Children

Dear Dr. Bill, We have 3 sons, ages 11, 10, and 8. My two older boys often pick on their younger brother.  I intervene whenever I can, but my youngest is starting to play victim.  He says he doesn’t feel loved by his brothers.  I understand that some of this pecking order Read More

Do cigarette ads influence kids to start smoking?  It sure looks that way. According to a story in Heath Day news, the more tobacco advertising teenagers see, the more likely they are to start smoking. German researchers found that for every 10 tobacco ads that a teenager sees, Read More

Dear Dr. Bill, It seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done and still spend quality time with my kids.  But I’m afraid that one day I’ll regret my day-to-day decisions, in favor of a clean house.  How can I change? –Sharon Dear Sharon, Read More

Do you have a soccer player in your family?  If so, listen up. According to a story on Health.com, new research has found that soccer players who head the ball a lot show changes in the white matter of their brain.  Those changes are similar to those seen in traumatic head Read More

Dear Dr. Bill, My husband and I have a 3-year-old son named Garrett.  Until recently, I had established a consistent bedtime routine that worked for him. But now my husband has started going into his room to comfort him.  He’ll often lay down with him until he falls asleep.  As a Read More

Are American kids spending too much time with tech?  Not if you ask their parents. The Chicago Tribune reports on research done at Northwestern University that found that parents don’t seem to be concerned about their kids’ use of media. The study looked at over 2,000 moms and Read More

Dear Dr. Bill, I have 2 daughters, ages 13 and 7, who fight constantly.  They are very mean-spirited and are quick to blame each other. We have talked to them many times about kindness and forgiveness, but nothing ever changes.  What should we do? –Monica Dear Monica, It’s Read More

Does taking medication for ADHD increase your risk for drug addiction or alcoholism?  The answer is “no,” according to a new review of multiple studies. This new research may help reassure parents who are concerned about the controversy over the use of medications to treat the Read More

Don’t mess with Merida. That’s the message Disney got loud and clear after announcing that the character from Pixar’s film “Brave” would become the their11th official princess. According to PluggedIn.com, the honor came with a makeover which included a smaller Read More

Dear Dr. Bill, I’m a new mother of a 4-month-old.  I worry constantly about my baby’s health and well being, and I have a great fear of her getting sick.  I insist on my family & friends washing their hands before they touch her.  I also refuse to let her visit Read More