What Happens When Parents Talk to Kids Frankly About Sex?

MONDAY, July 29, 2019 -- Parents who worry about discussing sex with their kids can relax: New research shows it leads teens to adopt safer practices and doesn't make them more likely to become sexually active.

That's the upshot of an analysis of 31 studies on the effectiveness of parent-based sexual health interventions. The research included nearly 12,500 9- to 18-year-olds.

How to Make Your Child's Hospital Stay Safer, Less Stressful

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 -- More than 3 million kids are hospitalized in the United States every year. Whether it's for a planned test or surgery or an injury or other emergency, knowing how to be involved in your child's care can help you get through what's often a stressful event.

The single most important thing you can do is be an active member of your child's health care team, taking part in every decision, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Learn as much as you can about your child's condition and needed tests and treatments from the medical staff and other reliable sources. Ask if the doctor's recommendations are based on the latest scientific evidence.

Tips for Keeping Your Child Healthy at Camp

MONDAY, June 17, 2019 -- With thousands of kids heading to camp for the summer, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some tips for keeping them safe and happy.

In a new report, the group recommends that all children have a checkup before leaving for camp.

Reacting Against a 'Too Clean' World, Some Parents Go Too Far the Other Way

WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2019 -- Somewhere between the Mom who obsessively wipes down every knob and toy her child might touch, and the Dad who thinks rolling in the dirt is "good" for kids, there's a healthy medium, British experts say.

"We have to find a way to protect against infectious diseases and harmful microbes, whilst at the same time sustaining exposure to the essential beneficial microbes in our world," explained Sally Bloomfield.