Mayo Clinic Children's

11/20/2025

It’s tough to watch your child struggle with a cough. But over-the-counter cough medicine may not always be the answer — especially for kids under 4. ⁣
⁣
Read more from Dr. Alexa Jensen, pediatric resident at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, for simple remedies that you can try at home click the link below. ⁣

https://communityhealth.mayoclinic.org/featured-stories/cough-children
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11/18/2025

Mayo Clinic Hospital Gift Shops are teaming up with Mayo Clinic Children's to make the season brighter for Mayo's youngest patients spending time in the hospital.

Purchase a gift item for a child in one of the Gift Shops. The items are donated to the Sharing Tree, Mayo's Child Life team's holiday gift program, from which parents or guardians of patients can select a gift for their child at no cost.

Gift items will be collected by the Gift Shop team until Dec. 19.

Your generosity can make a world of difference. Stop by one of the Hospital Gift Shops today and celebrate the season of giving:

Methodist Gift Shop
Eisenberg Building Lobby Level, Methodist Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester
Sisters Crossing Gift Shop
Joseph Building, Saint Marys Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester

If you are unable to make it in person. Check out our Child Life Amazon donations page: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25Q5HLO3JBYTC?ref_=wl_share

11/01/2025

11/01/2025

🎃 Our Child Life team helped make Halloween a little brighter for our patients and families with a fun Trunk or Treat celebration! From creative costumes to festive decorations, smiles were everywhere. Several units across Mayo Clinic Children’s joined in the fun, dressing up and helping pass out candy to our little trick-or-treaters. 👻🧡

10/28/2025

Bullying can happen anywhere — in classrooms, on playgrounds, or even online.
It’s more than just teasing — it’s repeated, unwanted, and aggressive behavior that can deeply affect a child’s confidence, well-being, and academic success.

In this article, Mayo Clinic Children’s experts Ika Kovacikova, M.D., and Jill M. Smith, APRN, C.N.P., explain what bullying looks like, how adults can step in effectively, and what to do if your child is being bullied — or is the one bullying.

Learn how to recognize the signs, respond calmly, and create a safer environment for every child. 💛
👉 https://communityhealth.mayoclinic.org/featured-stories/bullying

10/24/2025

🎃👻 Pumpkin carving is all fun and games—until someone gets hurt!

Dr. Sanj Kakar, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon, says nearly one-third of Halloween hand injuries happen in kids ages 10–14, often while carving pumpkins.

To keep your little ghouls and goblins safe, Dr. Kakar shares three simple tips:
1️⃣ Use a pumpkin carving kit instead of a kitchen knife.
2️⃣ Let kids design, but have adults do the carving.
3️⃣ Always support the pumpkin with your noncutting hand and carve from the top down.

🩹 Most injuries are avoidable with a little care and the right tools!

Learn more: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-3-tips-to-avoid-halloween-hand-injuries/

10/22/2025

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the clear membrane that lines your eyelid and eyeball. It’s often caused by a virus, but can also result from bacteria, allergies, or a blocked tear duct in babies.

Because pink eye can be contagious, early diagnosis and good hygiene are key to preventing its spread.

Common symptoms:
👁️ Redness or itchiness in one or both eyes
💧 Tearing or discharge that may crust overnight
🌞 Sensitivity to light

If symptoms don’t start to improve within 12–24 hours, contact your healthcare provider — especially if you wear contact lenses.

Prevention tip:
Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes or sharing personal items like towels or makeup.

10/21/2025

Extraordinary Care for Extraordinary Kids
When your child needs answers, experience and innovation matter. At Mayo Clinic Children’s, we care for children with some of the most complex and rare conditions—offering advanced treatment options and collaborative expertise that aren’t available just anywhere.

Explore why families from across the country—and around the world—trust Mayo Clinic Children’s.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/childrens-center?fbclid=IwVERDUANjvTFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHvPZpRX938Z8-3UU92QbWn9I1sFpPNQ25c5c_f8SyccHvtJ2woPEKdLH8r1s_aem_JAM8XqO7mTFDd8dtT8oviw

10/17/2025

🩵🎃👻 Small Treats, Big Impact
As Halloween approaches, join Mayo Clinic Children’s in supporting the Teal Pumpkin Project—a movement that encourages offering non-food treat options to help make the holiday safer and more inclusive for children with food allergies and other dietary restrictions.
Non-food items like stickers, glow sticks, or small toys can be offered alongside traditional candy, giving all trick-or-treaters a safe and fun experience—regardless of dietary needs. Let’s help make this spooky season a little brighter—and safer—for everyone. 🩵

10/15/2025

Recess isn’t just a break — it’s essential for healthy child development.
K. Drew Baker, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic, says recess helps kids grow stronger physically, emotionally and socially. It also supports learning by helping students return to the classroom more focused and ready to learn.
“Recess is not a distraction from learning - it helps support it,” Dr. Baker says.

Read more about the importance of recess:

https://communityhealth.mayoclinic.org/featured-stories/school-recess

10/13/2025

Virtual reality is changing the way children prepare for MRI imaging. 🎧✨

For many kids, getting an MRI can feel intimidating — the loud noises, the big machine, and the unknowns can cause stress or fear.

In this video, Amy Olson, CCLS, explains how Child Life specialists at Mayo Clinic Children’s use VR technology to help kids explore the imaging room before their appointment, learn what to expect, and practice staying calm and still during the scan.

By seeing and hearing the experience ahead of time, children build confidence, reduce anxiety, and feel more in control — leading to smoother imaging sessions and a better experience for families. 💛

This is Part 1 of our virtual reality series — stay tuned for Part 2, where Amy answers more questions about how VR is helping kids feel ready for medical procedures. 👏

10/07/2025

Mayo Clinic Children's is proud to be named one of only 20 hospitals nationwide ranked in all 11 pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report's 2025-26 "Best Children's Hospitals."

For the fifth consecutive year, we're also ranked No. 1 in Minnesota.

"Being recognized across all 11 pediatric specialties and among the top children's hospitals is an extraordinary honor," says Amie Jones, M.D., interim chair for Mayo Clinic Children's. "These achievements highlight the depth and breadth of our expertise and are a testament to the collaboration, innovation and compassion that define the Mayo Clinic Model of Care."