Life is full of moments that cause us to feel stressed or nervous. Getting up and speaking in front of a large group of people, starting a new school, and trying to ace that important job interview – all of these scenarios can make us fearful, resulting in sleepless nights and performance jitters. The problem […]
“Back-to-School” in Full Effect: Helping your Teen Manage Back-to-School Stress
It’s almost fall, which means Back-to-School season is in full effect. While some kids dread early mornings, alarm clocks, and homework, they still look forward to school; to enjoying friendships, making new connections, sports, and new activities. Some children, however, have a legit fear of going back to school. They worry about potential bullying, ex […]
5 Reasons Why Parents Don’t Discuss Child Sexual Abuse and Why You Should Be Talking About It
According to the US Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused by the time they are 18, and 44% of rape victims are under age 18. Sadly, but not surprisingly, victims of sexual assault are three times more likely to suffer from depression, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, […]
Self-Care Tips for Parents of Special Needs Children
As a parent of a child with special needs, you probably spend most of your days so busy with the demanding needs of your family that you neglect to take care of yourself. Medical appointments, dentist appointments, IEP meetings, parent-teacher conferences, specialty hospital/doctor visits, follow up with referrals… The list goes on. The concept of […]
5 Signs Your Teenager is Asking for Help
The teenage years can perhaps be best described as a time of physical, emotional and social tumult. Changes happen so rapidly in adolescence, that neither child nor parent really knows how to cope. Teenagers often become more detached from their family during this time. In fact, parents become less important in their teenager’s eyes, as […]
10 Tips for the Overwhelmed Parent
Recognizing the Signs of Teen Depression
Ask any parent what their main job is and they will tell you it’s protecting their children and keeping them safe. New parents spend hours, if not days, baby-proofing the house. They research the best car seats and bike helmets and figure out ways to ensure their kids are safe online. But, no matter how […]
Parenting a Traumatized Child and Self Care
Parenting a Traumatized Child Trauma informed parenting offers various strategies for caregivers to assist a child who has experienced trauma. Help the Child Feel Safe This is critical because trauma often robs the child of their ability to feel safe. Parents and caregivers can promote safety in many ways. A parent can allow the […]
Helping Children Heal: A Closer Look at Trauma Informed Parenting
Many individuals are actively parenting and caring for children who have survived some form of trauma. The experience can bring up a variety of emotions for everyone involved. These emotions can range from anger and frustration to overwhelming sadness. What can a parent or caregiver do to help their child(ren) and themselves? One avenue that […]
How to Help Your Child Balance School and Extracurricular Activities
There was a time when young kids went to school, came home and did a little homework, then went outside to play with their friends. Their schedules were open and easy for them to handle. Nowadays, more and more young kids and adolescents are involved in so many activities they don’t seem to have time […]