Ellenton Pediatrics

10/14/2026

Child sexual abuse is a difficult subject, but one we cannot afford to avoid. And while we often teach children to be cautious around strangers, the reality is that abuse frequently involves someone the child already knows and trusts. Boys, in particular, may struggle to speak up because of shame, fear, or the mistaken belief that they should be strong enough to handle things on their own. The parents' job is not to frighten their children, but to empower them, teach them about body safety and boundaries, and make sure they know they can come to their parents with anything, without fear of blame, punishment, or judgment. These conversations should start early, be age-appropriate, and continue as children grow. Prevention begins with awareness, trust, and keeping the lines of communication open.

10/14/2026

Some fantastic tips here for parents struggling to get their children to take medicine!
Don't give up too easily! Sometimes, a firm, confident, and quick approach works best. After all, you're only trying to help your child feel better!
Other times, giving children a little control can make all the difference. Offer simple choices, such as which drink to take afterward or whether to take the medicine from a syringe or a cup.
Part of the struggle is that children don't like being told what to do. Feeling powerless is frustrating at any age, even for adults!
For more helpful tips, check out our Ellenton Pediatrics handout:
https://www.ellentonpediatrics.com/.../EP-TakingMedicine.pdf
And read the full article here:
https://www.drstevesilvestro.com/how-to-get-your-child-to

Learn how to get your child to take medicine -- from liquid medicine, to eyedrops and ointment, to how to teach your child to swallow pills

10/14/2026

Choosing to start ADHD medication can be a difficult decision for many parents, especially with so much conflicting information out there. Understanding how these medications work, their benefits, and possible side effects can help families feel more confident and informed.
Finding the right medication and dose is often a fine-tuning process that requires patience, close communication with your pediatrician, and sometimes a little trial and error. This excellent guide from the Child Mind Institute helps parents better understand ADHD medications and what to expect along the way.

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) find it unusually difficult to concentrate on tasks, to pay attention, to sit still and to control impulsive behavior. Stimulant medication has been shown to be the most effective treatment for reducing these symptoms. This guide explains...

10/13/2026

🏈 Flag football is growing in popularity, and for good reason!
It's a wonderful way for children and teens to stay active, build confidence, learn teamwork, and enjoy the excitement of football without the intentional tackling.
But while flag football reduces exposure to the repeated head impacts associated with tackle football, it isn't completely risk-free. Sprains, fractures, collisions, and even concussions can still happen.
This helpful article from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia explains the benefits of flag football, the most common injuries, and what parents can do to help keep their young athletes safe.
Because the goal is always the same: keeping kids active, healthy, and having fun!

10/12/2026

❤️

👇 📅 Want more info from experts on how to be a better parent?! Type THRIVE to get a link to our FREE 2026 Fall Parenting & Children's Mental Health Summit Nov 16-19, 2026

Join Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Steve Biddulph, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, Dr. Peter Gray, Dr. Daniel Siegel, Dr. Eli Lebowitz and so many more!

📕 TOPICS INCLUDE:
Discipline, anxiety, childhood trauma, ADHD, screentime, school avoidance, online safety, fostering brain development, attachment, mindfulness, raising capable kids, food and mental health, resiliency, and so much more!

✅ FREE Access
✅ 4 LIVE Interactive Workshops
✅ 35 Masterclass Presentations
✅ 45 Hours of Instruction Available
✅ The TOP Experts on the Planet
✅ Certificates of Completion (for those who purchase recordings)

10/09/2026

Raising boys is a wonderful, sometimes exhausting, and often confusing journey! From toddlerhood through adolescence, each stage brings new challenges, and sometimes the behaviors that frustrate us most are simply signs of a child struggling with changes he doesn't yet understand or know how to express.
Maggie Dent, a well-known Australian parenting educator, former teacher and counselor, bestselling author, and mother of four sons, shares her insights into five particularly challenging stages of boyhood.
Of course, every boy is different, and development doesn't follow a rigid timetable. But her message is an important one: Boys need boundaries and guidance, but also patience, connection, and the freedom to express their emotions without being told to toughen up.

  So often, as parents we find ourselves asking: What’s happening with my boy? Over my many years of working with parents and educators of boys I’ve noticed that there ...

