They run you ragged, never stop moving, have more energy than a rabbit, and never want to settle down. Yes, you know we are talking about young children. With the warm weather on the way, parents should be knowledgeable about recognizing and preventing heat exhaustion in children. They won’t recognize it is happening, so it’s up to you to spot the signs.
Continue reading “Recognizing and Preventing Heat Exhaustion in Children”
These days, many children are spending less time outdoors—and more time in front of screens. While it’s easy to let kids stay inside, the long-term benefits of outdoor play for children’s development far outweigh the short-term convenience of indoor activities.
When kids step outside, they’re doing much more than playing—they’re building stronger bodies, developing social skills, and boosting their mental health in ways that indoor activities just can’t match.
Over the past decade, screen time has steadily increased for children of all ages. Whether it’s watching videos, gaming, or browsing, many kids are missing out on valuable opportunities to move their bodies, use their imaginations, and connect with others.
It’s understandable that supervising outdoor play can take more effort. But encouraging time outside—even just in the backyard—helps lay the foundation for lifelong healthy habits.
The benefits of outdoor play go far beyond physical fitness. It supports kids’ mental well-being, emotional resilience, and cognitive growth. Try making outdoor time part of your child’s daily routine—just like meals, homework, or bedtime.
Active outdoor play helps children develop strength, coordination, and confidence. Simple games like tag, hopscotch, or hide and seek encourage movement and physical skill-building.
Today, nearly 1 in 3 children in the U.S. is considered overweight or obese. Regular outdoor activity helps children maintain a healthy weight, reduces the likelihood of chronic illnesses, and gets them away from frequent snacking and sedentary habits.
Additional physical benefits include:
Outdoor play doesn’t just build strong bodies—it strengthens growing minds, too. Time outside supports better focus, sharper memory, and more restful sleep.
Children also gain essential social and problem-solving skills by interacting with others in unstructured settings. From taking turns to navigating conflicts, these experiences help build emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility.
Outdoor environments also spark creativity, encourage curiosity, and provide space for critical thinking that isn’t always available indoors.
Outdoor play fosters independence, confidence, and resilience. As kids climb trees, build forts, or try a new sport, they learn to assess risks, push their limits, and bounce back from challenges.
Emotional benefits include:
You don’t need a fancy park or playground to get kids moving. The backyard is a perfect place for exploring, running, digging, or playing games with siblings and friends.
Experts recommend that school-aged children get several hours of physical activity each day, and outdoor play is one of the easiest—and most enjoyable—ways to make that happen.
If your child is reluctant to go outside or you’re unsure how to encourage active play, we’re here to help. Contact Lake Forest Pediatrics at (847) 295-1220 to talk with a pediatric expert.
Spring brings blooming flowers—and sometimes, sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes. If your child comes home rubbing their eyes or struggling to breathe, you might wonder: Is it asthma or allergies? Understanding the difference between the two is the first step to helping your child feel better.
Let’s break down the symptoms, triggers, and treatments of both conditions so you can recognize what’s going on and take action.
Continue reading “Is It Asthma or Allergies? How to Tell the Difference in Your Child This Spring”
As the weather warms up and flowers bloom, many parents notice their child developing a runny nose, sneezing, or congestion. But how do you know if it’s just a common cold or spring allergies? Since the symptoms can overlap, it’s important to understand the differences to ensure your child gets the right care.
While colds are caused by viruses and usually clear up on their own, allergies result from the immune system overreacting to pollen and other triggers. Knowing the difference helps parents manage symptoms effectively—and when in doubt, always check with your pediatrician.
Continue reading “Is it a Cold or Spring Allergies? How to Tell in Children”
Winter offers endless fun for kids, from sledding down snowy hills to gliding across frozen ponds. While these activities create cherished memories, they also come with risks. Each year, pediatricians treat injuries ranging from broken bones to cold-related illnesses and more.
The good news? Parents can ensure their kids enjoy winter activities safely by taking a few key precautions. Here’s how to keep sledding, skiing, and ice skating fun and injury-free!
Continue reading “Winter Activity Safety Tips for Kids: Sledding, Skiing & Ice Safety”
When kids get sick, it can be hard to distinguish between common conditions like the cold, flu, and sinus infections. Each condition shares overlapping symptoms but requires different approaches to care, making things extra confusing. Understanding the distinctions can help you manage your child’s illness effectively and know when to seek medical attention.
Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between the Cold, Flu, and Sinus Infections?”
We understand that life doesn’t always follow a 9-to-5 schedule, and your healthcare needs are important to us. That’s why we’re excited to announce expanded availability for our Patient Educators!
Our dedicated Patient Educators will now be available:
Whether you have questions about your treatment, need guidance on a health concern, or simply want to follow up on your care plan, our team is here to assist you during these hours.
We know that urgent situations can arise outside of these times. If you need to speak with a Patient Educator after hours, a $25 phone call charge will apply. Otherwise, rest assured that your message will be addressed promptly on the next business day.
Lake Forest Pediatric Associates wishes you and your family a very Happy Holiday Season!
During the holidays, we will have limited office hours. Please see below for the schedule.
Our on-call provider is available 24/7/365 for urgent matters. Please call 847-295-1220 for assistance.
Christmas Eve, Tuesday 12/24/24
Lake Bluff office closes at noon
Lindenhurst office closes at noon
Vernon Hills office is closed
Christmas Day, Wednesday, 12/25/24
Lake Bluff Office is closed
Lindenhurst Office is closed
Vernon Hills Office is closed
New Year’s Eve, Tuesday 12/31/24
Lake Bluff Office closes at 3pm
Lindenhurst office closes at 3pm
Vernon Hills Office is closed.
New Year’s Day, Wednesday 1/1/25
Lake Bluff Office is closed
Lindenhurst Office is closed
Vernon Hills Office is closed
Please be advised that all 3 of our offices will be closed on Thanksgiving (11/28). We will still have an on-call physician for urgent matters.
On Friday, 11/29, only our Vernon Hills office will be closed. Lake Bluff and Lindenhurst will be open.
Happy Thanksgiving!
As October rolls in and Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to protect your little ones from the flu and COVID-19.
We’re excited to announce that we now have flu and COVID vaccines available at all three of our offices! To make it even easier, we’ve set up several flu clinics throughout the month of October.
Don’t wait until the last minute—call us today at (847) 295-1220 to schedule your immunization appointment. Let’s keep our community healthy and ready for all the Halloween festivities!
Together, we can say “Boo!” to the flu!
