comments like it's "no big deal" or "stop crying". Treat your child with respect. Listen carefully and reflect back what your child says to you. This helps your child gain your trust and also helps them follow directions better. Teach younger children about honesty. Discuss what telling the truth and honesty mean and why they're important. Talk about the difference between real and make believe. Help your child understand the benefits of honesty as a way to build trust with others. Teach your child why it's important for people to be able to trust their word and point out examples of honesty in others. Praise your child for telling the truth even if they made a mistake. Next, another cornerstone of effective parenting is to foster your child's sense of independence and support their interests. Start by letting your child help with simple chores. Like throwing away their trash, cleaning their room, setting the table, or maybe sorting socks when you're folding laundry. Give them opportunities like this to help with household chores, and this helps develop their sense of responsibility. Give your child opportunities to make choices too. Like what to wear, which healthy snack to choose, or what book to read. Encourage your child to play with others. Help teach them the importance of sharing, taking turns, and being kind to others. Support your child in taking on new challenges. Encourage them to solve their own problems and try to resist the urge to immediately jump in to solve or fix their problems for them. Learning how to come up with their own solutions fosters creative, independent thinking, and boosts your child's self-esteem. Encourage your child to get involved in extracurricular events through their school or community. This can be sports, arts, clubs, or volunteering. Finally, I can't stress enough the importance of modeling good behavior. Let your child see you being kind to others. If you had a hard day, verbalize that to show your child how to deal with frustration, anger, or sadness. For example, you can tell your child, "This morning at work, it seemed like nothing was going my way and I felt really disappointed. I decided to take a five-minute break and then I felt much better." Or if you're feeling angry by your child's behavior, try to take a pause before you yell at them. Say, "I'm feeling really upset right now, and I'm gonna go in the other room for one minute to take a deep breath to calm down. I will be right back after that to help you." If you do accidentally yell at your child once in a while, it's okay. Once you're feeling calm, talk to them about it. It's okay to apologize to your child. This is good modeling. As parents, we don't have to be perfect all the time. Children actually learn how to deal with their emotions, failures and disappointments better by learning how you deal with your own. The most important thing to remember is that parenting is a process. Be patient and persistent, and your efforts will be rewarded. I'm Doctor Jennie, and thanks for watching another episode of Kid's Corner.
Calm in the Storm: Managing Your Child's Tantrums Effectively
Hi. I'm Doctor Jennie, and welcome to another edition of Kid's Corner. Today, we're going to talk about a challenging topic that all parents face at one time or another: tantrums. Have you ever been that parent in the middle of a crowded grocery store and your child asked for candy? You say no, and then they proceed to shout, cry, kick, and throw their arms and legs around, drawing attention and judgmental stares from everyone around you. These moments can be so challenging, but you're not alone. These aggressive outbursts or tantrums are actually a normal part of child development. All children will have a tantrum at some point. Why do children have tantrums? Young children may not yet have the skills to express strong emotions in other ways. A tantrum is a way for your child to show frustration. If your child has a tantrum, this is not a reflection of your parenting. Tantrums, again, are a part of normal child development. Tantrums can be more common when a child is afraid, very tired, hungry, uncomfortable, or in need of attention. During a tantrum, children can cry, yell, swing their arms and legs, but the good news is that tantrums are usually pretty quick. They typically last thirty seconds to a few minutes and are strongest at the start. Sometimes tantrums may last longer and may be stronger. Children may try to hit, bite, pinch, or throw objects, or they may even throw their own body to the floor. Some children can even hurt themselves by banging their head against a wall or on the floor. If this type of intense tantrum becomes common, you may need more help from your doctor. In rare cases, some children can actually have breath-holding spells. If this happens, make an appointment with your doctor to get more help. So how can you care for your child when they're having a tantrum? When they go high, you go low. Try to respond calmly and lower your voice. If you respond with anger, yelling, or frustration, that could actually prolong the tantrum. When a child is kicking, biting, and pinching, it's important to make sure your child doesn't get hurt or hurt anyone else by gently finding them a safe space or moving them away from others. Some children may need to be held in a gentle hug to keep from hurting themselves or others. During and after a tantrum, comfort your child without giving in to their demands. Instead, you can try to give them some control over little things by offering choices. For example, "I won't let you watch your tablet anymore today. Would you like to play with your toys or color instead?" If you do give in to your child's demands, they may eventually determine that if they cry long enough or loud enough, they