Kiddiehealth_tt

07/05/2026

06/05/2026

Small Hands, Big Defense: Clean Hands Save Lives

May 5th marks World Hand Hygiene Day, it’s the perfect time to talk about the simplest, most effective "vaccine" we have in our daily toolkit: soap and water.

I see firsthand how quickly germs can travel, from a shared toy to a tiny hand, and eventually to a runny nose or an upset stomach. But hand hygiene isn't just about avoiding the common cold; it’s about building a culture of safety that protects our most vulnerable.

Why do we emphasize 20 seconds? It’s not an arbitrary number. It takes that long for the soap molecules to physically break down the fatty membrane of many viruses and bacteria, effectively "popping" them so they can be rinsed away.

We know that telling a toddler to "wash your hands" often results in a half-second splash of water. To make it stick:
• Sing "Happy Birthday" or "Twinkle Twinkle" twice through. If the song isn't finished, the germs aren't either!
• A great home experiment is putting glitter on a child's hands and showing them how hard it is to get off with just water versus soap. It makes the invisible visible.

Focus on the "High-Five" moments:
1. Before eating or touching the face.
2. After using the bathroom.
3. After playing outside or with pets.
4. After coughing or sneezing.
5. Immediately upon coming home from school or daycare.

Hand hygiene is a team sport. When we teach our children these habits early, we aren't just keeping them healthy today; we are teaching them how to care for their community for a lifetime.

What is your family’s favorite "hand-washing song"? Drop your suggestions below to help other parents keep the scrub-time fun!

05/05/2026

Today is World Asthma Day.
Asthma should never sit in the driver’s seat of your child’s life.

To truly empower our children, we have to focus on Asthma Education Empowerment:

1. Ensuring that they are consistent with their controller inhalers. Remember that daily controller medications keep the "fire" (inflammation) out, while rescue inhalers are only for putting out sudden "flames."

2. Asthma control is best achieved by eliminatation of triggers. Whether it’s dust, seasonal pollen, or exercise, knowing what sets off a flare-up allows a child to navigate their day with confidence.

3. Always have their rescue inhalers on hand. This is fast-acting medications used to quickly open airways and relieve symptoms like wheezing and coughing during an asthma attack.

4. Always have a written Asthma Action Plan. This is a simple, colour-coded roadmap (Green, Yellow, Red) that tells parents, teachers, and coaches exactly what to do based on the child's symptoms. This can turn panic into a process.

The hallmark of well-controlled asthma is a child who can run, jump, and play without restriction. If your child is coughing at night, missing school, or needing their rescue inhaler more than twice a week, it’s time to revisit their management plan.

Let’s clear the air today; asthma is manageable, treatable, and, with the right partnership between your family and Kiddiehealth, it doesn't have to hold your child back from reaching their full potential.

Does your child have an updated Asthma Action Plan for school and sports? If not, let’s get those organized this the week!

04/05/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental health is health. Let us erase the stigma.

Every child carries an "invisible backpack." Inside are their emotions, their stresses, their triumphs, and their fears. Sometimes that backpack is light and easy to carry; other times, it’s heavy enough to make them stumble.

Mental health awareness isn't just about identifying crises, it's about nurturing the foundation of a child's entire future.

Mental health is brain health. Just as we track milestones like crawling or speaking, we must monitor emotional milestones.

Half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14, yet many children go years without support. Early intervention doesn't just treat a symptom; it reshapes the brain’s ability to handle stress for a lifetime.

We need to recognize the "check Engine" light. Children rarely walk up and say, "I feel anxious" or "I am depressed." Instead, they communicate through their behavior. Keep an eye out for these shifts:
• Frequent Physical Complaints with no clear physical cause.
• Drastic changes in how much they sleep or eat.
• Losing interest in hobbies or pulling away from friends they used to love.
• An older child suddenly returning to younger behaviors, like bedwetting or extreme clinginess.
• Irritability or "meltdowns" that seem out of proportion to the situation.

25/04/2026

The importance of developmental surveillance is important because early screening and diagnosis for autism can positively alter your child’s developmental trajectory by providing a roadmap for tailored support during the brain's most plastic years. When a diagnosis is made early your family can move from a state of uncertainty to proactive care. Younger children can more easily learn new skills and adapt their communication styles.

Interventions like Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can be customized to the child’s specific sensory and developmental profile.

Early diagnosis also allows for the introduction of communication tools that reduce the frustration of being misunderstood, and provides children with strategies to navigate social cues and interact with peers, which can foster better relationships as they enter school.

25/04/2026

The rhythm of neurodiversity.

22/04/2026

early screening doesn’t change who your child is, it changes how well we can support who they are becoming.

Early screening and diagnosis for autism
can positively alter your child’s developmental trajectory by providing a roadmap for tailored support during the brain's most plastic years

21/04/2026

We have come a long way but we still have a long way to go. and are here to help families and the community in general to better understand autism and to be able to thrive.

If you are still wondering whether you should bring your child in for an autism spectrum screening

20/04/2026

The neurodivergent mind operates on a "different wiring" rather than a "broken" one. This perspective, known as neurodiversity, posits that variations are natural flourishes of the human genome, much like biodiversity in an ecosystem.

Understanding this cognitive landscape requires looking at how these minds process information, sensory input, and social dynamics, this is very interesting and for me it was natural and easy to develop a passion for helping child with autism and their families.

My passion began even before I went to medical school.

19/04/2026

Autism: Early Signs, Diagnosis and What Every Parent Should Do Next
Part 1
There is just so much to discuss.
Listen to the recaps from the Live.
Whether you are still in the wait and see mode, or whether you have already obtained a diagnosis you need the right support team.

16/04/2026

We are going live today.
Are you coming?

Come join our Dr. Dee and Gabriella Sankar of Autism Connect of Trinidad and Tobago

Gabriella Sankar holds a Master of Science in Developmental Disabilities with a concentration in Early Childhood and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. With extensive experience as a Developmental Disabilities Specialist, Behavior Therapist, and Autism Program Leader, Gabriella has dedicated her career to empowering parents, advocating for children with additional needs, and fostering collaboration among professionals.

Join us, let's have an informative and lively discussion.

See you this evening!