Children’s drawings can function as a fascinating window into how kids perceive and represent their world. They are also helpful tools for therapists, because children sometimes find it easier to communicate with imagery rather than words. But can children’s drawings — by themselves — function as trustworthy evidence that something is wrong? Research strongly indicates otherwise.
Good news from researchers who study aggression in children: By changing our mental habits, we can help prevent aggression before it erupts.
Is your child afraid of the dark? Is your child’s fear severe enough to be considered a phobia? Here’s what research tells us about the signs and causes…and how to help kids to overcome their fears.
Observational fear learning is what happens when we use social cues to identify something as threatening. Can kids learn in this way? Yes!
Night terrors in children are surprisingly common, though not as prevalent as nightmares. How do we tell the difference, and what can parents do to cope?
When we rely on electronic media to calm kids down, our children may fail to learn crucial lessons about self-regulation. They may also develop symptoms of dependency…throwing severe tantrums when we take their media away.
PPositive parenting lowers a child’s risk of behavioral and emotional problems, and it helps protect kids against the effects of toxic stress. But what, exactly, is positive parenting, and how should parents get started?
Got a picky eater? These research-based insights can help you add healthful new foods to your child’s diet.
Picky eaters can drive us crazy, but their quirks and preferences aren’t entirely arbitrary. Read about the biological differences that turn some kids into fussy, selective eaters.
When one family member is stressed, it can disrupt the entire family. What are the effects of family stress, and what can we do to cope?
Recent studies reveal how toxic stress “gets under the skin” — disregulating hormones, turning genes “on” and “off,” and altering a child’s brain.
How to distract a 2-year-old? The best approach doesn’t just steer kids away from bad moods. It also teaches a crucial self-regulation skill.