Your child’s first impression of school sets the tone for the rest of his academic life. Research shows that children who have positive experiences after beginning school enjoy a healthier social life and a stronger academic record, whereas enduring negative experiences is associated with poorer performance and less enriching peer relationships. The most difficult aspect of beginning school is ...
Despite decades of social and legal progress, racism remains a persistent threat to the well-being of Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour (BIPOC). Systemic racism is still present in many institutions, including schools, and it affects children as well as adults. Over half of all children in Canada say they’ve witnessed racial bullying at school, and 21% haven’t ...
Though childhood is portrayed as a carefree time, the day-to-day lives of our kids are often more stressful than we realize. At the same time kids are learning to function independently in the world, they must work hard to get good grades, make friends, and deal with social pressures (both online and offline). Children may also become anxious about global ...
Experiencing fear is an important stage in emotional development. Normal childhood fears (e.g., being scared of the dark, monsters, etc.) teach kids how to measure and understand risk, evaluate potentially dangerous situations, and manage anxiety. Learning these skills is a necessary part of preparing for adulthood, and there’s a lot parents can do to help their kids process ...
Sometimes classroom behavior problems signal giftedness. Brad and Karen were at their wits end. Their grade school children once again ...
Anxiety disorders are found in children much more often than many people realize; ten to twenty percent of all children ...
As children grow older, their behaviours change dramatically. While a hysterical tantrum over something minor is completely normal at two ...
Though we think of childhood as being a carefree time of life, many children experience periods of stress. Like adults, kids can become anxious because they’re overwhelmed by commitments, dealing with social or family problems, or navigating significant life changes. According to the American Psychological Association, children can experience stress due to various reasons such as academic pressure, social ...
As kids grow up, they move from a state of complete dependence to one of independence. Clinginess in young children therefore doesn’t come as a surprise to most parents: Kids rely on their parents for support and safety, so it’s normal for them to become anxious at the prospect of separation. If your child seems significantly more clingy ...
Throughout most of human history, children slept close to their parents for protection. Young children therefore naturally tend to become anxious when left alone in the dark; their brains are hardwired to seek the safety of adult companionship after nightfall. Small children need to be proactively shown how to relax and feel secure at night even when their parents aren’...
There are multiple reasons why a child may be quieter than his (or her) peers. Due to natural variations in personality, some kids need a bit of extra time to warm up to new people and situations – a trait known as shyness. For others, social settings are a source of chronic and severe anxiety, to the point where the child ...