10/09/2026

Can too much screen time cause ADHD? Not exactly, but there is an important connection.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic component. Screens do not cause ADHD, but excessive screen time can contribute to problems with attention, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and sleep, sometimes creating behaviors that look very much like ADHD.
The relationship also goes both ways. Children who already have ADHD may be especially drawn to the constant stimulation, rapid feedback, and instant rewards of video games, social media, and other digital entertainment. At the same time, excessive or problematic screen use may worsen their existing symptoms.
Research has found associations between screen time and attention difficulties, but an association does not prove that screen time causes ADHD. This is an important distinction, especially when parents worry that they may have somehow caused their child's ADHD by allowing too much screen time.
One point worth clarifying in this Cleveland Clinic article is the discussion of screen-time limits. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend a universal one-hour daily limit for all school-aged children. The traditional one-hour recommendation applies to children ages 2–5, while guidance for older children focuses more on the quality of content, healthy boundaries, and making sure screens do not interfere with sleep, exercise, schoolwork, family time, and face-to-face interactions.
The goal isn't to eliminate technology, but to help children develop a healthy relationship with it. And when a child struggles with attention, behavior, or emotional regulation, it's important to look at the whole picture rather than automatically blaming screens or assuming ADHD.
A worthwhile read for parents, with some important nuances to keep in mind!

Can spending too much time on digital devices or playing video games cause ADHD? The answer is more complicated than you may think.

10/09/2026

Such a smart idea for flu season! Kids always seem to get sick at the least convenient time, and having a “flu box” ready can make those 2 AM fevers a little less stressful.
Great practical advice, as usual, from Dr. Meghan Beach Martin, pediatric ER physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Definitely worth preparing before you need it! And what a thoughtful baby shower gift this would make! 😊

10/09/2026

Some kids are naturally small, and that's perfectly fine! But when a child is struggling to gain weight or isn't growing as expected, mealtimes can become a real source of worry for parents, especially when you have a picky eater who seems to survive on just a few bites!
The good news is that helping a child gain weight doesn't have to mean bigger portions, constant snacks, or battles at the dinner table. Sometimes, a few simple changes to the foods they already enjoy can make a big difference.
Here are some great, practical tips from Cincinnati Children's Hospital on adding healthy calories to your child's diet.

If your child needs to gain weight, here is a list of high calorie foods and other tips to consider to help increase their calorie intake.

10/08/2026

Today, Florida is holding a public hearing on a proposal to remove school and daycare requirements for four childhood vaccines: Hib, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, and chickenpox.
As pediatricians, we have witnessed one of the greatest successes of modern medicine. Diseases that once killed or permanently disabled thousands of children have become so rare that many parents have never even heard of them.
Before the Hib vaccine, approximately 20,000 American children developed serious Hib infections every year, and about 1,000 died. Just last month, an unvaccinated child in Montana died from Hib, the state’s first pediatric death from this disease in at least 14 years.
These diseases did not disappear on their own. They became rare because we vaccinated our children.
And perhaps that is the greatest irony of vaccine success. When parents no longer see these terrible diseases, it becomes easier to underestimate their dangers and question the need for prevention.
We should not have to see children suffer or die again to remember why these vaccines were developed in the first place.
An important and timely article from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). Well worth reading.

Today, Florida’s Department of Health is holding a public hearing on its plan to remove school and daycare requirements for four vaccines, which protect against Hib, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis B, and chickenpox. The department can make this change through its own rulemaking authority without a vote from the legislature, and it hasn’t pointed to any new evidence about the safety or effectiveness of these vaccines.

Many parents have never heard of Hib, because the vaccine worked so well that the disease all but disappeared. Before the vaccine, Hib was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in kids under 5, and each year roughly 20,000 young children got severe Hib disease and about 1,000 died. Last month, an unvaccinated child in Montana died of Hib, the state’s first pediatric Hib death in at least 14 years.

Jess wrote about this for Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) yesterday, including why the diseases we’ve forgotten make their vaccines the easiest to give up and how other states could follow Florida’s lead without a single legislator voting on it.

Read it here: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-vaccines/cidrap-op-ed-diseases-weve-forgotten-hib-make-their-vaccines-easy-dismiss