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Concerned about your child’s organization  skills?

Organizing

Is Your Child Having Difficulty Thinking Through a Problem? Organizing (also known as executive functions) in childhood refers to the child’s set of thinking skills that include planning, initiating tasks, self-monitoring, paying attention, and using effective problem-solving approaches. Children with neurological disorders, such as ADHD or autism, can tend to struggle with executive functions. Although struggles in these areas can be substantially limiting and challenging, the good news is executive functions can be taught. In these articles, you will be guided to understand and name which skills are challenging for your child and learn some everyday strategies you can employ at home. Further, you will learn how to tell whether or not to seek professional help for these difficulties. Visit this page for general information about organizing.

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Time Management

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This article was written in collaboration with guest authors Katie Zak and Brandon Slade. What is Time Management in Adolescence? Time management in adolescence is the ability to manage or divide time among activities. It&#8217;s a crucial skill for kids to develop as they balance school and extracurriculars. As kids get older, their academic workload&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Teen Struggling with Time Management?

Is Your Teen Struggling with Time Management? - Cadey

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Is Your Teen Struggling with Time Management?

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Concerned about your child’s memory?

Remembering

Are Problems With Memory Impacting Your Child? Memory in childhood is the ability to remember important information that the child needs for their learning and day-to-day life. Memory serves us in many ways, from keeping up academically, getting along in social situations, and remembering to brush our teeth before school. Everyone forgets things occasionally. Memory challenges will most likely be evident in school because remembering information is so important for learning and school success. Issues may also be apparent in social interactions and daily chore routines. Your child may have school struggles with memory or forget the morning routine daily, despite constant reminders. Understanding why there are challenges can help determine the best course of treatment or support for memory challenges. When memory challenges cause significant distress, it is important to intervene. View this page for general information about memory in childhood.

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Memory for Names

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What is Memory for Names in Childhood? Memory for names in childhood is the ability to recall the names of familiar people. In the typical course of social development, it is expected that children will learn the names of classmates, friends, and relatives from an early age.  Want immediate help? Ask a question on HelpMe&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Forgetting Friends&#8217; Names?

Child Can't Remember Names: Causes and What To Do - Cadey

Is Your Child Forgetting Friends&#8217; Names?

Concerned about your child’s communication skills?

Communicating

Is Your Child Having Difficulty Expressing or Understanding Language? Communication in childhood is the ability to connect with other people through verbal (using words to express oneself and understand others) or nonverbal means (using eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions). Children with difficulty in communicating likely need help making friends. The most important skill is called reciprocal communication, which is the ability to have a back-and-forth conversation. In the following articles, you will find information about nonverbal communication in terms of gesture use, eye contact, and emotional expression. Communication skills also include expressing one’s thoughts (expressive language), understanding communication from other people (receptive language), and communicating socially with peers (pragmatic language). Visit this page for general information on communication problems.

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Monologues

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What are Monologues in Childhood? A monologue in childhood is a mini-speech during which someone talks on and on without giving the listener a chance to participate in the interaction. A monologue feels like a lecture about a specific topic. The talk may be overly detailed, such as “migration patterns of the giant squid,” or&hellip; Continue reading Does Your Child Talk On and On Without Letting Others Speak?

Monologues in Childhood: Causes and What to Do - Cadey

Does Your Child Talk On and On Without Letting Others Speak?

Concerned about your child’s focus and attention?

Focusing

Is Your Child Having Trouble Paying Attention? Focusing skills in childhood are about paying attention to information in the environment. For example, kids need to pay attention in the classroom to perform well in school. They need to be able to focus on their peers to make friends on the playground. Finally, the ability to pay attention is needed to follow directions at home and to navigate the community. Attention and focus problems are often evident both at home and in the classroom. Focusing problems include challenges with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. If your child is hyperactive, they may be fidgety and move around constantly. Impulsive children often act without thinking. Children who are inattentive tend to drift easily off-topic, daydream, and lose focus often. Both hyperactive and inattentive children may have trouble sitting still and seem to bounce from one activity to the next, lacking direction. Visit this page for general focusing information.