can get what they want. So, try your best not to give in to a tantrum. For longer tantrums, you can sometimes try to distract your child by moving to a different room, offering a safe toy, whispering something silly or even singing a song. Praise your child for calming down and never make fun of your child for a temper tantrum. Do not use words or phrases like "bad girl" or "bad boy" to describe your child during a tantrum. And do not spank your child. This teaches them the wrong message and may actually reinforce hitting behaviors. Don't try to teach them while they're still in the tantrum. It's usually not effective. Wait until they have calmed down or talk about the tantrum later on during the day. Teach your child to handle anger and frustration. Let your child know that it's okay to feel angry or frustrated or sad but it's never okay to hit, bite, or hurt others or themselves. Offer simple suggestions to help a child learn self-control. For example, tell your child to use words to express their feelings or to close their eyes and take a deep breath if they're feeling overwhelmed. Or you can give your child a safe place where your child can go to calm down for a few minutes. Praise good behavior often, not just after a tantrum. And be a good role model. Children learn the most by watching their parents. Set a good example by handling your own frustration calmly. If you do find yourself feeling overwhelmed during a tantrum, it's okay to take a brief minute to calm yourself or switch off with another caretaker. To avoid tantrums in the first place, here are some helpful tips. Know when your child tends to get hungry and pack healthy snacks if you're going to be out of the house. Avoid giving your child too much sugar or fast food as these poor sources of nutrition may contribute to more behavioral issues. And be aware of your child's signs of tiredness and offer a nap when needed if they still take one. Be flexible. Sometimes it's okay to give in to our children. If your child's initial request is reasonable and safe, like they ask to read one more book or to wear their favorite shirt to school, then it's okay to say yes sometimes to avoid that tantrum. Young children are often looking for control in an effort to build their independence and self-esteem so these small wins can help your child in the long run. I hope these tips come in handy the next time that a tantrum strikes. I'm Doctor Jennie, and I'll see you at the next Kid's Corner.
From Battle to Bonding: Transforming Your Child's Bedtime Routine
Welcome to another Kid's Corner. I'm Doctor Jennie, and today I'm talking about bedtime battles. Do you dread your child's bedtime? Does bedtime feel more like a battle than a bonding time? If so, you're not alone. Bedtime struggles are incredibly common. These bedtime battles can be frustrating and upsetting for both you and your child. Many children do not want to go to bed when they should. They have so much energy and it can be hard for them to wind down. Sometimes children refuse to go to sleep as a way to show their independence. At other times, they may simply need extra attention or reassurance before they feel safe and comfortable enough to sleep well. But as caregivers, we know how important it is for our little ones to get a good night's rest. As a pediatrician, I recommend about ten to twelve hours of sleep per night for school-aged children between ages three to twelve years old. Getting enough sleep is important for growth, development, and learning. When bedtime doesn't go as planned, of course, we worry about our children getting enough sleep. But don't worry. Today, we will be talking about some of the simple things you can do to help make bedtime go a little more smoothly. Here are some of the top recommendations I give parents. Make and keep a bedtime routine. A bedtime routine is a simple sequence of steps that you do every night in the same order to get ready for bed. Doing the same things in the same order every night teaches your child what to expect and eventually leads to less resistance. For example, you might do bath time, brushing teeth, reading a book and then bedtime. What you include in your routine is up to you, but try not to let it get too detailed or too long. Some children may also try a stalling technique where they keep asking for things like an extra stuffed animal, a different blanket, one more hug, one more book, and so on. If you find your child often trying to stall bedtime, you can even leave a little room for this in the bedtime routine. By adding a finite number of last requests that they get to make, like one or two maximum, and then lights out. As often as possible, have your child go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Offer choices. Children may have less resistance to go to bed if you give them a bit of control over some portions of the bedtime routine. As an example, I let my daughter choose which pajamas to wear and what books we will read. But even though we follow the same routine every night, there are still some nights she tries to suggest playing with her toys instead of reading our books. So be easy on yourself too. Use bedtime as an opportunity to connect with your child. Try to put your phone away and really focus on your child without distractions. To help bond with your child, you can ask them what the best and worst parts of their day were, or you could sing a special song together, or think of three things that you are each thankful for. I also recommend shifting the focus to something to look forward to the next day to encourage your child to go to bed. For example, try telling them the sooner you go to bed, the sooner it will be the morning, and the more time you will have to play with your toys before school. Try to avoid things