700 Children's® – A Blog by Pediatric Experts

Posts About Child Development

Posted by: Laura Cook, PhD , Jenny Phan, PhD on Jun 04, 2025

Typically, imaginary friends appear in preschool and early childhood and most times come and go without concern. Here are a few guiding principles in embracing this fun expression of your child’s imagination.

Read More
young boy with tears
Blog

Toxic Stress: How the Body's Response Can Harm a Child's Development
Toxic stress that children suffer not only shapes their emotional lives as adults, but also affects their physical health and longevity.
Young man with an orange in his mouth smiling with his dad
Blog

Breakfast on the Brain: Why It Matters

As a parent, prioritizing breakfast in your household can help set your child up for success.

All Topics

Browse by Author

About this Blog

Pediatric News You Can Use From America’s Largest Pediatric Hospital and Research Center

700 Children’s® features the most current pediatric health care information and research from our pediatric experts – physicians and specialists who have seen it all. Many of them are parents and bring a special understanding to what our patients and families experience. If you have a child – or care for a child – 700 Children’s was created especially for you.

View All Author Bios

Latest Posts

Music Therapy: Sounds of Love in Early Childhood

Jan 12, 2016

Believe it or not, your baby thinks your voice sounds better than Beyoncé, Whitney, Elton or Elvis. And, singing to your baby can actually help development. Read More

Early Sports Specialization: Does Benefit Outweigh Risk?

Jan 05, 2016

Early sports specialization is when a young athlete chooses a single sport to practice and play exclusively. This usually occurs prior to elementary or middle school, is nearly year-round, and is an attempt to gain early skills. Read More

Our Top 10 Posts of 2015

Dec 31, 2015

As we wrap up 2015, we want to take a moment to put a bow on the top ten 700 Children’s posts from the past year. This site is a wealth of information from our clinicians, researchers and staff and we thank them, and our readers, for sharing this space with us. Read More

Caffeine During Pregnancy: Good News for Coffee-Drinking Moms

Dec 15, 2015

When you’re pregnant, it seems like everyone has something to say about what you should eat or drink, and it can be stressful trying to listen to all the advice. Read More

Are Scented Candles and Air Fresheners Harming Your Child?

Dec 03, 2015

Scented candles and air fresheners are popular items that many families use inside their homes. But recent reports have found their way to the internet regarding the potential harm from these items, some of which are exaggerated or misconstrued, whereas others have more merit. Read More

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Should Every Child Be Screened?

Nov 17, 2015

For several years, most pediatricians have been following guidelines created by medical experts that suggest all children between the ages of 18 and 24 months be screened for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – even if the parents aren’t worried about development or behavior. Read More

Indoor Activities for Kids When the Weather Gets Cold

Oct 22, 2015

As a developmental Physical Therapist, one of my jobs is to help kids become and remain active. But as a parent, I know the struggles of keeping kids active, especially during the upcoming cold, wet season. Read More

Does the Sight of Blood Make Your Child Feel Faint?

Oct 15, 2015

If your child feels faint when they see blood, Halloween is probably not your favorite holiday. The reaction may be caused by vasovagal syncope – the term for a rapid drop in blood pressure and heart rate which can trigger fainting. Read More