More than half of school aged kids in the U.S.report playing on a sports team or taking sports related lessons in the past year and experts agree that youth sports not only help get kids physical activity, but can have a variety of psychological, social, and academic benefits. One downside is the potential injuries that come with playing sports or just being an active kid on the playground. On this episode of Kids Wellness Matters, Dr. Sigi Wolf talks about preventing sports injuries and when to bring your own young athlete into the doctor's office for medical care.

Sleep is just as important to your child's development and well-being as a balanced diet and exercise. Yet, establishing healthy sleep habits can be a challenge at every age and stage of childhood. In this episode, two experts from the Sleep Medicine Center at Lurie Children's, Dr. Irina Trosman and Allison Clarke, PhD, talk about common sleep-related issues and also bust myths about good sleep practices, from the use of melatonin in kids to the usefulness of power naps. Listen in for steps you can take to help everyone in your home get a good night's sleep.

Eating disorders have been on the rise in children and adolescents following the COVID-19 pandemic and the Eating Disorder Program at Lurie Children’s is equipped to offer comprehensive care that is practical and tailored to meet the needs of this population. In this episode, Dr. Gregg Montalto, a leader in the Eating Disorders Program, talks about the complexities of eating disorders, emphasizing their nature as brain disorders rather than behavioral choices, discusses different types of eating disorders, the importance of early recognition and intervention and the need for equitable treatment options.

In this episode, Sara Budowsky, LCSW, a Lurie Children’s clinical social worker and psychotherapist in The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, shares insights on differentiating between shyness and social anxiety, the types of fears children experience and supportive strategies to build confidence in young people. She also dives into the importance of validating children's feelings, breaking down fears into manageable steps and the role parents play in fostering emotional resilience.

Dr. Craig Garfield and Dr. John James Parker (JJ) Parker discuss the often underappreciated significance of fathers in family health. They share insights from their experiences as both dads and doctors, which have informed their development of programs and research on the beneficial effects of fathers on child development and family well-being.

The infant and toddler years can be a challenging time for parents when it comes to navigating behavioral issues. Lurie Children’s Little Ones program is the only program of its kind in Illinois that supports parents of young children directly by offering expert guidance, assessment, and intervention. Dr. Miller Shivers is a clinical psychologist in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children's Hospital. She's also the Director of the Lurie Children's Little Ones program. In this episode, she discusses strategies for managing issues many parents face at home such as infant anxiety, toddler tantrums, strengthening the parent-child bond and more.

In this summer bonus episode of Kids’ Wellness Matters, Dr. Nina Alfieri and Dr. Rob Sanchez discuss water and swimming safety tips for families and give advice for multiple layers of protection to prevent drowning.

Hydration is essential all year long but is especially important during the hot summer months. In this episode of Kids’ Wellness Matters, hosts Nina and Rob give practical tips and hacks to help kids get enough water and discuss ways to recognize the signs of dehydration and much more.