5 Health Questions Every Parent Asks

By Editor on Mon, 04/19/2010 - 4:58pm

Being a parent means having a lot of questions. And when it comes to your kids' health, sound medical advice is more important than ever. For our story on the 5 Health Questions Every Parent Asks, we asked the experts - doctors at St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine - what questions they hear most often from parents this time of year.

Our experts told us that parents are concerned about allergies and asthma (not surprising since St. Louis is a hotbed of both); BPA in plastic bottle and food packaging; how to help your child eat a healthier diet; the status of autism research; and whether children should be vaccinated against common childhood illnesses like the flu and H1N1. Click on the video below to watch our health writer, Amy De La Hunt, talk with Channel 4's Virginia Kerr on Awake with KMOV about this story:

Click here to read the full story and get the answers to these questions from the experts.

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Things to Do

Festival of Nations

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Sunday, August 30, 2026

Festival of Nations is St. Louis' biggest multicultural celebration. Enjoy a wide variety of live music, international fare, and gift booths featuring fair trade gifts and handmade crafts. Guests can also enjoy children's activities.

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Wee Weekend at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Preschoolers can learn, play, explore and grow at the Saint Louis Art Museum's Wee Weekend program for its youngest visitors. Join in on the adventure as your little one discovers new ways of interacting with art and each other.

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Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Sunday, August 30, 2026

See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.

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Preschool Science Series at the Saint Louis Science Center

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Sunday, August 30, 2026

The Preschool Science Series is an open exploration learning lab for young scientists - ages 18 months to 5 years - and their families. Activities are designed around research that shows children learn best through play, inquiry and shared experiences with their parents and caregivers.

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On-Stage Performance Series at The Magic House

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Saturday, September 26, 2026

From dance to drama to musical performances, The Magic House presents the On-Stage Performance Series for kids of all ages. Designed to inspire a love of the arts and dramatic play, monthly performances take place at the Story Time Theater or Whitaker Theater inside The Magic House. On-Stage Performances are included with Magic House admission.

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See the Purina Incredible Dog Team perform extraordinary feats of athleticism and skill right here in St. Louis at Union Station this summer! Featuring some of the most talented canines in the country, the Purina Incredible Dog Team consists of more than 20 remarkably gifted dogs and two trainers who entertain audiences with extraordinary feats of athleticism and skill. Spectators can watch the team demonstrate a variety of canine sports while dogs of different breeds fly through the air to catch a flying disc, leap over a high jump, and maneuver through a series of obstacles in an agility course. Free performances are happening Thursdays through Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Union Station's Performance Plaza in front of the St. Louis Wheel. Learn more at purina.com/purinafarms.

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