Mt. Spokane Pediatrics

06/12/2026

Congratulations graduates! We know many of you are going into your last week of school. We are wishing you an amazing summer!

06/10/2026

Please join us in celebrating Coordinated Care's recent 10-year anniversary of the Apple Health Core Connections Program, which has provided vital support to Washington's children, youth, and young adults in foster care.

As a proud Foster Care Center of Excellence partner, we are honored to recognize the impact Coordinated Care has made over the past decade. Their work has contributed to fewer avoidable emergency room visits, increased well-child visits and immunization rates, and more than 1,900 clinical trainings reaching thousands of caregivers, case workers, and clinicians.

In addition, Coordinated Care has invested more than $380,000 in organizations dedicated to supporting youth in foster care.

Congratulations on 10 years of making a meaningful difference in the lives of Washington's children and families.

06/08/2026

We are very pleased to welcome Stephanie Manning, LICSW, to our clinic. She will be joining us on July 9th!

Stephanie is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families through therapy, crisis intervention, case management, and community-based mental health care. Her background includes child and family therapy, adolescent group therapy, substance use assessment, trauma-informed care, and working closely with care teams to support patient needs.

Stephanie will begin seeing patients for counseling and therapy on July 9 and will be available Tuesday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Please contact our clinic to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

06/05/2026

🌞 Summer break is here! While kids deserve time to relax and have fun, a little structure can help make the season smoother for everyone.

A few simple routines, opportunities for learning, and some planned adventures can help kids thrive all summer long. Best of all, creating great memories doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate. ☀️📚🌳

https://childmind.org/article/strategies-for-a-successful-summer-break/

https://www.ednavigator.org/resources/the-busy-familys-guide-to-summer

06/01/2026

You can’t see indoor air pollution—but your child’s body feels it.💙

Children spend up to 80–90% of their time indoors, where pollutant levels can be 2–5 times higher than outside. And because their lungs, brains, and immune systems are still developing, they don’t just breathe more air for their size—they absorb more of what’s in it.

To***co smoke (including second and thirdhand exposure), va**ng, and indoor ma*****na use all increase risk for children. These exposures are linked to higher rates of respiratory illness, infections, and asthma. Research also suggests that compounds in cannabis smoke can be absorbed by nearby individuals, including children, with potential effects on attention, memory, and brain development.

Many other common household sources also contribute: pets, mold, cleaning products, and fragranced items like “fresh linen” candles.

Open the windows. Cut the fragrances. Fix the leaks.
And above all-keep the smoke far, far away from kids.

Because clean air isn't a luxury. It's a foundation.

Sources:
https://cchp.ucsf.edu/resources/fact-sheets-families/indoor-air-quality-your-home
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/indoor-air-pollution-and-childrens-health-clearing-the-air-for-healthier-breathing-at-home.aspx
https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/environmental-health/promoting-healthy-environments-for-children/indoor-air-pollutants/?srsltid=AfmBOoq-wgiz9Qw5t0b9XarQDl2KC3jOWgL_6fAwJ0gEd6LJF44R-dWU
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/secondhand-ma*****na-smoke-and-kids-2018060514012

05/27/2026

Video games aren’t the enemy—but pretending they’re harmless isn’t doing kids any favors either. 🎮

For today’s kids, gaming is part playground, part social life, part escape—and sometimes, part problem. The truth? It’s complicated. The impact depends on what they play, how long they play, and who they’re becoming while they play it.

Too much screen time can quietly replace movement, friendships, and time outdoors. Violent games may nudge behavior in the wrong direction—less empathy, more aggression—especially with long hours or peer influence in the mix.

But here’s the twist: not all gaming is bad.

Some games actually sharpen problem-solving, improve coordination, and even help kids build resilience. Research shows gaming can support stress management and emotional regulation—because unlike passive screen time, games demand effort, persistence, and grit.

So what matters most isn’t just the game—it’s the balance.

Kids are watching us, too. Our habits become their habits.

👀 Pay attention.
💬 Stay curious.
🎯 Set boundaries that make sense for your child.

Because the goal isn’t zero screen time—it’s raising humans who can handle the real world and the digital one.

Sources:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-relationship-parenting-gaming-disorder-young.html
https://www.bu.edu/articles/2026/are-video-games-bad/
https://www.kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org/mental-health-resources/technology-and-social-media/gaming-and-kids-mental-health

05/26/2026

05/22/2026

🌳Creating fairy homes is an amazing way to clear out all the crafting scraps, spend time outside, and create memories.
Nothing fancy required!
If you have built any of these charming little projects with your kids we would love to see them and share how it went!

Great Guides and Project Inspiration:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-make-fairy-houses-1244393
https://whatsonmyporch.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-make-fairy-house-with-twigs-and.html
https://www.redtedart.com/kids-crafts-fairy-house-or-woodland-elves-house/

05/20/2026

For many parents, it’s becoming increasingly clear: the world our children are growing up in looks very different from the one we knew.

Many of us remember taking turns on the family computer, waiting through the screech of dial-up internet, and logging off after our allotted 30 minutes online. Today, many children carry a powerful computer in their pocket at all times. Schoolwork is completed online, toys are often internet-connected, and digital tools have become woven into nearly every part of daily life.

One of the newest and fastest-growing technologies children may be using is AI chatbots.

AI chatbots are computer programs designed to answer questions, solve problems, and offer conversation in ways that can feel friendly, encouraging, and deeply personal. They can mimic human interaction surprisingly well—and for some children and teens, these tools can feel comforting. Many young people are turning to chatbots for companionship, advice, and emotional support.

While this can feel helpful, it’s important to remember: AI is not human.

Chatbots cannot read facial expressions, understand emotional nuance the way people can, or fully recognize the developmental needs of children and adolescents. They may also unintentionally reinforce harmful thinking, provide inaccurate information, or offer advice that misses important context.

That’s why ongoing conversations with our children matter.

Consider asking:
• Have you ever used an AI chatbot?
• Which ones do you like, and why?
• Has a chatbot ever said something that felt confusing or upsetting?

These discussions can also be an opportunity to remind children that there are some things technology simply cannot replace. Human conversations can be complicated, messy, and sometimes frustrating—but they are also where empathy, perspective, and meaningful connection are built.

We may not be able to slow the pace of technology, but we can help our children learn how to navigate it wisely—and remind them that no digital tool can replace the value of being truly seen, heard, and understood by another person.

Sources
HealthyChildren.org – Are AI Chatbots Safe for Kids?
(American Academy of Pediatrics)
American Academy of Pediatrics (PDF resource on AI and children)
ParentMap – The Dangers of Kids Using AI Chatbots for Emotional Health