John Thompson

A recent study funded by the Clorox company has debunked the popular "five-second rule" that many parents use as a standard for whether or not an item is still clean after falling on the ground.Researchers tested a carrot and a sippy cup on a variety of household surfaces and found that germs did attach to the items in just five seconds. Among the "germiest" … [Read more...] about Tips for avoiding germs in your home

A new survey has found that as many as 30 percent of 14 to 24-year olds have either sent or received sexually explicit text messages. Pediatrician Dr. Marilyn Maxwell of Saint Louis University School of Medicine offers some parenting advice for talking to children about appropriate and safe cellular phone and internet use."It's important that you let your children know … [Read more...] about Parenting advice for talking to teens about ‘sexting’

As a parent, there are two things that often stand in the way of planning a "date night" with your significant other: time and money.Fathers and mothers, especially working parents, often feel guilty about leaving their children to do something on their own. However, some relationship experts say time spent having fun as a couple is necessary for the long-term health … [Read more...] about Tips for an affordable ‘date night’

It's estimated that as many as 60 percent of American children are considered obese, putting them at risk for lifelong health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease. While it's important for parents to help overweight children reach a healthier weight, experts say it's important to realize diets intended for adults aren't always … [Read more...] about Parenting advice for helping your kids lose weight