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  • Turkey Dinner on the Lawn? Creative Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in 2020

    For many Americans, family gatherings are a holiday tradition. During uncertain times such as these, getting together can provide a significant boost to psychological and social well-being. With some mindfulness and creativity, you can look forward to celebrating the holidays this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll need to contemplate who will be attending (number of people, ages, where they live, physical distancing), where the event will occur and what it will entail.   

  • 7 Tips to Keep Your Child Safe in the Summer Heat

    I have a love/hate relationship with our Florida summers. Is it paradise or punishment? I think that depends.

  • Six tips to encourage our teens to get involved in healthy, versus unhealthy, relationships

    On the wall above my desk is a bulletin board. There’s a letter pinned to it, written in curvy, girlish handwriting. The letter is one of the thank-you notes I have received over the years I’ve worked at Teen Xpress. It was written years ago by Jen,* a beautiful, sweet 16-year-old girl in an abusive relationship.

  • Why the outbreak of measles at Disneyland is important to your family

    Over the Christmas holiday, a person who was carrying the measles virus visited Disneyland. Five park employees and dozens of visitors then became ill. The outbreak has ballooned to include not only people who visited Disneyland but also people who came into contact with those individuals. So far this year, 84 people in 14 states have been infected with measles, and this number continues to rise.

  • Putting Acceptance to the Test

    Back in February, Susie Raskin wrote a great blog called “ and she talked about creating a balance between wanting the best for our children, encouraging them to achieve and allowing them to find their own path. When I read her post, I thought I should write about what it’s like to parent a young adult and put my good intentions about acceptance to the test as he makes his own choices. The truth is, though, I have been in the midst of NOT accepting my son’s choices and trying to rationalize my thinking.  And now here I am, more than six months later, still wrestling with the dilemma.

    Teaching your children to think for themselves is a good thing, right?

    When Brandon first came to live with us, he would often try really hard to please us. We were concerned about it because we didn’t want him to feel like he had to be good enough to be our child. This can be a hazard for children who are adopted, especially if they are adopted after infancy when they can remember being in temporary care with relatives or a foster family. In those early days, he would try to be “really good” and he usually succeeded. However, there were times when he would get stressed or upset and melt down into a tantrum or fit of rage. After we came out the other side of those episodes, we intentionally reassured him and made sure we talked about us being a forever family, saying we were going to stick together no matter what.

  • How to help a child who may be experiencing abuse or neglect

    As a social worker, I have become the “go to” person for many friends and family members. They will often present scenarios to me, ranging from how to help a loved one who may be a victim of domestic violence to what to do about the homeless family you see sleeping in their car to how to help a child who may be a victim of abuse or neglect. Some of these scenarios require a deeper analysis into the many factors at play, and there may not always be a straightforward answer to the problem. However, any time there is concern that a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, there are specific steps that anyone can take to help provide for the wellbeing of that child.

  • Is it a speech problem or something much more? Learn about Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

    Many children are diagnosed annually with a developmental speech sound disorder because they can’t say their r’s or say things like “tat” for “cat”. It is reported that the occurrence of speech sound disorders ranges from 2% to 25% of children aged 5 to 7 years old. These speech issues are considered developmental because they follow a typical developmental pattern in the early stages of speech development, but for whatever reason, do not correct themselves by a developmentally appropriate age. Most of these children can improve these issues with traditional therapy services provided by a licensed speech pathologist. However, in approximately 3-4% of those children referred for a speech sound disorder it is a much more complicated issue known as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).

  • Will My Student Athlete Be a Healthier Adult?

    Playing sports as a child can set your kid up for a lifetime of healthy habits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five children is obese in the United States. As a result, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension are rising among children, who historically hadn’t been plagued by these health issues.

  • Think Your Child Is Depressed? It Could Be Something Else

    Children face more pressure than ever before to perform well in school and sports, to hold down jobs and family responsibilities, and to have social lives. It’s no surprise they sometimes feel overwhelmed. Unfortunately, stress is a part of our daily lives, but you can help your child learn to cope with it. You also can recognize and manage your role in adding pressure to your kids.

  • Is it okay to drink alcohol while pregnant?

    A new report from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one in every 10 pregnant women has consumed alcohol within the last 30 days.