For those children that struggle with anxiety in school, in particular, school closures provided a natural escape from having to face their fears. Many with performance anxiety found temporary relief in the transition to open note testing and pass-fail grading systems, and those with social anxiety seized the opportunity to turn off their cameras and retreat from the classroom. Read more ›
Stereotypical gendered parenting differences remain entrenched in American households. In some cases parents may simply be unaware that they are parenting daughters in ways that are different from sons. Things are changing slowly, but gender stereotypes are still entrenched in parenting practices. Read more ›
Parents today often look for teachable moments – and opportunities abound. When reading a book with a child, for example, it might mean discussing story plots with him. If she isn’t allowed to play a videogame, it means explaining why. Read more ›
My 15-year-old is struggling to make friends. Well, she’s not struggling. My husband and I are struggling with the fact that my daughter has no friends. We don’t care that she’s not popular; we just don’t want her to be socially isolated. She says she has friends at school (to eat lunch with, walk to class with, etc.). But she rarely hangs out with friends outside of school. Thoughts? Read more ›
Training community members to help families navigate obstacles to care increases the likelihood that children from low-income and minority groups will be assessed for autism by specialists, according to a new study. The approach could help reduce disparities in autism diagnosis and treatment. Read more ›
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents) by therapist and certified MBSR trainer Elin Snel is a book with simple mindfulness practices to help your child (ages 5-12) deal with anxiety, improve concentration, and handle difficult emotions. Read more ›
First 5 California understands today’s parents face many challenges and tough choices as they raise their kids. First 5 California, also known as the California Children and Families Commission, supports the healthy development of children, from prenatal through age 5, and enriches the lives of their families and communities. Read more ›
We see images and hear conversations about racial injustice almost every day. As a parent, you might find it easier to be silent or ignore, but it’s important to view these as opportunities to talk with your kids about what they are seeing and hearing.
How do you have those conversations with your kids? For each family, this conversation might look a bit different, depending on your own heritage and experience. Read more ›
Children are never too young to learn about diversity. As young as 3 months old, they may look differently at people who look like or don’t look like their primary caregivers. As parents and caregivers, we must have confidence in ourselves and in our children — that we, and they, can handle tough topics and tough situations. We must understand that our role is to be honest, specific, and trustworthy as we raise the next generation to confront racial injustice. Read more ›
For the past 15 months, we’ve been carefully following safety protocols, and strict mandates have helped inform our decisions. Now, as we come out of our COVID caves, the rules are more ambiguous and varying comfort levels collide. It can create a whole new wave of anxiety around what feels safe, especially when our precautions don’t match those around us.
In this Voices of Compassion podcast, CHC’s Dr. Vivien Keil, shares coping strategies for easing our family’s way back into the world with courage and compassion. Read more ›
