All Entries in the "Parenting Pep Talk" Category
Recognizing Depression in Kids
Children and teenagers can suffer from depression, and although some symptoms are similar to those experienced in adult depression, others are manifested differently. Parents who know how to spot depressive symptoms in children are better able to recognize when their own children need help. Depression can have serious negative effects on a child’s health and [...]
Leaving Children for the First Time
Any mother will tell you that leaving a child for the first time is a gut wrenching experience. Am I being selfish? Can relatives (even dad) care for him in the same way that I do? Will he be traumatized or forget me while I am gone? These are just a few examples of thoughts [...]
Improve Yourself through Improv
Watching improv may make you laugh, but doing improv can actually make you smarter. Improv is often thought of as an adult activity, but it is also beneficial for children. Improv classes are a great way for children of all ages to socialize, improve their thinking skills, and enhance self-regulation. Here is one example of [...]
Dealing with Social Rejection
Bullying and its consequences have received extensive media coverage recently. Social rejection has similar consequences but has received far less attention. Take a moment to recall an instance of being rejected or ignored when you were younger. Even just thinking about social rejection can be emotionally evocative. All people have felt rejected at some point [...]
What To Do About Picky Eaters
Does your child seem to survive on only yogurt and cheese? Does she turn her head in disgust when you even mention the word broccoli? Many parents struggle to ensure that their children eat a variety of nutrient rich foods. Some children grow out of the “picky eater” phase, while others become malnourished adults. Why [...]
Separation Anxiety
Parents may notice that at 7 to 14 months of age, babies become more clingy and fear strangers. At this stage in development babies understand object permanence – the idea that their parents exist even when they are not present – causing many children to experience fear when separated. This is normal and subsides by [...]
The Truth About Lying
Many parents wonder how they should handle children’s lies. Should lies be punished like any other behavioral infraction? Are they indicative of something more serious and require a different approach? Some children exaggerate, leave out certain details, create stories, or even deny what’s right in front of them. Some do it in only certain contexts. [...]
The Pet Effect: Life Lessons and Good Health
Animal lovers are well-aware that pets bring life-enhancing qualities into a home. Having a loving, non-judgmental companion can benefit adults and children in a multitude of ways. For instance, many people are aware that studies suggest pets relieve stress. The list, however, extends far beyond that. Having a pet has been shown to affect child [...]
Does Parental Gender Impact Child Development?
“More than two decades of research has failed to reveal important differences in the adjustment or development of children or adolescents reared by same-sex couples compared to those reared by other-sex couples,” according to researcher Charlotte J. Patterson. Yet politicians and religious groups are up in arms about allowing same-sex couples to adopt and to [...]
What Makes a Bully a Bully?
There is no genetic trait for bullying – bullying is a learned behavior. Bullies repeatedly and intentionally harm individuals they perceive as weak and helpless. They dominate and blame their actions on others. Bullying is a widespread problem that has been noted in children as young as three. Victims of bullying suffer from a range [...]
Parenting and ADHD: Messaging Matters
In last week’s NY Times article, Ritalin Gone Wrong, Dr. L. Alan Sroufe argued against the use of stimulants for treating ADHD, stating that a child’s environment is the cause of ADHD symptoms. He asserted that the current research trend – studying biological bases of ADHD – poses numerous risks. In this article, I am [...]
What Does an Executive Functioning Deficit Look Like in School-Aged Children?
Does your child have good ideas but struggle to get them down on paper? Do you frequently return to your child’s school to retrieve forgotten homework assignments? Have you ever been alarmed to discover your child has an untouched long-term assignment due tomorrow? Problems such as these are common among children with executive function deficits. [...]
Why Do I Feel Depressed While Breastfeeding?
I received a call recently from an otherwise joyous new mom, who was confused and upset by intense episodes of crying during the onset of breastfeeding. She had no name for what she was experiencing and found her symptoms odd. After doing some research, I suggested she ask her doctor about Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex [...]
