Routines are important but especially for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - ADHD. Morning can often be rough and can start the day badly for children and parents. The more tasks become part of a routine, the less a child has to think about what to do next. Consistency is the key to making a...
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Wellness
Children with ADHD – Making the Day Easier
Anxiety in children
Anxiety is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children (http://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children/childhood-anxiety-disorders). Some large studies have demonstrated that clinically significant anxiety occurs in anywhere from 6-20% of children. The most common related disorders in children include: Generalized anxiety Social phobias Separation anxiety Specific phobias Obsessive compulsive disorder Post traumatic stress disorder These disorders can impact children...
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What is Developmental Pediatrics
Developmental Pediatrics is a sub-specialty of general pediatrics that focuses on assessing and treating children and adults with developmental delays and disabilities and chronic conditions affecting physical or emotional development, learning, attention, tics, autistic spectrum disorders or behavior. These specialists can help families find resources in the community and the schools. Developmental pediatrics is a meld of general...
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Middle School (Tween) Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is, unfortunately, the trend is that more and more children are starting to experiment with drugs and alcohol at an earlier age. Where we thought our children were safe in middle school, we see that more children are starting to try out these illegal substances in 7th and 8th grade. Since the teen...
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The Teenage Brain
Don’t give up on your teenagers! Their brains are still changing and remodeling into their 20′s. This means that the axons become myelinated and the pathways that are being used become reinforced and the ones that are not fade away. The brain operates on a “use it or lose it” philosophy. The brain matures back to front and...
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Sleep problems in children and adolescents
Up to 30% of children struggle with sleep problems. Inadequate sleep can affect mood, cognition and attention. Children with neurodevelopmental issues and behavioral problems are at greater risk for having sleep issues. The most common issues in children are bedtime resistance and nighttime wakings (night terrors, nightmares, sleepwalking). Some children resist going to bed by...
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Fatigue – Unwinding Hard to do?
Great article in the Wall Street Journal on August 30, 2011 about fatigue. Is it ok to let yourself take a break often. The article discusses how our brains get fatigued after working for a certain amount of time. Research was done looking at the best way to counteract that fatigue and what is...
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Staying Sober in College from The Wall Street Jounal
In the August 10, 2011 edition of the Wall Street Journal, there was an interesting article talking about staying sober in college – teen substance abuse. Students who struggle with substance/alcohol abuse and are in recovery really struggle today in colleges where much of the social life revolves around drinking. There are some schools...
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