All children need love, encouragement, and support, and for kids with learning disabilities, such positive reinforcement can help ensure that they emerge with a strong sense of self-worth, confidence, and the determination to keep going even when things are tough. Read more »
It’s not always easy to identify learning disabilities. Because of the wide variations, there is no single symptom or profile that you can look to as proof of a problem. However, some warning signs are more common than others at different ages. Read more »
The main predictor of how well your child will do in school and in life is the strength of the relationship he or she has with you, the parent or primary caretaker. This relationship impacts your child’s future mental, physical, social, and emotional health. It is not founded on quality of care or parental love, but on the nonverbal emotional communication between child and parent known as the attachment bond. While it’s easiest to form this secure attachment bond with an infant, it can be formed at any time or at any age. Read more »
If you’ve recently learned that your child has or might have an autism spectrum disorder, you’re probably wondering and worrying about what comes next. No parent is ever prepared to hear that a child is anything other than happy and healthy, and a diagnosis of autism can be particularly frightening. You may be unsure about how to best help your child, or confused by conflicting treatment advice. Or you may have been told that autism is an incurable, lifelong condition, leaving you concerned that nothing you do will make a difference. Read more »
Life with a child with ADD/ADHD can be frustrating and overwhelming, but as a parent there is a lot you can do to help control and reduce the symptoms. Read more »
Teenage depression isn’t just bad moods and the occasional melancholy—it’s a serious problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s life. Teen depression can lead to drug and alcohol abuse, self-loathing and self-mutilation, pregnancy, violence, and even suicide. But as a concerned parent, teacher, or friend, there are many ways you can help a teen with depression. Read more »
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence, as these abilities do not come naturally for some special education students. Children in special ed settings need to have their confidence, courage, and emotional awareness nurtured in order to successfully play, work, cooperate, and be productive in their studies. We have all heard that technology can be a great playing-field leveler in a classroom with diverse learners. It can also assist in providing social and emotional skills. Let’s face it — the digital lifestyle is here to stay, so using digital technology to enhance SEL makes perfect sense. Read more »
Aggressive behavior may be bullying depending on what happened, how often it happens and who it happens to.
StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying. If your child or someone you know is being bullied, the Get Help Now section outlines the steps you can take to resolve the situation. Read more »
A child can be difficult in a number of ways and at times can be creative with her behavior. When it is time for discipline, it’s important for a parent to remember that there is always a reason for the behavior, and discipline strategies are much more effective when you can determine the reason. Having a positive relationship with your child is the key to making discipline work.
This article discusses four effective discipline techniques: ignoring, consequences, time-out, and rewards and charts. Read more »
Anger is a potent emotion. Left unchecked, it can lead to mistakes in actions and conduct. Because anger is a natural response, it’s imperative that people learn to manage it effectively, according to GreatSchools, a parent education website. One technique for anger management involves redirecting the anger to a safe object to express it without hurting others. Read more »
