The Ultimate Guide to Preventing Youth Ice Hockey Injuries with the Correct Protective Gear Ice hockey, renowned for its speed, skill, and physicality, is a favorite sport among youth athletes. However, the fast-paced nature of the game brings a significant risk of injuries. Ensuring young players are equipped with the correct protective gear is essential in minimizing these risks. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential protective gear needed for youth ice hockey players, including helmets, mouth guards, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, shin guards, and neck guards. The ..read more

The Essential Guide to Preventing Youth Football Injuries with the Right Protective Wear Youth football is a thrilling sport that teaches teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. However, like any contact sport, it comes with a risk of injury. Ensuring young athletes are equipped with the correct protective gear is crucial in minimizing these risks. This guide covers essential football protective wear, including cleats, helmets, mouth guards, knee pads, hip pads, thigh pads, tail pads, and cups for boys, to keep young players safe on the field.1. The Critical Role of High-Quality Cleats in ..read more

We’ve all seen it. Name-calling, ridiculing, spreading rumors, or even hitting. But how do you tell the difference between bullying and behavior that’s just … mean? It can be a challenge, especially considering the fact that most youth don’t tell an adult when they’ve been bullied. It’s up to parents to recognize and identify the behavior and respond accordingly. At the U.S. Center for SafeSport, our goal is to make every athlete feel safe, supported, and strengthened. We believe that youth sports should be fun and confidence-boosting, but bullying can seriously impact an athlete’s physical an ..read more

The Child Unique Montessori School, an esteemed educational institution in Alameda, has taken a groundbreaking step in safeguarding the health of its students and staff by introducing COVID-detecting canines. This measure, a response to the anticipated increase in COVID-19 cases in California, exemplifies the school’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment. The Pioneering Integration of COVID-Detecting Canines In a proactive move, The Child Unique Montessori School and Montessori Elementary School of Alameda have integrated COVID-detecting dogs into their health and s ..read more

The TOP BABY Names in 2023 rang in some surprises! Noah and Olivia topped the list of the most popular baby names, with Noah jumping to the top spot for boys this year, replacing Liam in 2022, according to Babycenter.com. New names that appear on the top ten boys list are Ezra and Luca, bumping off Asher and James. There were were no new names on the girls’ top ten this year, only a little movement, with Charlotte moving up to the #5 spot from #9 in 2022, while Luna fell to #9 from the #7 spot. See the list below for Top Baby Names in 2023. Baby Name Trends for 2024 Top baby naming trends for ..read more

Where can you find snapping towels, pranking, name calling, and all-around misbehavior?  You guessed it.  The locker room.  Excusing “locker room talk or behavior” is all too common, but it shouldn’t be ignored or brushed off. While the locker room can foster team bonding and comradery, without proper education and protocols, it can also be an epicenter for unsafe and abusive behavior.  At the U.S. Center for SafeSport, we focus on preventing abuse in sports and educating communities on how to respond when it does occur. As CEO, I regularly talk to athletes, parents, coache ..read more

If you can withstand a financial emergency, give yourself a pat on the back. Nearly half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and 52 percent don’t have enough money to cover six months of expenses. In contrast, over half of Americans are uncomfortable with their level of emergency savings, according to a Bankrate.com survey.  The rut of working just so you can cover day-to-day expenses can lead to the worst money mistake of your life—not having an emergency fund. Without it, you could be forced to go into debt to pay for emergency medical care, a broken car that you rely on to get to wo ..read more

Help for the Overwhelmed! Jennifer first noticed feeling burned out when her daughter hit puberty. She said she felt “emotionally and physically drained and absolutely failing as a parent in every way.” At her worst, she remembers thinking, “I’m doing it all here, giving it my all. Why isn’t everything perfect here?” Her feelings of being overwhelmed became so severe that she met with a therapist to talk about her parenting exhaustion. “I see parenting burnout more with parents of teenagers than with parents of toddlers. When you are a new parent, it’s early in your parenthood so you still fee ..read more

With the rise in use of LED Holiday Lights, Flicker Vertigo may be to blame for fussy kids. The holidays are a time of magic. Experiencing excellent light shows at the zoo, taking evening strolls with the family down Christmas Tree Lane to see what holiday electronic delights will enchant. To quote Andy Williams, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” or a total nightmare if you suffer from photosensitivity or are one of the 3% of people with epilepsy who suffer from Flicker Vertigo, which can trigger seizures, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Flicker Vertigo can hit suddenly, causing ..read more

Gifted children are often characterized by their exceptional intellectual abilities, but with these talents come unique challenges and needs. These children typically exhibit advanced cognitive skills, heightened creativity, and intense curiosity from a young age. However, they may also experience asynchronous development, where their emotional and social development does not match their intellectual growth. This mismatch can lead to feelings of isolation, under-stimulation in traditional educational settings, and difficulties in connecting with peers. Moreover, gifted children often have a de ..read more