In recent years, there has been an increase in media and community awareness surrounding the topic of bullying, which has resulted in many schools adopting a zero-tolerance policy with respect to bullying behaviors. However, even with the increased awareness and school interventions in place, there is a high likelihood that your child will encounter some … Read more
Anxiety is the most common type of psychological problem found in children and adolescents. Problems with anxiety can negatively affect a child’s life. For example, anxious children tend to have fewer friends than other children their age because they may be shy or fear meeting or being with new people. Anxiety can also interfere with … Read more
Although it’s still August, it’s not too early to start preparing your children for the back-to-school transition. By following the tips below, you can help your children get a smooth start to the new school year. Get back to a “school-friendly” sleep schedule. Schedules often become more lax in the summertime, particularly bedtimes. When bedtimes … Read more
It almost seems as if defiance has become a rite of passage for children and adolescents. All too often children refuse to do what parents ask them to do and this can lead to tremendous stress in families. Fortunately, parents can stop a pattern of defiance and negativity in children with a few simple strategies: … Read more
As parents, it often feels as though we spend 24/7 attending to other people’s needs – if not our children’s needs, then our spouse’s, our pets’, our boss’s, or maybe even our own parents’ needs. Being a parent and helping to run a household (not to mention also holding a job outside of the household) … Read more
The thought of telling a child about the death of a loved one is a daunting task for most parents. The first experience of loss is often associated with the death of a pet; however, the death of a grandparent or other close relative is often the experience that evokes tough questions and intense emotion. … Read more
Summer time is here! For some families the summer season is full of activities and adventures. While children enjoy this time of year, reducing stimulation over the course of the day is paramount. Over stimulation can contribute to irritability, hyperactivity, and melt-downs in some children. Take the opportunity this summer to help your child develop … Read more
Now that summer is here, many of our children will be heading off to camp. Some will be attending overnight or “sleep away” camps for the very first time. While some children anticipate camp with eagerness and excitement, others evidence a range of negative emotions, including nervousness, fear, sadness and/or anger. Your child may be … Read more
Sometimes families are affected by an event or experience so traumatic that it seems to reshape the fabric of who they are and how they function as a family unit. Even when a traumatic experience happens to only one member of the family, its effects can be felt throughout the family system. When the individual … Read more
From an early age, we are taught that once we fall in love we live happily ever after and ride off into the sunset with our perfect mate. This kind of message often creates the misconception that relationship difficulties are abnormal and a sign that a relationship must be doomed. In reality, relationship difficulties are … Read more
