Recent Posts by Chrystal de Freitas, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Well child checks are a routine part of a child’s life.  These visits are opportunities to follow their growth and development and to review accurate information regarding their overall health.  Topics such as nutrition, bedwetting, parenting, and, of course, vaccinations can all be reviewed at…

Middle School. I know no one who would be willing to relive those awkward, anxious years. Changing bodies, changing classes, changing circles of friends. More hormones, more homework, more stress. And, as parents who have lived through it, it’s natural for us to want to…

Have you seen the #LikeAGirl video making the rounds recently? If not, take a minute (OK, three minutes) to watch it and then read on. The video is a social experiment. First, the director asks teenage girls and boys to “run like a girl”, “fight…

It’s that time of the year once again. No, not the Holidays, but the end of another school year and all the events that follow. From recitals, end of year school parties, proms and graduations. Everybody is excited and if not, at least relieved, that…

As a pediatrician and mother – and all those other roles that we play in life – I spend most of my waking hours in the company of children, and they are amazing little beings! At times delightful, sweet and just plain funny, and, at other…

This month’s blog post gives a big shout out to Celeste Mergens – the founder of Days for Girls International for her vision and dedication to girls in Kenya and around the word.  Days for Girls International helps provide sustainable hygiene kits to girls in…

Recently, I updated my bulletin board at the office with the message: “Stand here and think of something you are grateful for!”  I casually left a pen hanging from a string and went on with life.  After a couple of days, much to my delight,…

If you’re a parent of a child who’s age just cracked the double digits, you may have noticed their opinion of you might be slipping into the ‘embarrassing’ category more and more each day. What did you ever do? Probably nothing, but as your child’s…

I remember my mother as this beautiful lady who lit up the room whenever she walked in.  She had a deep sense of social justice and spent most of her adult life volunteering her time and efforts directing and caring for children at a local…

Healthy body image and it’s best friend, high self-esteem, are hardest to find in teenage girls, but let’s not forget that teenage boys and kids of all ages can potentially suffer from an unhealthy or distorted body image (not to mention adults). Your child’s self-image…