Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Help Your Child

April 21, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

“What if everyone stands up and leaves when it’s my turn to sing on stage?”

“What if I trip on the playground and no one ever wants to be my friend again?”

“What if all the walls of my bedroom fall in on me?”

These may sound like normal childhood fears; every child experiences fears at some point. However, it is important to be able to spot when normal childhood fear has become overwhelming anxiety.

Generalized anxiety disorder sounds like a scary term, but breaking it down and understanding it will give you insight into how to cope with your child’s fears. So what is generalized anxiety disorder, what triggers it, and how is it treated? Let’s dive in.

How Do I know if It’s ADHD or Developmentally Appropriate Behavior?

April 19, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Children can be tiresome—no matter their age. But oh, they are charming! The wit, the spontaneity, the unadulterated joy—it’s enough to make you crack up, but also drive you mad, isn’t it? Especially when you can’t get them to sit still, follow directions, wait their turn, or listen carefully! And for a child with ADHD, these types of requests or expectations are even harder to meet.

All children will be inattentive, impulsive, or hyperactive sometimes. That’s just part of being a kid. Preschoolers in particular struggle to stay focused on one activity for a sustained amount of time. It’s not unusual for preschoolers to have short attention spans. Plus, isn’t it cute when they get sidetracked by a bug or a pile of rocks with no particularly interesting quality except that they exist?

In school-aged children and teens, it’s not uncommon for their attention spans to depend on their interest in what’s at hand.(1) Pursuing their passion for basketball, reading, or collecting sneakers trumps doing boring stuff like homework any day.

Infant Development: Cruising, First Words, and Your 10 to 12 Month Old

April 18, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

How is it possible that your precious child is already a year old? Doesn’t it seem like they were born just yesterday?

The 12-month mark will be here before you know it. And between the ages of 10 and 12 months, your baby’s curiosity is expanding at a rapid pace.

Around their first birthday, they’ll likely say their very first word! You’ll melt at the cuteness when your baby says “dada” or “mama” for the first time. And soon the baby babbling will transform into even more real words you can recognize.

With this exciting stage comes crawling, standing, and eventually… walking! Your baby’s newfound independence is sure to keep you on your toes.

You’ll watch your little one learn, grow, and change every single day!

Is My Child Depressed? Warning Signs and Resources for Childhood Depression

April 11, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Growing up is often described as an emotional rollercoaster. There are so many highs and lows that come with the experiences of childhood and adolescence—riding a bike for the first time, finding a best friend, going through puberty and exploring sexuality. School, friends, family, hormonal changes—all of these different parts of a child’s life can contribute to intense feelings.

But if your child has more ‘lows’ than ‘highs’—low moods, sadness, low self-esteem—they may be suffering from depression.

As a parent, it may be hard to accept that even children can become depressed. What do they have to be depressed about, after all? They don’t have to pay taxes, go to work, or navigate the complexities of adult relationships. Childhood is often described wistfully by adults as carefree—longed for by nostalgic memory of a time when recess was the best part of a day, meals were cooked and paid for, and someone— a parent or caregiver—was watching out for you.

Spring Cleaning: Involving Your Children in Maintaining Their Spaces

April 7, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

The smell of fresh spring air can be rejuvenating. The trees are beginning to bloom again and school is in its final stages of the year. With all those signs of the changing seasons, many of us feel an urge to clean our houses from top to bottom.

Spring cleaning, though, can feel like a momentum task when you have children. The mess can seem bigger and harder to tackle. In reality, though, your children can be great helpers to get your house cleaned.

The advantages of children learning how to clean are massive. One study found that children who completed regular household chores had a sense of mastery, self-reliance, and responsibility.(1) The children of this study started doing chores as early as 3 or 4 years old, and they saw lifelong benefits from it. Some of these benefits included good relationships with friends and family and success in academics and later in their careers.

How To Set Boundaries During School Breaks - 4 Steps to Success

March 18, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

School breaks can be a time that students look forward to for weeks. Maybe it means a vacation or special trip to see family. Maybe they just look forward to getting to sleep in, stay home, and relax.

Sometimes, though, all the extra time spent together can put strain on the relationship between you and your child. Setting healthy boundaries can help keep the break fun and enjoyable for everyone.

If you’re thinking, “I know that setting boundaries would be great, but I just don’t know how to get started.” Don’t worry! I’ve outlined four steps to help you through the process and included four more tips to help make your child’s upcoming school break a success.

3 Things to Do if You're Raising an Anxious Child

March 16, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

The past couple of years have been hard on all of us. But if you’re a parent, you’re a real hero. Working and parenting from home—all while tackling crippling pandemic anxiety—has become the new norm for many people.

And your children are likely feeling anxious too. They may not use the exact phrase “I’m anxious,” but the pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone. And they probably don’t even have the words to describe exactly what they’re feeling.

So it’s up to you to notice and tackle the issue head on.

Is the question, “Mom, what if…?” followed by the disaster of the day on repeat in your household?

How To Handle Separation Anxiety Disorder In Your Child: 3 Practical Tips and Strategies

March 16, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Girl anxious to separate from her mother

For some children and parents, the drop-off at daycare or school is the worst part of the day. Every. Single. Day.

