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8 Tips to Help Kids With Special Needs Adjust to a New School Year By Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, MS, CCC-SLP: Kids with autism and other special needs can have a tough time getting used to new routines, people and places. And of course, a new school year includes all of the above. This year, your child may need extra help with transitions. After all, they aren’t just adjusting to school

Portion Sizes for Kids: How Much Food Is Healthy for My Child’s Age? By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: Some days, figuring out what to feed your child is hard enough. Figuring out how much can seem downright impossible. The recommended portions for a child depend on their age and even gender – and unfortunately, the serving size listed on grocery store labels doesn’t have much to

7 Strategies to Help Autistic and Special Needs Kids Prepare for a Doctor's Visit By Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, MS, CCC-SLP: Kids with autism and other special needs can have a tough time getting used to new routines, people and places. Doctor’s visits can be especially challenging, because these visits are rarely frequent enough for kids to remember what to expect. But a little preparation goes a long

5 Heart-Healthy Choices for the Whole Family By Shailendra Upadhyay, MD, CEPS, FHRS: At Connecticut Children’s we focus on heart health and nutrition every day! Dr. Shailendra Upadhyay, pediatric cardiologist and Jennifer Zarrilli, pediatric nutritionist, share five fun and educational ideas to engage the whole family in making excellent, heart-healthy choices.

5 Creative Ways for Kids to Stay Hydrated By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: Did you know kids’ bodies are 60-70% water? That may seem like a lot, but kids actually get dehydrated quickly because they lose more water through the skin when they sweat, compared to adults. So what are the best ways for us to make sure kids are taking in enough water as we

Healthy & Delicious Lunch Ideas By Beth Chatfield, MS, RD: Planning nutritious lunches that kids actually want to eat is quite the feat, no matter if your child is a picky or adventurous eater. Beth Chatfield, a registered dietitian at Connecticut Children’s, joins the Growing Healthy blog to share 9 ideas for healthy lunches that kids

Preventing Eye Strain During Your Child’s Screen-Based Learning By Janine Collinge, MD: Whether from homework assignments on a computer or tablet, or remote instruction during COVID-19 quarantines, screens are probably a big part of “back to school” for your child. Connecticut Children’s pediatric ophthalmologist Janine Collinge, MD, shares tips.

$3.5 Million Gift Establishes the Chênevert Family Advanced Cellular and Gene Therapy Unit in Connecticut Children’s Tower Expansion The Chênevert Family gift will keep children close to home for lifesaving bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants and gene therapy.

Happy 25th Anniversary, Connecticut Children’s! By Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE: Today, Connecticut Children’s celebrates 25 years! That’s 25 years of partnering with your family and community to help kids grow healthy. To mark the occasion, Connecticut Children’s President and CEO Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, joins the Growing Healthy blog with a special

Honoring the Legacy of a Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. Day provides a time for all of us to reflect on the life and legacy of the renowned civil rights leader while also focusing on opportunities that still exist to bring about health equity as well as racial and social justice. At Connecticut Children’s, we

Need Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids This Winter? Try Two Takes on Dip By Haley Duscha, RDN, CDN: This article was originally published in 2020. Updated in January 2025. No matter what you’ve got planned to entertain your kids all winter long, you’ll want to keep them fueled up with nutritious snacks. Bonus points for recipes that make it easy to get kids involved in the

Does Removing Kids’ Tonsils Help Prevent Strep Throat? By Katherine Kavanagh, MD: Tonsils, the two fleshy masses in back of the throat, are considered “gate-keepers” for screening bacteria and viruses entering the nose and mouth. While they can play a role in the local immune system, on occasion they can become a reservoir for bacteria and cause problems of

Are Your Child’s Symptoms From RSV or Something Else? What to Know About This Common Illness By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: Did you know it’s peak season for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV? On one hand, RSV is nothing new. If your child is over the age of 2, they’ve probably had it at least once. As an adult, you might get sick with it every few years. On the other hand, RSV can be serious for

6 Easy, Healthy Recipes You Can Make With Your Kids By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: If you’re looking for a fun activity with kids that doubles as a healthy habit, your kitchen is a great place to start. Making healthy recipes together is a way to get your child excited about nutrition, teach them important skills and share quality time – all while preparing a

9 Nutritionist-Approved Healthy Holiday Tips By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: How can you encourage kids to enjoy themselves to the fullest this season, but also stay healthy? It doesn’t have to be a challenge! Connecticut Children’s nutrition experts have ideas.