It's not perfect. It's parenting.
Sometimes you need answers to the little everyday things that parents encounter. And sometimes, you just need someone to encourage you through all of the craziness and challenges of parenthood. Welcome to Parent-ish, a blog from the experts at Children's Mercy.
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Adulting 101: Applying for college financial aid
Higher education is an important goal for many students, but it comes with its share of questions about affordability. Degrees aren’t cheap, and you want to be sure you and your student are making a sound investment. That’s where financial aid comes in. Even if you have funds set aside for school, it’s worthwhile to apply for help – and you may be eligible and not know it! We hope to help simplify and provide clarity for you and your teen.
How to protect your little ones from button and lithium coin batteries
As parents, ensuring the safety of our children is always a top priority. One hidden danger that many might overlook is the presence of button batteries in everyday household items. These small, coin-shaped batteries can pose serious risks if swallowed or inserted into the nose or ears. Here's what you need to know to keep your children safe.
Tips to become a health literacy hero
As parents, we all want the best for our children. Especially when it comes to their health. Medical information can sometimes feel like a secret language, and you may wish you had a superpower to decode it. Good news - you do! Health literacy tips and tools are at your fingertips.
Life after transplant
Organ transplant is dramatic, from the excitement of hearing about a potential match to the surgery itself. It’s a huge turning point in a patient’s life! But the most interesting part of a patient's journey happens once they recover, go home and get to start a new life with a new organ. Here’s what post-transplant life is like for a heart transplant patient.
Party smart: A parent’s guide to keeping teens safe (without cramping their style)
For teens, events like school dances and sporting events are rites of passage. Often, they’re followed by another rite of passage that can be anxiety-inducing for parents: after parties. As parents, ensuring the safety of our teens when they attend parties can be a daunting task. But with communication and boundary setting, you can help your teen navigate these events safely.
Understanding Measles: What parents need to know
As a parent, the health and safety of your child is always a top priority. With recent measles cases confirmed in the Midwest, it's more important than ever to be informed about this highly contagious disease. This blog aims to provide you with essential information about measles, its symptoms, how it spread and the importance of vaccination, so your family can stay healthy.
Global flavors: A parent's guide to exploring cultural cuisines with kids
While it can be easy to lean on your tried and true, family-favorite recipes, introducing children to diverse cuisines is a wonderful way to expand their understanding of different cultures while also trying new foods. As parents, we have the unique opportunity to use food as a tool for education and connection. Here are some tips on how to make this journey enjoyable and nutritious for your family.
13 parent-tested potty training tips
Potty training is a significant milestone in every child's development, but it can also be a challenging time for parents. Whether you're just starting out or looking for new strategies, you're in the right place. We reached out to our Parent-ish community to gather everything from tried-and-true methods to creative solutions, so your potty-training journey goes as smoothly as possible – for both you and your child!
The ultimate guide to road-tripping with kids
Everyone loves a family vacation or taking the kids to visit extended family. However, road-tripping with kids can cause anxiety, stress and overall be daunting. We’ve created a guide for how to get the best out of your road trip and how to keep your kids entertained.
Spring forward into great sleep!
If there is one consistent thing most parents dread…it’s the clocks changing. While you might be looking forward to longer days and more sunshine, you’re probably also grappling with the challenges of adjusting your schedule to daylight savings time. Here are some practical tips to help your family smoothly transition into daylight savings time.
The dos and don’ts of parent-teacher conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are crucial opportunities to discuss your child's progress, address concerns and build a relationship with their educators. And while we all think the best of our child, sometimes there may be feedback in these meetings that is hard to hear. Here are some essential dos and don'ts to ensure these meetings are productive and positive.
How to keep brushing your teeth fun
We all know getting your kids to brush their teeth can be a struggle. Despite how challenging it can be, brushing your teeth is an essential part of everyone’s morning and nighttime routine. Telling your kids not brushing their teeth will make their teeth fall out may be the truth, but it won’t help those kids who struggle with this mundane, everyday task. Keep reading our guide for ways to add some fun into your teeth brushing routine!
5 teen relationship red flags
I spend a lot of time talking to patients and parents about healthy relationships. It’s common for teens to have some less-than-great experiences as they take more ownership over their social lives. With support from schools, health care professionals and other trusted adults, parents can help adolescents prioritize positive connections and avoid harmful dynamics.
Resources for helping kids process the anniversary of the Super Bowl parade shootings
The horrific events that took place after the 2024 Chiefs parade and rally at Union Station may again strike fear a year later, especially for children and families who were at the parade and witnessed terrifying things. Anniversary reactions are a common part of the recovery process after tragic events, especially those that include loss and fear. To support your child, we've created resources and guidance on what to look out for.
How to support your kids through big life changes
Most children will experience impactful life changes – “big” changes. Even expected life transitions can be stressful and feel “big” to kids, such as a sibling leaving for college, transitioning from elementary school to middle school or having a new team or coach. Your goal as a parent or caregiver is to give your kids the skills and tools to navigate these changes successfully and help kids feel confident they can cope with these feelings and act in ways that help them adapt to change.