When the scrubs come off, many of the people who care for kids in our halls go home to care for their own kids. The same men and women who are whizzes at fixing broken bones and calming pre-surgery jitters are the same ones who go home to get slime out of carpet and claw through calculus homework. In this episode, we pull back the curtain to share our staff’s parenting tips, tricks and honest moments from the frontline of medicine and parenthood. Being parents shapes how we care for patients, and caring for patients shapes how we show up at home. Grab your coffee, even if it’s reheated for the third time, and get ready for a listen that’s equal parts insightful and cathartic.

It’s a thoughtful wrap to our third season of this podcast, as well as a heartfelt thank you to the people who care for children in every sense of the word.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

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Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we’re joined by three incredible guests who are raising children with special needs. Together, they help us better understand what life is like for their families and provide insight to help parents harness kids’ natural curiosity and turn it into something positive. They share examples of big and little gestures that go a long way to help their kids feel loved and accepted.

Jenn is Mom to Wyatt, who has dwarfism. Nicole is Mom to Ruby, who has Down syndrome. And Neil is Dad to Jack, who is on the autism spectrum and communicates through a tablet.

You’ll hear what helps their kids feel supported in everyday settings like schools and sports, and what well-meaning people sometimes get wrong. They share advice for families starting their own special needs journeys, as well as support that makes a real difference for them as parents.

Before the panel discussion, you’ll also hear from Dale Spivey, a school social worker, double amputee and former Children’s patient, who reflects on her own childhood and the message her parents taught her early on: When life knocks you down, you turn your foot around and get back up.

This heartfelt conversation is an honest look at parenting and the small gestures that help every child feel like they belong.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
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• X @childrensatl

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Type 1 diabetes often shows up without warning, and missed symptoms can put a child at serious risk. Parents, teachers, coaches and caregivers all play a role in noticing the early warning signs, like unusual thirst, fatigue and sudden weight loss.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we chat with pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Presley Nichols, diabetes educator Alison Higgins and parent guest Megan Bowman. They break down what type 1 diabetes is—and what it isn’t—while sharing practical tips for recognizing symptoms, supporting kids with the condition and creating environments where children can thrive.

You might be raising a child with type 1 diabetes, teaching one, babysitting one or coaching one. Or maybe your child shares a classroom, dugout or birthday party circuit with one. Whether you're deep in this world already, or just want to be a more informed adult in an affected child’s life, this episode will give you the knowledge—and the confidence—to be a champion for kids with type 1 diabetes.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you have kids, you won’t be surprised to hear that “Is my child getting enough sleep?” and “hours of sleep by age” are top digital search queries.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we dive into something that keeps parents up at night—literally. Whether you have a younger child whose nighttime routine somehow morphed from a sprint into a marathon or a teenage night owl, this episode has insight for you. We discuss how much sleep kids need by age and signs a child is getting too little—or too much—sleep. We also take on the topic of sleep-aid supplements like melatonin and magnesium, which seem to be everywhere these days.

The episode opens with cathartic insight from two parents who are in the throes of sleep time conundrums, then segues into tips from Dr. Stan Sonu from our Strong4Life team. Dr. Sonu draws from his experience as a pediatrician and a dad to tackle questions he regularly hears from parents. Whether you captain a ship with elementary schoolers, teens or both, this episode offers insight you don’t want to miss.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Follow Strong4Life:

• Instagram @wearestrong4life
• Facebook @S4LGA

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As technology becomes a bigger part of childhood, parenting in a digital age presents new challenges and risks. From video games and smartphones to social media and AI, digital platforms are giving kids more access than ever while also opening doors for online predators, sextortion and overexposure.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we hear from Traci Hurley and Anne Huegel of the Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Children’s. The conversation breaks down threats kids face in digital spaces and what parents should watch for, including grooming, risks built into online gaming, how AI can be used to exploit photos and why sexting among teens is more common than many realize.

From privacy settings and parental controls to communication tips that actually work, this episode offers real-world tools for handling tech in the home with more confidence and less stress.

Given the mature nature of topics discussed in this episode, listener discretion is advised. This episode discusses sensitive topics that may not be suitable for kids. Parents are encouraged to listen first and use judgment before sharing with others.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Follow Strong4Life:

• Instagram @wearestrong4life
• Facebook @S4LGA

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rural towns across Georgia are home to special, tight-knit communities that fill vital roles in our state economy. Unfortunately, lack of access to high-quality medical care can make it challenging to raise a healthy family in those communities. Together, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Mercer University School of Medicine are on a mission to change that.

Access to quality healthcare in rural areas affects everyone, whether it’s where a family calls home, where their loved ones reside or where they happen to be when an emergency unfolds.

Of the 159 counties in Georgia, 120 are considered rural and more than half of those rural counties do not have a pediatrician practicing within county lines. When a family needs to travel for healthcare needs, it can disrupt everything from the parents’ work to the child’s education. Important checkups and screenings can be missed, and quick access to quality care in the event of an emergency is another story.

That’s why Children’s and Mercer University School of Medicine announced an initiative to improve access to pediatric medical care closer to home for families in rural Georgia. Two years later, programs are underway to increase the pipeline of pediatricians practicing in rural communities, improve the quality of care in rural hospitals, and expand local access to behavioral and mental health support.

In this episode, we’re joined by three special guests—Dean Jean Sumner of Mercer University School of Medicine; Marc Welsh, Vice President of Child Advocacy at Children’s; and Lauren Brooker, a medical school scholarship recipient who plans to start practicing in 2028. Together, they share unique insight into what’s being done to change the trajectory of kids’ health in rural Georgia—and, more importantly, why such efforts are so important.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
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Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Parents know these panicky moments all too well: a tumble off the couch, a hit on the field, the bonking of heads during a bout of roughhousing. Concussions are more common than many of us realize, and they don’t just happen to athletes.

In this episode, we hear from two parents, Casey and Pete, who each faced scary situations when their kids, a toddler and a teen, experienced head injuries. Their stories kick off a larger conversation with Dr. Andrew Reisner, pediatric neurosurgeon and Medical Director of the Concussion Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Dr. Ashley Brouillette, a pediatric sports medicine physician who treats teen athletes and helps guide their recovery.

We talk about signs to watch for, why vomiting can be a warning sign and what “treatment” looks like for a concussion. From sports risks to recovery tips, and even when to consider pulling a child from contact sports, this episode offers a clear, calm look at what parents need to know and do when head injuries happen.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Teens receive hundreds of phone notifications a day. Those notifications aren’t just a distraction—they’re reshaping how kids learn, engage and feel.

In this episode of Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Lynn talks with Grant Rivera, Ph.D., Superintendent of Marietta City Schools, and Erin Harlow-Parker from our Strong4Life team about a new policy that requires middle school students to lock up their phones and smartwatches during the school day. Two students also join the conversation to share how it’s impacted their focus, friendships and time with family.

Dr. Rivera walks us through what sparked the idea, parameters of the policy and the data coming out of its pilot year. Erin shares insights into the mental health implications of screen time and how families can keep those boundaries going at home.

Whether you're a parent wondering if your kid is ready for a phone or a school leader weighing new policies, this conversation will get you thinking differently about what happens when kids unplug.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

Follow Children’s:

• Instagram @childrensatl
• Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta
• X @childrensatl

Follow Strong4Life:

• Instagram @wearestrong4life
• Facebook @S4LGA
• X @childrensatl

Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.