Vanquishing Vaping

Vanquishing Vaping

Vaping is getting our attention. According to a recent Journal of the American Medical Association study, nearly 28% of high schoolers and 10% of middle schoolers report vaping. Vaping is the inhaling of a vapor created by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or other devices. The e-cigarettes or ‘vapes’ come in many different shapes and sizes but most are small- some even look like USB flash drives. Teens tell me that is particularly common among 12-16-year-old students since it is small, discrete, relatively odourless, and easy to hide in their backpack and use in a bathroom or classroom. The nicotine in vaping can be very addictive which in time can affect brain development, memory, concentration, self-control and mood.

Beating Holiday Stress

Beating Holiday Stress

The December holidays are one of my favorite times. However, it can also be stressful for global families-juggling travel, meeting relatives and friends, and balancing different customs and traditions. How can you keep calm and ensure you and your kids make the most of your holiday experience? My quick tips: Embrace your family’s unique customs, maintain routines, embrace focus on sharing experiences over buying gifts, don’t overdo it, and take time to express gratitude. 

Unlocking the Secret to Happiness

Unlocking the Secret to Happiness

It is summer and for many of us the time when we pack a suitcase and take a trip. If so, you may be on to something that has life-long benefits. According to recent research, spending money on experiences and travel is more likely to bring you and your family lasting happiness than spending money on material goods. Think about it: only a few days after purchasing a shirt, a watch or new electronic gadget, the thrill starts to fade. Per researchers at Cornell University, people "adapt" quickly to the novelty of a new physical object – whereas creating an experience or a trip continues to bring joy long after the event is over.

Helping Kids to Have a Safe Summer

Helping Kids to Have a Safe Summer

The other day I watched a replay of the 1970’s movie Grease on TV with the hit song “Summer Nights”. Much to my kids’ dismay, I couldn’t stop singing the catchy refrain “Summer days driftin’ away” over and over. Although this popular song appears quite fun and innocent, it’s amazing how many of the themes of love, exploration and adolescence are enshrined in it and still current today. Around the globe, summertime means less structure and more freedom for many young people. Being out of school and regular supervision can lead to situations where teens spent hours on screens, have irregular sleep hours, or get dehydrated from significant sun exposure. During the summer, teens are also at increased risk for experimenting with alcohol and drugs, having a motor vehicle accident, drowning or other injury. Here are some quick tips for parents to help kids stay safe:

Question of the Month

Question of the Month

My 14-year-old daughter recently became a vegetarian after a visit to a farm with her school. Her classmates shared stories of how animals are killed, and she chose to stop eating meat for ethical reasons. She has also been sleeping more than usual during the summer holidays, waking up very late in the mornings. How can we help her eat healthy? Are the long sleep times and change in diet related?

K.F., Hastings on Hudson, NY, USA.

Helping Kids to Find Purpose and Cultivate Personal Success

Helping Kids to Find Purpose and Cultivate Personal Success

It is June. Exam and graduation time for many students around the world. In the Netherlands, our adopted home country, it is also the month when one of my favorite Dutch traditions occurs: graduating high school students hang flags on their houses together with their school bags to celebrate passing their exams and moving on in life. It takes a global village to raise a child, and I love that this rite of passage is celebrated in such a public way.

Dr. Anisha Abraham: Pediatrician, Teen Health Expert, Speaker, Author, Film Co-Producer, Consultant