Mary L. Pulido, Ph.D.

Kids love summer camp: Day camp, overnight camp, camps for swimming, sailing, hiking, biking, tennis, theatre, outdoor cooking, bird watching and more. Summer camp brings a boost of independence for children. As a child protection expert, it also brings to mind thoughts of safety procedures, medical protocols and emergency aid...

Having just seen the powerful documentary "Bully" that depicts the horrific tragedies that befall innocent children by bullies teasing, humiliating and assaulting them, I felt compelled to ask "What about the parents of the bullies?" How do they get support? What can they do to recognize and stop the harmful...

Since the Penn State scandal, questions about protecting children from sexual abuse seem to be on parents' minds all the time. I am thankful for the media's spotlight on these issues. I tell my friends and family to use these stories as "teachable moments." Sit your kids down and talk...

Most adults can recall a time when they, or someone they know, were bullied. It usually was a humiliating experience that they preferred to forget. The "school yard bully" was avoided at all costs; rarely did adults get involved. Well, the times have changed. My career has been devoted to...

Infant sleep safety recommendations have certainly changed since I was a parent of a newborn! Bumpers -- out, stuffed animals -- out, fluffy blankets -- out! I'm referring to "out of the crib." These items, once regularly placed in a crib, should not be near a newborn. As a member...

It's that time of year again. Pumpkins, apple cider, autumn leaves -- and -- trick or treating! Halloween should be a fun-filled day and night for children. Parents should take precautions to make sure that their little goblins and princesses have a fantastic time. It's one of my favorite nights...

A few days ago, in late August, I was in Mexico on vacation, calm and happy. I was in an elevator, the doors opened and a man walked in with a cut-off t-shirt. He turned around, and on his arm was a detailed tattoo of the World Trade Center with...

As the tenth anniversary approaches, parents may worry about how to have a conversation with their child about this sad event. I recommend that you frame it in such a way that you're not producing unnecessary anxiety for your child, but providing them with enough detail to satisfy their curiosity...

You hear stories in the news, a child home alone died in a fire -- or -- two children, ages, 6 and 8 were placed in protective custody after a neighbor reported them home alone. It can be tempting, particularly if a family has financial stressors, to rationalize that children...

If you are like most parents, you're likely to think that sexual abuse can never happen to your child. It's someone else's nightmare that you occasionally hear about on the news. When you do hear these horror stories, you're just thankful that your own child is safe. However, parents should...

See something? Hear something? Please, say something! No, this is not a terrorist alert warning about a strange package on a subway platform; it's for another type of terrorism: physical and sexual abuse of children. For the past 25 years, I have dedicated my career to trying to make New...