Experiencing fear is an important stage in emotional development. Normal childhood fears (e.g., being scared of the dark, monsters, etc.) teach kids how to measure and understand risk, evaluate potentially dangerous situations, and manage anxiety. Learning these skills is a necessary part of preparing for adulthood, and there’s a lot parents can do to help their kids process ...
Watching a child grieve is one of the most painful experiences in any parent’s life. If your child has gone through a difficult loss, you may be concerned that he’ll never return to his normal self. Many parents worry that their child’s grief-related nightmares, social withdrawal, apathy, and emotional issues won’t completely subside with time, but ...
Learning how to forgive and be forgiven is one of the most important lessons of childhood. As parents, we want our kids to empathize with others, demonstrate compassion, and take responsibility for their actions. From an early age, we tell our children to apologize after they’ve caused harm, believing that apologizing will encourage the aforementioned traits. Unfortunately, research shows ...
We all want our children to treat others with kindness, empathy, and compassion. Many of the rules and boundaries we set are designed to teach our kids what is (and isn’t) socially appropriate, and we constantly strive to inform our children about the ways their actions can affect others. However, the manner in which we discipline our children has ...
Anxiety disorders are found in children much more often than many people realize; ten to twenty percent of all children ...
With climate change becoming an increasingly common theme in politics, news, and even entertainment, it’s no wonder more young ...
Too often, the emotional side of giftedness is overlooked; for all that we laud the intellectual complexity of giftedness, seldom ...
Though we think of childhood as being a carefree time of life, many children experience periods of stress. Like adults, kids can become anxious because they’re overwhelmed by commitments, dealing with social or family problems, or navigating significant life changes. According to the American Psychological Association, children can experience stress due to various reasons such as academic pressure, social ...
As adults, we understand that violence is not permissible under any circumstances. When you see your child hit another child, it’s therefore normal to feel worried, upset, and embarrassed. Many parents are surprised by how strong their emotions become when they witness their child hitting: Even if you know your child is probably just overwhelmed (and unaware of how ...
Every long-term relationship involves a certain amount of conflict. No two people agree on everything, so it’s normal for couples to occasionally argue over matters related to money, personal values, or plans for the future. Indeed, many experts believe that conflict can play an important role in maintaining a healthy relationship, provided that it doesn’t get out of ...
The way children react to stimuli is determined by both their genetics and their environment. Research conducted on identical twins has shown that about half of our traits are inherited, giving us our own intrinsic way of looking at the world. Neurodevelopmental disorders, like Autism and ADHD, can also contribute to the formation of prominent innate behaviours. If your child ...