that might be too stimulating for your child. Starting in the afternoon, avoid caffeine sources like soda and chocolate. Maybe avoid those altogether. And keep screens out of the bedtime routine. I recommend no screens for at least one hour before bedtime, as blue light from the screen can actually send stimulating signals to the brain to stay awake. You may also need to remove screens from the bedroom altogether to avoid any temptations your child might have to turn on the TV or tablet at night. And for teenagers, I recommend charging their phones out of the bedroom overnight. Dim the lights and use a quiet voice during bedtime, and avoid reading scary stories or talking about anything stressful right before bedtime. When it is time for sleep, keep your child's bedroom dark, cool, and quiet. You can even use a sound machine to block out any background noises in the home. Make sure your child does get a nutritious well-balanced dinner ideally at least one hour before bedtime. Likewise, we don't want them having to wake up to use the restroom so try to avoid offering your child any fluids for an hour before bedtime. This means you will want to encourage lots of water intake earlier in the day. Use positive reinforcement. By positive reinforcement, I mean let your child know when they're doing a good job. You can even use sticker charts to track the nights that they do a good job following their bedtime routine. And for extra motivation, you can let your child know that after a certain number of good nights or stickers on their calendar, they can gain a bigger reward. Just remember to avoid food as rewards. Bigger rewards can be going to their favorite park or museum, a small toy, or choosing a favorite movie to watch that weekend. If your child is getting out of bed too early in the morning, you can also try an okay to wake light. If that doesn't help, then you should talk to your child's doctor about their sleep schedule and how to gradually adjust it. Bedtime struggles probably won't disappear in one night, and there can be lots of ups and downs. These struggles with bedtime can be more common when children are going through transition periods too. This can mean starting a new school, or moving to a new house, or other transitions. The best thing that you can do as a parent or a caregiver is to be as consistent as possible. And don't be too hard on yourself on the nights when bedtime doesn't go as planned. If you are concerned about sleep issues that go beyond just getting to bed like sleepwalking, severe nightmares, snoring, or significant difficulty falling or staying asleep, then talk to your clinician. They can help. I'm Doctor Jennie with Kid's Corner, wishing you and your little ones sweet dreams.
Coughs and Colds 101: Keeping Your Child Healthy During Winter
Hi. I'm Doctor Jennie Gary. Welcome to another episode of Kid's Corner. Today, we're going to be talking about the dreaded cough and cold season. Have you ever felt like your child is constantly sick during the winter season, jumping from one cold to the next? Trust me, Aa a pediatrician and parent myself, you are not alone. What many parents don't realize is that it's actually normal for young children to get six to eight colds in a single year and most of these colds usually occur during the fall and winter months. With each cold sometimes lasting one to two weeks, that can make it feel nearly constant for a parent at times. Coles, also known as upper respiratory infections (or URIs), are an infection of the nose, sinuses, or throat. URIs are spread by droplets through cough, sneezes, or even direct contact. The common cold is the most frequent kind of URI that affects kids. The flu and sinus infections are other common kinds of URIs. It's important to know that the vast majority of URIs and kids are caused by viruses, which means that antibiotics won't cure them since antibiotics only work against bacteria and not viruses. But don't worry, there are many things you can do at home to help your child feel better and recover. Let's review some of the supportive care that's recommended for colds and children. Keep your child at home if they have a fever and wash their hands often, disinfect surfaces and avoid kissing and sharing cups to prevent the spread of infection. Have your child drink plenty of water and other fluids. This can help soothe a dry or sore throat. You can also add honey or lemon juice and warm water to provide throat pain relief. But be careful, please never give honey to a child under one-year old. Likewise, never give water to infants under six months old unless it's been directed by your doctor. If your child has a fever or is in pain, you can give them children acetaminophen, which is the same as brand name Tylenol, or if they are older than six months of age, children's ibuprofen, which goes by brand names Advil or Motrin. But please be safe with medicines and always make sure your doctor approves. Read and follow all the instructions on the label and remember to pay attention to dosing windows. For infants and young children under age two years old, ask your doctor what weight-based dose is best for them. Most over-the-counter pain or fever reducers for children don't have the dose listed for children under two years old. And never give aspirin to anyone under nineteen years old. It's been linked to Ray syndrome, which is a serious illness. If your child does have just a low fever or elevated temperature, there are other options as well to bring their fever down. You can, for example, put a cold wet washcloth on their forehead. You can give them a lukewarm bath, or you can just try to remove some of the extra clothes or blankets that you have on them. If you're going to monitor their temperature this way, just make sure you're frequently checking with a thermometer to make sure that their temperature is coming down. For any real high fever or if your child is uncomfortable, go ahead and use the Tylenol or Motrin. If your child has a stuffy nose or congestion, You can try using a nasal saline spray or a nasal saline drop. For infants and toddlers, you can actually use a nasal aspirator or a bulb suction to help remove some of congestion from their nostrils. Additionally, you can try a cool mist humidifier while your child is sleeping to relieve some of their congestion. Ultimately, I recommend for all children to first try other supportive measures first and to use over-the-counter cough medicines sparingly. