Pediatric Care North, An Affiliate of Children’s Mercy

08/30/2025

08/29/2025

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 1st, 2025 for Labor Day. For After Hours information, click the link below.

08/29/2025

An episode, also called an asthma flare or asthma attack, can happen at any time. Symptoms may last a few minutes or go on for hours or days. https://aafa.org/asthma/

All information provided by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America — aafa.org — www.facebook.com/AAFANational

08/28/2025

The schedule includes guidance on COVID-19 vaccination that differs from federal policy along with updates to recommendations on RSV and flu.

08/28/2025

👉 Attention parents 👈 Tech everywhere 24/7 is hurting our children’s brains.

There is a complex and highly integrated network in the brain that only activates when we are “doing nothing.” This is known as the default mode network.

When you are sitting in the waiting room or unwinding after dinner, if you are not reading, watching television, or on your phone, your default mode network is projecting the future and sorting out the past. It’s processing your life. It activates when we daydream, during meditation and when we lie in bed before going to sleep.

A healthy default mode network is necessary for the human brain to rejuvenate, store information in more permanent locations, gain perspective, process complicated ideas, and be truly creative. It also has been linked in young people to the development of a strong sense of identity and a capacity for identity.

Scientists are concerned that because of technology’s ubiquity, young people have too few opportunities to activate their default mode network, and, as a result too few opportunities for self-reflection. People who do have more "daydreaming" moments do better on tests of memory, flexibility of thought, and reading comprehension. They also have better mental health.

Parents, what can you do?

👉 Talk to your kids about the importance of “doing nothing.”

👉 Model more down moments to your crew. Don’t let your default mode be a quick scroll on the phone.

👉 If your child has a personal device such as a phone or a tablet, put good boundaries in place on when and where they can use the device to allow more down time.

👉 Delay smartphones until at least the end of 8th grade with the Wait Until 8th pledge, and delay social media until 16+. Consider a basic phone if you need to get in touch before then.

You’ve got this! Stay informed and be intentional!

This information about the brain is from the national bestseller, “The Self-Driven Child. The science and sense of giving your kids more control over their lives.” Check it out! It is a great book.

All information provided by Wait Until 8th — https://www.facebook.com/waituntil8th — https://www.waituntil8th.org/

08/27/2025

Children do best in school when they have a team of committed adults supporting them. This is true for all children but it is especially true for children who have psychiatric or learning disorders. Get to know the many professionals who are available to help your child.

All information provided by the Child Mind Institute — https://fb.com/ChildMindInstitute

08/27/2025

08/26/2025

A hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. There are two types, structural which impacts the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and auditory system, and neural which impacts the hearing (acoustic) nerve. If after reviewing this information, you still have questions concerning your child’s hearing, please contact your pediatrician for help.

All information provided by the CDC — https://fb.com/cdc

08/26/2025

Friendly reminder: ADHD looks different from person to person.

To learn more about the signs and symptoms, visit: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-adhd ?sc=&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=instagram&utm_campaign=Evergreen-fam-tips-adhd-static&utm_content=static

All information provided by Understood — https://fb.com/Understood

08/22/2025

Positive, responsive, language-rich interactions during a child’s first years support healthy brain development that critically influences executive function and attention and leads to social and learning skills. One of the best interactions to support healthy brain development is reading aloud to your baby! Consider these tips when choosing books to read aloud to your baby.

All information provided by Reach Out and Read — https://fb.com/reachoutandread

08/21/2025

Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child’s teeth! Not only does it provide much-needed calcium, it disrupts the development of cavities—especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal.

All information provided by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry — aapd.org — https://fb.com/AmericanAcademyofPediatricDentistry

08/20/2025

OFFICE HOURS UPDATE:
Our office will be closing today at 5:00pm, and phones will be closed at 4:45pm. We will open for regular business hours on 08/21/25. Please follow the link below to review our After Hours.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Access an after hours pediatrician. Call our Nurse Advice Line for assistance. Your child's health is our priority at Pediatric Care North. Serving Kansas City, MO.