Give children reasons for expectations. “I want you to be safe crossing the street. I expect you to hold on to my hand.” Many things seem so obvious for safe and respectful behavior.

Stay out of the noon-day sun, drink lots of non-alcoholic liquids, and find a cool spot. Remember your children and pets.

Besides educating the politicians that make the guidelines to help protect families there are many educational tools about climate change for children on the internet.

Human hair comes with all sorts of colors, textures and shapes. African hair is more coiled and dry; Asian hair is straighter and thicker; and Caucasian hair is somewhere in between with around 45% having straight hair, 40% having wavy hair, and 15% having curly hair. These variations are determined by many genes and combination with environmental factors (and not in the least by hair stylists!). There is great truth to the quote “you can’t tell a book by its cover.”

Life expectancy has be getting shorter in the US not longer. Do you think the life expectancy of American young people will be getting longer or shorter?

Children are aware of the gun violence in schools and other public places. If they are concerned or feel threatened they should talk to a responsible adult about what they have seen and be rewarded for being a safety officer.

Children whose lives are disrupted by mental health symptoms will NOT just “snap out of it”. They can struggle for years. Treatment after an appropriate diagnosis may be a combination of medication, cognitive (talk) therapy and calming strategies. Adequate sleep is crucial for brain health. Call 988 immediately if your child is thinking of suicide. 988 can also give resources.

Ticks don’t jump or fly. They crawl up low bushes or grass in search of their victim. Then they clasp on with their back legs and reach up their front legs to grab onto a passing victim. Dogs are easy targets as are children. They can detect their victims by breath, body odors, body heat and vibrations.

Is syphilis a childhood disease? A disease of the newborn? Over the past decade, “there’s been about a 700% increase in the cases of congenital syphilis in the United States” from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of STD Prevention.

Humans can’t live without the sun which is the closest star to Earth. It radiates light, heat and solar energy which makes it possible for life on Earth. However, exposure to Ultra Violet Radiation (UVR) from the sun is the main environmental cause of skin cancer.

Most everyone has heard the phrase “you are what you eat”. Some of the first recorded versions date back over 200 hundred years in the French and German literature stating that the food one eats has a bearing on one’s state of mind and health.

A child with a history of chronic lying should be seen by a mental health professional. Chronic liars often have had difficulty establishing a true conscience that tell right from wrong. They may also have other behaviors that are harmful and socially inappropriate that can interfere with school and relationships.

Routines can be important for children who find it hard to understand or cope with change.

Keep the gaming device in a central location where there is a lot of traffic and aski children what games they like and why, ask who they are gaming with and if any stranger has contacted them, and be aware of the games’ content and use parental control.

With any possible exposure to TB, get tested.

The saturated fat in whole milk, coconut oil or salmon is different from the saturated fat found in pizza, French fries and processed meat products

Children (and the entire family) should have a variety of foods from five major food groups daily. Each group supplies important nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. The five food groups are vegetables, fruits, grains, protein foods or dairy products.

Many things have changed since almost all of us have become accustomed to the many electronic devices that surrounds us today. The first electronic “device” occurred in 1745. We know such names as Ben Franklin, Volta, Ampere, Morse, Edison, Hertz, Tesla, Marconi, and Einstein just to name a few that helped discover the power of electricity and expand its many uses. Since that time, 278 years ago, we are surrounded by electronic devices and are struggling to adjust to its changes to human development and cultures. As most readers know the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no devices except video conferences with family and friends before the age of two. This also implies that the family has limited access while caring for young children and supervised access for older children. So what is the parent supposed to do with their time? Do they know how to play with young children? Has the passing of generations of parents with devices helping with child care lost the knowledge of playing with children? Play that helps with exercise for babies during the tummy time can be placing yourself or a toy just out of reach of the baby. Or place toys in a circle around the baby to help develop the muscles to roll over or scoot. Or lie on your back and place the baby on your chest so the baby has to lift its head to see your face. Or while keeping watch have younger siblings play with the baby on the floor. If you are limber enough you can lie on the floor facing the baby and make faces or sing trying to make the baby smile or laugh. As they get older play “pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake” holding the baby’s hands and putting them through the motions, (words are easily available on the internet). As they get a little older hold the baby’s foot and wiggle each toe singing “This little piggy went to market” etc. You can sit in front of the baby and put a colorful hat on your head and say “Look! The hat is on my head”, then remove it and say ”the hat is off”. Then try it on the baby repeating the words and actions while encouraging the baby to reach for the hat. Think of all the things you are teaching, words and actions. As children age parents need to be involved and watch more from the sidelines trying not to control the action but say complimentary things or ask if you can color or build with the blocks. It doesn’t need to be complicated as you could blow bubbles and pop them, playing hide and seek, or tell jokes (why did the little boy throw the clock out of the window? He wanted to see time fly.) There is always riding tricycles and bikes, jumping rope, kicking or throwing a ball. Playing together can improve not only the child’s mood but the parents’ mood. Playing is not just for children.