The Witching Hour
In folklore, the “witching hour” is the time of night when supernatural activity is high. For parents of newborns, it’s the time of day they wish they had supernatural calming powers. During the witching hour, babies display colicky symptoms like crying and fussing and seem utterly inconsolable. First time parents are often blindsided by the [...]
Speaking of Autism… Is Cure the Right Word?
As a professional who works with so many exceptionally bright, capable, and unique adults on the autism spectrum, I wish it were not so common to refer to “curing autism.” Cure is a powerful word. It is easy to get behind cure campaigns – who doesn’t want to cure cancer or cure AIDS? It is [...]
How to Stick with New Year’s Resolutions
It’s the time of year when people reflect on their lives and their habits and resolve to make changes. Popular goals include weight loss, quitting smoking, and getting out of debt. According to some polls, the single most common New Year’s resolution – made annually by more than 50% of Americans – is to spend [...]
Facilitating Social Awareness
Social difficulties are a hallmark of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Parents of ASD children constantly struggle to help their children understand social nuances. For non-ASD children, social skills develop naturally from infancy through adulthood. In fact, when these children become adults, they will have difficulty recalling that development. Social skill development is a complex puzzle, [...]
Pills vs. Pushups: The Role of Exercise in Mental Well-Being
It’s no secret – exercise is good for you. It’s well known physical health benefits range from increased strength and endurance to illness prevention. However, fewer individuals are aware of the impact exercise has on mental health. Research confirms what so many people intuitively know – when you are active, you feel and function better [...]
Who Knows Best? Making the Right Decisions for Your Family in the Face of Criticism
When Toni Morrison told Essence in 1981 that “You really need the whole village [to raise a child],” she did not mean “you need the whole village telling you how to raise your child.” Parenting is a full-time job plus overtime. When family and friends share in the parenting responsibilities, primary caregivers are able to [...]
Parenting Children who Struggle with Sexuality
October was bullying awareness month, and devastating stories about children as young as ten taking their own lives covered the news. Children are bullied for a variety of unfortunate reasons, but LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning) children too often are the targets. It is challenging for parents to intervene at school and often [...]
Home for the Holidays: Navigating Complicated Relationships
In magazines, holidays are picture perfect. The idyllic image of a big, attractive, happy family surrounding a table filled with a golden turkey, stuffing, and a plethora of other food is often portrayed. As many families know, however, holidays can be quite stressful. And they are upon us this week. The question of where a [...]
Only Children are Not Necessarily Lonely Children
For many parents, the decision to try for a second baby is as difficult and complex as the decision to have a child at all. Though these choices are quite personal, there are social and cultural pressures to have multiple children. Those pressures can become judgmental. Some of this judgment may be due to the [...]
Parenting Autistic Children in a Divorce Environment
Families with one or more autistic children often struggle with consistency. Parents tend to fight over the importance of following through with structure, particularly when frustrations are high and time is limited. These challenges are heightened in families of divorce. Divorce adds complexity and variability to children’s lives, and it gives each parent more individual [...]
Strengths-Based Parenting: Finding the Right Balance
There have been debates in past years regarding when and how much children should be praised. While schools are constantly ranking students, they have simultaneously adopted the notion that competitions are bad and every child should be praised and awarded. Parents too, often praise children to demonstrate support and to promote self-esteem. But what effect [...]
Helping Children with Special Needs become Competent Adults
While all parents struggle, parents of special needs children have amplified challenges and unique, all-encompassing concerns. Will my child fit in socially? Will he be able to handle academic demands? Is college possible? Will he be able to live independently? Can we afford all of our child’s needs? These among others are common questions that [...]
Making Mornings Run Smoothly
Mornings are typically a challenging time of day for families. Parents have the chore of getting their own frantic lives in order as they get their children out of bed, fed, dressed, and out the door for the school day. Mornings can involve arguments over how to dress, what’s for breakfast or lunch, and forgotten [...]
Spending Time with Each Child
Whether you are a parent struggling to attend to each child equally or an adult reminiscing about vying for your parents’ attention, most people can relate to the challenges of being in a family with more than one child. Every child has his own needs and wants to be acknowledged for his uniqueness. And parents [...]
