Five Things to do to Make the Holidays Mean What They Should

Take a family field trip on a Second Saturday for hands-on activities and the latest exhibit at the Perez Art Museum. Catch the glistening winter wonderland of the Nutcracker at the Arsht Center or a holiday symphony at the University of Miami. Ice snowman cookies, craft a popsicle reindeer or reflect together on the deeper values of the season through literature. Above all, practice thoughtful acts of kindness, whether serving dinner to the homeless, ringing the bell with your preschooler for The Salvation Army's Red Kettle fundraiser or baking pumpkin bread for the neighborhood.

National Adoption Day Means Forever Families for Miami-Dade Foster Kids

More than 400 communities nationwide celebrated National Adoption Day in late November. In Miami-Dade County that meant that several foster kids were able to rejoice after officially with their forever families.

The Children’s Trust proudly sponsored an event at Miami Children’s Museum where the adoptions were finalized, as part of an annual event held to raise awareness about children awaiting adoption from foster care and the families formed through adoption.

Is Your Child a Picky Eater?

It’s Not Necessarily Their Fault, But Here’s How You Can Help!

All children and youth have their favorite foods. But some kids, despite the best efforts of their parents and caregivers, are seemingly only interested in a small number of foods. Still, others are even more extreme and focus on a particular food. This can be a real problem for parents and a new study found that it isn’t the parents, or even children’s fault, necessarily.

Food fussiness or picky eating is the tendency to eat only a limited range of foods due mostly to an unwillingness to try new ones. For years, the causes of food fussiness have remained unclear. A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that food fussiness tends to persist over time but can also change as children grow, influenced by parenting styles, food environments and developmental stages. The research should ease the minds of parents who think they are doing something wrong.

No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed; Horseplay Can Lead to Injuries

Every child likes to run, jump, and play wherever they are. However, jumping around and exploring new places can be dangerous if the right precautions are not taken.

Written by Olivia Perez, M.D. candidate with Julie Belkowitz, M.D., M.P.H., Lyse Deus, M.Ed. and Oneith Cadiz, M.D., InjuryFreeMiami.org

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in children (1). Each year several thousands of children are taken to the emergency room (ER) as the result of a fall. Many different types of falls can happen and lead to many different outcomes. Scrapes, cuts, stitches, or broken bones are never fun! Here are some facts to know and steps to take to prevent your child from falling.

Falling from heights is a big problem to watch out for in any building with balconies and windows above the first floor. Additionally, beware of falls indoors. Young children jumping or falling from furniture such as beds, dressers, and even the kitchen table can end in a trip to the ER.

Looking for an after-school program for your child? Check out the More After-School Choices page for hundreds of free and low-cost after-school programs

The Children’s Trust Parent Club offers FREE, countywide workshops on relevant topics about raising children that are successful, healthy, and happy. 

Do you like what you are reading in this month's Parenting Our Children Newsletter? Let us know with comments, suggestions and more at MyStories@TheChildrensTrust.org