Self-Care and Self-Compassion Improves Parenting

Self-compassion is an important part of parenting children and adolescents.  A few years ago, the Washington Post published an article called “Teaching Children Self-Compassion by Modeling it Ourselves” by Mandy Lange.  The article addresses the idea that children learn how to respond to their difficulties, stressors, and mistakes through their own experiences, and through what […]

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Depressed Girl in Bed

Depression in Children and Adolescents: How to Help

Depression affects children, adolescents, and adults. It affects people from all income levels and ethnic backgrounds. Research estimates indicate that at least 2-6% of all children and 10-35 % of all adults are diagnosed with depression in their lifetime. Unfortunately, less than 20% of children receive the help that they need. Because you are now reading this, you are taking action to help your child, and that is a very important choice.

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Girl with ADHD

ADHD In Girls

ADHD is a common topic among parents, schools, and health providers. But ADHD in girls is an elusive concept. Allison was always labeled a “Tom Boy.” When other girls were playing with dolls, reading, or coloring, she was outside playing with the neighbor boys. She preferred softball, kickball, riding her bike. She could never sit […]

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Parenting Depression

Depression in Teens Impacts Parent Depression

Depression is serious business, particularly in children and adolescents.  Depression impacts about of 20 percent of teens prior to adulthood, and research supports that these numbers are increasing.  Sadly, when depression rates increase, so do rates of suicide, self-injury, and substance abuse.  Many times, as parents, we struggle with how to help and what to […]

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Reading device propped on knee

How to Talk to Your Children about School Safety Threats

Threats to school safety are an increasingly common fear. Many parents have expressed concerns on how to respond to lock-downs, threats, and reports of violence at their child’s school.  Given the high number of reports of school violence in the last number of years, as well as the 24-hour news coverage of these events, people are understandably […]

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Parent Stress Increases Child Stress

Many children experience anxiety from time to time In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the number of children with anxiety disorders continues to increase over time, as well as the intensity of anxiety symptoms. Many things contribute to the stress children experience today.  Our culture demands more time and energy from both children […]

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Bullying in Childhood – Advice for Parents

Bullying awareness is important. Recent studies have found that between 10%-50% of children are bullied on a regular basis at school, most commonly between the grades of six and ten. An online study of 50,000 teenagers by dosomething.org found that 80% of teenagers witness bullying daily. Even when children are bystanders to aggression, they often […]

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