Kids With IEPs During Quarantine Still Have Rights, Experts Say

May 20, 2020

Romper – Cat Bowen

As the mom of an autistic son, I can tell you that these past few months have been incredibly stressful. It took us weeks to figure out how my son could continue with some of his services, and what his individualized educational program (IEP) meant with distance learning. Certain aspects of his IEP, like extended test time, were no longer needed as timed tests aren’t a part of his daily routine anymore, but other matters, like extensive one-on-one tutoring and cognitive therapies, weren’t happening as I am not qualified to help him in these areas. While every state is dealing with this differently, I was assured by the New York State Department of Education, through my son’s speech therapist and his school, that he would be receiving all the services that they could functionally provide through virtual learning programs. Read More

How to prioritize healthy behaviors to support kids’ physical and mental health

May 20, 2020

Medical X-Press – Staff Writer

As cities and states across the country enact phased guidelines to re-open, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, encourages parents and caregivers to consider the same concept for re-prioritizing healthy routines that influence both immediate and long-term health.

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Margaret Yen-Chuang Matthews: Getting kids to move

May 19, 2020

The Union – Margaret Yen-Chuang Matthews

With distance learning and homeschooling, children are spending more time on screens and indoors than ever. Our community sport teams, pickup basketball games, swimming pools, park playgrounds, summer camps, dance studios and physical education classes are all closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. With these and so many other venues for children and teenagers to exercise being closed, how can we get our kids to move? Even without organized activities, parents can help get their housebound children moving and have fun doing it. As families shelter in place together, keeping active is a great way to spend family time.

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Parent-led discussion about mutual strengths benefits parent-teen communication

May 19, 2020

Medical X-Press – Staff Writer

A primary care-based intervention to promote parent-teen communication led to less distress and increased positive emotions among adolescents, as well as improved communication for many teens, according to a new study by researchers at the Center for Parent and Teen Communication at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The findings, which were published today in The Journal of Pediatrics, highlight the potential impact of engaging parents in the primary care setting to improve parent-teen communication, which could lead to better adolescent health outcomes.

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Children on coronavirus: ‘Don’t just tell us to wash our hands and say it will be okay’

May 18, 2020

Medical X-Press – Lucy Bray, Holly Saron and Jo Protheroe

Children’s lives in the UK have been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are no longer attending school, seeing grandparents or friends and are being asked to stay at home with their families to save lives. Children are learning, connecting and doing PE remotely, drawing rainbows and clapping every week for key workers. But like the adults in their lives, many will be experiencing uncertainty, confusion and have questions about COVID-19 and the world they are now living in.

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