Allied Pediatrics

11/05/2025

TIP TUESDAY with Dr. Delia! 💡 Dr. Mark Bowers, a Licensed Psychologist and specialist in Neurodiversity, did an excellent video on his page about Equalizing Behavior. This can look like, asking your child to clean up their room, and they immediately point out a mess that you as the caregiver made that hasn't been cleaned up. It can feel like defiance, it can feel like disrespect; our immediate reaction as parents can be to scold or perhaps even punish.
Dr. Bowers says this is actually about regulation and fairness in some kids, and it's important that we as caregivers help teach kids how to regulate their responses and emotions. A few pointers that parents can do to help kids learn this is:

1. Stay calm - don't get angry
2. Validate what they're feeling before correcting the behavior - use words like, "I know that felt unfair," and redirect
3. Teach better tools for expressing frustration - tell kids to use phrases like "that embarrassed me," or "May I have a turn to talk?"
And when speaking to children who seem to show this kind of response, it can be good to use soft, careful tones when asking them to do things or when wanting to correct a misbehavior. If things escalate, it's important to know that
"Equalizing isn't defiance, it's dis-regulation dressed up as fairness," according to Dr Bowers.
❤️👩‍⚕️

11/02/2025

Best of luck tomorrow! And let's be honest, for Monday also!

10/31/2025

Our 🎃 Halloween Shenanigans! The most fun group of M&Ms today at the office, and our booth from last night at Collegedale Parks and Rec Fall Carnival! Such a fun season! Come and check us out at the Sandy Erickson Race at Collegedale Academy this Sunday for their fall carnival as well! &m

10/31/2025

Loved this from Mind and Child have a wonderful day and evening with your families! 🎃👻

10/31/2025

Stay safe out there tomorrow, friends!

Be safe and be seen this Halloween! In just a few days, many kids will take to the streets to trick-or-treat! We have tips to help parents and caregivers prepare for a safe and sweet night. Check out our Halloween safety tips: https://www.safekids.org/halloween

10/28/2025

TIP TUESDAY with Dr. Delia! 💡 Thegeelife shared a wonderful post about things to do with an eight year old to help build confidence and character! She says they're even things that adults sometimes struggle with, what do you think? Here's the list!
1️⃣ How to handle administrative work: This could be going through the steps to process an online return, from hitting the buttons on the screen, to carrying in the item and communicating with the person handling the return!
2️⃣ Making their own meals: Confidence sets in when one can take care of themselves.
3️⃣ Caring for their space: This could be putting dirty dishes in the sink, putting shoes where they belong, throwing dirty clothes in specified hamper, or arranging pillows and blankets in the living room to help tidy-up. These ideas can grow with the child, such as putting dirty dishes into an empty dishwasher; helping put everyones shoes away; helping fold clean clothes and then putting ones own clothes away!
4️⃣ Communicating clearly: Order food at a counter, or make eye contact with an adult who is speaking to them.
5️⃣ Making plans and then following through. Setting goals, finishing what they start, and learning about the parts that didn't work out.
6️⃣ The last point is for how boys can treat girls with genuine chivalry: opening doors, being kind, and showing respect. This point can apply to simple kindness to their fellow man (kid?) and being a respectful human to all!
What are some things you're teaching your child to help them be a successful grown-up? Because isn't that we're doing, after all – raising future adults? We hope you enjoyed this list and that you'll find ways to implement some of these ideas!
❤️👩‍⚕️

10/27/2025

Very applicable at home too!