There are even children that struggle with their parents or caregivers leaving the room or being out of eyesight.

This level of separation anxiety can be mentally and emotionally for both parties.

If this is you, take a deep breath. I’m here to tell you that there are ways to help your child gain a sense of security and be more comfortable. Let’s walk through the signs, causes, and treatments of separation anxiety disorder together. You can do this!

Infant Development: 7 to 9 Month Old Milestones and How to Support Your Child's Development

March 1, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

And just like that, your baby is 7 months old and already more than halfway to his first birthday! Gone are the days where you could introduce him to strangers without much of a fuss—you may find he’s clingier than you’re used to and doesn’t like to be separated from you. 7 months also marks a more mobile and inquisitive time—say goodbye to letting him play quietly in one spot while you go about your day. Baby proofing the house becomes a must at this stage if you haven’t already. Pro tip: get on your hands and knees to see things from the baby’s vantage point to make your home as safe as possible for your little one.

Mental Illness in Children: Is It Just a Phase or Something More?

February 22, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

When you hear the phrase “mental illness” what comes to mind? If you think about managing your own mental health or the psychological issues other adults in your life are navigating, you’re not alone.

Often mental health—and on the flipside, mental illness—are seen as things only adults have to manage. But the truth is, one in six children will experience a mental health disorder in any given year.1

The number of children and teens battling mental health issues without proper treatment is staggering.

The teenage years are hard enough as it is—on both teens and parents. What with the raging hormones, the increased importance of friends over family, and the pressures to perform well in school—it’s easy to chalk up mood swings or changes in behavior to growing up.

The Winter Blues: How Seasonal Affective Disorder Can Affect Children

February 21, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Small boy reaching for a leaf in the snow

Winter. The days are shorter. It gets dark before dinner is finished. It’s hard to get outside. There are so many dreary, overcast, no-sunshine-in-sight days.

Winter also contains some of the most fun activities of the year. Building snowmen and drinking hot cocoa to warm up afterwards. Enjoying holiday traditions and seeing your child’s face light up as they open gifts. The list could go on and on.

Many people, though, find the weather and darkness of winter to be a difficult time of year. Even children can struggle with the changing of the seasons. But when sadness in winter becomes severe, the person may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

Infant Development: 0 to 6 Month Old Milestones and How to Support Development as a Parent

February 14, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

If you’re a parent or caregiver, you’ve probably heard about childhood developmental milestones from doctors and teachers or other professionals who work with kids. Everyone who spends time with young children on a regular basis is looking for evidence that their development is on track.

Maybe you’ve already spent a lot of time reading about infant and early childhood development. Or maybe the idea of age-appropriate milestones is new to you. Keeping track of milestones—when there are so many of them to look out for—can feel overwhelming. But monitoring your child’s development—and engaging with them in ways that contribute to their learning and growth—is so important.

Children’s Mental Health Week Empowers Growth and Reflection On Your Child’s Mental Health Journey

February 9, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Mental health can often feel like a topic that is hard to tackle. And it can feel especially difficult to discuss with children.

It’s hard to know what terms to use, how to make the conversation developmentally appropriate, and how to not overwhelm them with information.

But we know that it is so important to have conversations on mental health. We know that approximately one in six children between the ages of two and eight have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder (1).

Childhood Anxiety vs. Adult Anxiety: How Anxiety in Children Looks Different

February 1, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Socially anxious child covering their face

Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions today.

7.1% of children aged 3-17 years have an anxiety diagnosis.(1) And it's estimated that 30% of children and adolescents will have an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.(2)

Anxiety disorders can develop at any age, though we know that half of mental health disorders begin in childhood. While both children and adults can struggle with an anxiety disorder, there are some key differences in how these disorders present themselves.

5 Tips for Meeting the Emotional Needs of a Child and Helping Them Thrive

January 17, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Are you a parent and sometimes unsure how to meet the emotional needs of your child?

You’re not alone.

It’s often easier to provide our little ones with clothes, food, education and a place to rest their heads than to tend to their feelings.

Because let’s be honest, buying your child ice cream is way more straightforward.

So, here are 5 tips to help you meet the emotional needs of children in a way that supports their growth…

How to Best Handle Toddler Tantrums and Help Your Child Regulate Their Emotions

January 17, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

What Is a Temper Tantrum?

You’re a parent—you’ve seen it all. The arched back, the flailing fits, clenched fists, screaming, crying—toddler temper tantrums can be brutal, even though they are extremely common in kids age 1-3. They can also be embarrassing for you as a parent.

But temper tantrums are actually an opportunity for you to understand your child better and help them learn emotional regulation…

Infant Attachment: Understanding Your Baby’s Needs, Emotions, and Behavior

January 17, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

“He’s a mama’s boy.”

“She just loves her Nana.”

“She is attached to her daddy’s side as soon as he’s home.”

I’m sure you’ve heard parents say each of these phrases. Some just think we’re talking about a baby’s favorite person. But in psychology, those statements are talking about attachment. Attachment is the bond and relationship between infants and their caregivers. Positive attachment is absolutely essential to healthy development in infants and children.

But what exactly are attachment styles and how can you foster healthy attachment in your baby? Read on to find out!