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually advises against cough and cold medicines like dimetapp and robitussin for children that are under six years old. And that's because they don't really work for children that age and they can even be harmful. Side effects can include sedation and sometimes these medications are already mixed with Tylenol or ibuprofen, which can lead to potential overdose when used with other medicines. For children who are six years and older, always follow all the instructions carefully and make sure you know how much medicine to give and how long to use it. And use the dosing device if one is included. I know as a parent, how difficult it can be to hear your child coughing and struggling. But be reassured. This cough is their body's natural mechanism for getting the infection out of their body. It's okay if they don't cough out the mucus, it will eventually clear through the digestive system if swallowed. For cough relief, try more natural methods instead of medication. Some natural methods could be honey, warm fluids, and lots of water. Again, you can use a nasal saline spray every few hours. You can apply a droplet or spray into each side of the nose and then depending on your child's age, have them either gently blow their nose or for younger children, you can go ahead and use the nasal aspirator to suction their nose. Try having your child sleep at a more upright angle with extra pillows or by elevating the head of their mattress. Of course, for infants, there should never be any extra pillows or extra bedding within their crib. You can also try using a cool mist humidifier by their bedside at night. Just make sure to follow the directions for cleaning the machine's filter. Finally, of course, encourage your child to rest. Try to choose activities like reading or coloring instead of running around at the park, and avoid crowded places and contact with others to prevent spreading the virus to others. If your child does have a fever, they should stay home until they are fever-free for at least twenty-four hours. Encourage frequent hand washing and try not to share cups, utensils, or towels. Let's talk briefly about a question that is on many parents' minds when their child sick: Will antibiotics help my child's cold? Since viruses account for the vast majority of colds and kids, antibiotics won't work, and that's because antibiotics, again, are drugs used to kill bacteria. Bacteria can cause other infections like strep throat, ear infections, and pneumonia. Aside from antibiotics not working against viral infections, they can also come with many side effects. Side effects can include nausea, diarrhea, skin rash, yeast infection, and rarely severe allergic reactions which can present with itching, swelling, or breathing problems. However, there are definitely some cases in which antibiotics are needed in children. So always ask your doctor if antibiotics are the best treatment. How do you know if you should bring your child to the doctor or not? First of all, Remember that you should call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call nine one one or go to the if your child seems very lethargic, confused, or is hard to wake up. Your child has severe trouble breathing. Your child has a fever lasting longer than five days in a row. Or has a very high fever. Your child seems to be getting much sicker or their symptoms are rapidly worsening. Your child coughs up blood, they're unable to eat or drink, or your child is complaining of severe pain. Watch closely for changes in your child's health and be sure to contact your doctor if your child is showing new symptoms like a rash, an earache, or a sore throat. You should also call your doctor if your child is having fevers for more than five days in a row or if they've had a mild cold for a few days and then they suddenly spike a new fever. Call your doctor also if your child has had a cough for more than three weeks straight or they just don't get better as expected. And you can always make a visit with your child's doctor even if just for reassurance or for any other concerns you may have. And what about once your child starts to get better? When is it okay for them to go back to school? Ultimately, each school has its own set of rules for returning to school after being sick. Make sure to check with your child's school about their sick policy. As a pediatrician, I generally recommend that a child not go back to school until they have been fever-free for at least twenty-four hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. We also recommend that your child's appetite and energy level are fairly close to normal before returning to school. If your child has been vomiting, we also recommend twenty-four hours free of vomiting before returning to school. And if your school requires a doctor's note to excuse their absence, then be sure to make an appointment for that too. I hope that some of these tools will come in handy this winter season. Remember to walk those hands often. I'm Doctor Jennie. I'll see you on the next Kid's Corner.