10/26/2025

Moms and dads, you guys have got this! 💯

10/24/2025

Let them all trick or treat! 🎃

10/21/2025

TIP TUESDAY with Dr. Delia! 💡 Every year, we see reminders to be lenient and supportive of older kids wanting to trick or treat. It's a fun time of year, let's let everyone be a kid for as long as they can! That said, here are some tips to share with your older children who might also be practicing more independence this year! We appreciated the tips from Nationwide Children's, a blog by pediatric experts!
🎃 Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips for Older Kids 🎃
▪ Review safe walking routes, on well-lit streets: "no trespassing" signs, vacant properties
▪ Remind them to visit homes with porch lights turned on
▪ Agree on specific time to return home
▪ Make sure they know how to call 911 for emergencies
▪ Give them a flashlight, or they can use the flashlight on their phone
▪ Coach older kids to walk on the sidewalk, or to use the far side of the road facing traffic if there isn't a sidewalk.
🎃 Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips for Teen Drivers 🎃
▪ Limit teens' driving during trick-or-treating hours
▪ Remind teen drivers that children get excited during trick-or-treating and may dart out into the road: be alert 1) at intersections, 2) nar driveways, and 3) around cars parked on the street
▪ Encourage teen drivers to turn on headlights after the sun goes down
▪ Teach teen drivers to use their hazard lights
▪ If your teen is using their car for a Trunk-or-Treat, remind them not to use their engine to power lights or decorations: leaving the car on exposes everyone nearby to exhaust fumes
We also want to remind everyone that twice as many kids are struck by a car on Halloween than on any other day, and, young kids are ten times more likely to be killed by a car during Halloween night-time hours. Keep everyone safe by talking about the risks, and reducing teen night-time driving on Halloween night.
For the Nationwide Children's article, visit: https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2022/10/halloween-safety
❤️👩‍⚕️

10/17/2025

We can't wait to see everyone at this event! They are still looking for participants if any local businesses want to sign up and provide an activity and small prizes!

🍂 Fall Carnival: Opportunity for Community Partners! 🍂

We’re now accepting community applications for our Fall Carnival, happening on Thursday, October 30th from 5pm-7pm at The Commons in Collegedale!

This is your chance to give back to the community by handing out treats or goodies. **Please note: This is NOT a selling event. **

Email parksandrec@collegedaletn.gov for more information.

Fill out application here: https://form.jotform.com/252534327763157

Then, make plans to join us for:
🎈 Bounce houses
🍬 Treats
🎨 Crafts & face painting
🎭 Costume parade
🎯 Carnival games
🎈 & more!

Enjoy the best fall festival fun with all the treats and no tricks! 🍭

10/15/2025

TIP TUESDAY with Dr. Delia! 💡 Everyone is sharing tips for how to have a fun fall with kids 🍁 There's even that joke that circulates asking "Got any plans for the fall?" as in the fall of civilization... 😆 Here's our own spin on "fall" – Let's talk about some ways to reduce FALL risks around the home! These tips will help bring some various hazards to mind, and hopefully, some measures can be taken to secure your home and your family! 🤓👍
•Secure Furniture and Windows•
– Anchor TVs and furniture to walls
– Move cribs or chairs away from windows
– Use window guards or stops
– Never rely on window screens to keep children in
– Use safety rails on beds that are more than a couple of feet off the ground
•Prevent Slips and Trips•
– Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and shower
– Put pads under rugs to reduce slip
– Clean spills immediately
– Keep stairs and hallways clear of clutter
– Use stair gates at the top and bottom of stairs, securing them to the wall if possible
– Especially watch children just after mopping floors, and if they're wearing socks, as floors might be extra slippery
•Supervise Children•
– In the bathtub
– Hold hands while they're on stairs
– Keep toddlers away from open windows
– Discourage toddlers from climbing on furniture
– Remind children not to stand in shopping carts in the store; buckle them in if necessary
– Don't put toys up in high places as punishment for children, as they may try to climb up to get it when you're not looking
•Outdoor Safety•
– Ensure playgrounds have shock-absorbing surfaces like sand or rubber mulch
– Teach children playground rules, such as steering clear of those on swings
– Scope out high openings of playground equipment, keep an eye on toddlers who play there
– Always wear helmets for activities like biking
– Secure backyard playground equipment so that it doesn't topple of during use
What other fall risks might we have forgotten to mention? Protect that noggin and other essential body parts and take extra measures to keep your home safe this fall, and all year long!
❤️👩‍⚕️