AAP Patient Education Library
Collections
- A Minute For Kids
- Connected Kids
- For Teens
- Plain Language
- Tipp Sheets
- Vaccine Information Statements
Categories
- Adolescents And School Aged Children
- Behavioral And Psychosocial Issues
- Common Illnesses And Conditions
- Growth And Development
- Immunization Information
- Newborns Infants And Toddlers
- Nutrition And Fitness
- Promoting Pediatric Care
- Safety And Prevention
- Sexual Health And Sexuality
- Substance Abuse Issues
Plain Language
»
Asthma
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and other breathing problems. This guide can help educate parents about quick-relief (rescue) and controller medications for asthma, when and how to use them, and how to monitor their child's asthma using a peak flow meter.
»
Asthma Triggers
PLAIN LANGUAGE: This handout describes the common asthma triggers—dust mites, animal dander, mold, pollen, infections, smoke, chemicals, exercise—and how parents can avoid them and minimize their impact on their child's asthma.
»
Bedwetting
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Bedwetting can be a common problem, even for children who are toilet trained, or who are older. Parents can take various steps to help their children who wet the bed. If these tips do not help, parents should talk to their child's doctor to explore whether there are physical and/or emotional reasons and how to address them.
»
Calcium
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Calcium is an essential mineral, and is especially important for growing children. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products, green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals, legumes, and others. This handout contains information about sources of calcium, how to read food labels, and other tips for parents to make sure that their children develop strong bones.
»
Caring for Your Child's Teeth
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Parents should begin oral care for their children before they develop teeth. Age-specific dental care steps are provided in this handout, in addition to information about cavities, fluoride, and thumbsucking.
»
Choosing Over-the-Counter Medicines for Your Child
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Common over-the-counter (OTC) medications given to children include antihistamines, cold and cough medications, decongestants, stomach medications, and pain and fever medicatons. This handout advises parents about how to treat their children safely using OTC medications.
»
Colds
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Colds are infections caused by viruses. There is no cure for the common cold, but this handout explains to parents the signs of a cold, and what they can do to help their young child feel better. There are tips on how to treat a stuffy nose, relieve aches and pains, and keep your child hydrated, as well as ways to prevent colds, and when to call the doctor if symptoms worsen.
»
Constipation
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Constipation is a common problem in children and adolescents and can have a variety of causes. This guide will help parents learn the common signs of constipation, as well as the different ways to address and treat the problem.
»
Croup
PLAIN LANGUAGE: The main sign of croup in children is a barking cough, caused by an infection that makes the throat swell up. This can be scary for both parents and children, but this handout explains what parents should do when their child develops croup, including home treatments, and tips on when parents should call the doctor or 911.
»
Diarrhea, Vomiting, and Water Loss (Dehydration)
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Vomitting and diarrhea in children are usually caused by viral infections, and may cause dehydration. This handout provides parents with information about when to contact their child's pediatrician, how to avoid dehydration, how to treat diarrhea and vomitting, and answers to common questions.
»
Ear Infections
PLAIN LANGUAGE: This handout explains the anatomy of a child's ear and how children get ear infections. Parents can take certain steps to help prevent ear infections in their child, but most children have at least one while they are young. Antibiotics are not always necessary to treat an infection and parents should talk to their child's doctor about appropriate measures.
»
Fever
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Fever is a sign or symptom of illness in your child. This handout explains fevers, how to treat them, and when parents should call the doctor.
»
Flu, The
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Flu is caused by the influenza virus and has different symptoms than a cold. Parents should learn the signs of the flu. This handout provides useful information about flu prevention, treatment, and how to tell the difference between a cold and the flu.
»
How to Take Your Child's Temperature?
PLAIN LANGUAGE: This brochure explains the three different ways of taking a child's temperature—rectal, oral, and axillary, and when it is appropriate to use each one.
»
Prescription Medicines and Your Child
PLAIN LANGUAGE: This handout explains what parents should know about prescription medications for their child including what questions to ask their pediatrician or pharmacist. It also explains how to recognize the signs of medication allergies, how to read a prescription label, and how to store medications safely.
»
RSV, Bronchiolitis, and Your Baby
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Almost all children get RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) at least once before they are 2 years old. RSV can make some children very sick. This handout describes the symptoms of RSV, how to treat RSV at home, and the signs of more severe illness when a parent should take their child to the doctor.
»
Secondhand Smoke
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Secondhand smoke can be very harmful to a child's health and can cause increased respiratory infections and aggravate asthma. This handout explains the dangers of secondhand smoke to parents.
»
Start Reading to Your Child Early
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Parents can start reading to their children when they are still babies. The age-specific tips provided in this handout can help parents teach their children to love books and reading at any age.
»
Teens and Tobacco
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Tobacco companies spend billions of dollars marketing cigarettes and other tobacco products, and much of this advertising is directed at teenagers. Cigarettes contain over 400 different poisons including nicotine, and smoking can cause cancer, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. This brochure is directed at teens and presents facts about smoking and tobacco in an effort to prevent teens from picking up the habit, as well as information about addiction and resources to help teens who want to quit smoking.
»
Temper Tantrums
PLAIN LANGUAGE: Temper tantrums can be frustrating for a parent, but they are a normal part of development for toddlers. Parents will not be able to prevent all temper tantrums, but they can learn to deal with them by staying calm, being consistent, and setting boundaries. Other helpful tips, as well as advice on when to talk to your pediatrician are included in this brochure.
»
Using Liquid Medicines
PLAIN LANGUAGE: This handout explains how to administer liquid medications to your child, including how to measure, and how to use droppers, cups, and dosing spoons.
»
Using Over-the-Counter Medicines with Your Child
PLAIN LANGUAGE: This handout provides safety tips to parents about how to use over-the-counter (OTC) medications properly, including specific advise about pain and fever medications, a warning about aspirin, and what to do in the case of suspected overdose or poisoning.
»
What Is ADHD?
PLAIN LANGUAGE: ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) affects a substantial number of children and can be difficult to diagnose, as there are currently no proven medical tests for the disorder. The three prime symptoms of a child with ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While there are no known causes for ADHD and there is currently no cure, there are measures that can be taken to ease your child's bout with this disorder. These include, but are not limited to medicine, behavioral therapy, and working with your child's school in order to provide proper treatment in all environments.
»
What Is Your One-Year-Old Telling You?
PLAIN LANGUAGE: This handout provides a checklist of normal language development for toddlers between 1 and 2 years of age. Children learn to communicate before they learn to talk and parents should be aware of the phases of language development. Also included is a list of signs, in addition to delayed speech, that may indicate a problem, and resources for seeking help.
»
What to Do for ADHD
PLAIN LANGUAGE: There is currently no known cure for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A plan for managing ADHD should include medication, behavior therapy, and working with your child's school system. This handout describes these three elements and what parents can do to support their child with ADHD.
Quick Access
Sick Child?
View the KidsDoc Symptom Checker from HealthyChildren.org