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Focused Attention

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What Is Focused Attention in Childhood? Focused attention in childhood is when a child can stay focused on a task or activity despite other distractions in the environment.  If focused attention is a concern, you may notice your child bounces from one activity to another, being easily drawn in by the noise of a car&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Having Trouble Focusing?

Focused Attention Skills in Childhood: Definition and Resources- Cadey

Is Your Child Having Trouble Focusing?

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Language Delay

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What is Language Delay in Childhood? Language delay in childhood is when a child is speaking on a delayed time frame or not at all.  Language is a very important part of your child’s early development. If they have delayed language, your child may be able to talk, but their speech is developing much later&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Delayed in Talking?

Language Delay: Symptoms, Causes, and What To Do- Cadey

Is Your Child Delayed in Talking?

Young girl in the back of a car looks defiantly away from her mother holding the seatbelt.

Shift and Flexibility

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What are Shifting and Flexibility in Childhood? Shifting in childhood means changing from one activity to another or from one approach to the next.  Flexibility in childhood refers to the ability to shift fluidly between activities and problem-solving approaches. Flexible people do not insist on things going exactly as planned. As a result, flexible people&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Struggling to Shift Between Activities?

Activity Shift and Flexibility in Children: Definition and What to Know - Cadey

Is Your Child Struggling to Shift Between Activities?

Concerned about your child’s learning?

Learning

How Concerned Should You Be About Your Child Struggling in School? Learning skills in childhood are all the abilities needed for success in school, such as reading, writing, math, science, technology, and oral presentations. Every child goes to school to acquire knowledge, and every child can learn. It is important that all children have access to the support they need to be successful and excited about learning. It is wonderful when children can become lifelong learners in areas of interest and strength. It is okay if children struggle a bit to get through school but ultimately learn the skills they need for higher education or meaningful careers. Visit this page for general information about learning skills.

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Transitions

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This article was written with contributions from Katie Vahey Gabler, Ph.D. She is an educational consultant.  What Are Transition Skills in Childhood? Transition skills in childhood are abilities that help a child navigate and effectively manage change.  A transition is a movement or change from one position to another. Transition skills can be big or&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Struggling with School Transitions?

Transition Problems in Children: Signs, Causes, What to Do - Cadey

Is Your Child Struggling with School Transitions?

Concerned about your child’s social skills?

Socializing

Is Your Child Having Difficulty Making Friends? Social skills in childhood are the group of abilities your child needs to make friends.  These abilities include perspective-taking, empathy, play skills, sharing and collaboration skills, and communication skills.  Social development progresses from the early skills of parallel play, to conversation, and finally into the ability to develop deep and lasting friendships. Children having difficulty with social skills likely need help finding common interests with others, starting conversations, or taking the perspective of others. Trouble with social skills can be a trying and even heart-breaking experience for a child and family. In this section, you will find topics like social presence, conversations, perspective-taking, and insight. Visit this page for general information on social skills.

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Creative Play

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What is Creative Play in Childhood? Creative play in childhood is the ability of a child to play using imagination, symbolism, characters, and pretend. As your child reaches pre-K and elementary school, you will want to see them engaging in creative play. This play may include acting out themes like Star Wars, ponies, or princesses.&hellip; Continue reading Does Your Child Not Play Pretend or Make-Believe?

Lack of Creative Play in Childhood: Causes and What to Do - Cadey

Does Your Child Not Play Pretend or Make-Believe?

Child making a wide mouth excited facial expression.

Emotional Expression

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What is Emotional Expression in Childhood? Emotional expression in childhood is the ability to show feelings such as happiness, surprise, anger, frustration, and admiration through facial expressions and body language. Emotional expression is an important part of social-emotional development. In social interaction and in forming peer relationships, it is very helpful to be able to&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Using Limited or Flat Facial Expressions?

Emotional Expression Challenges in Children - Cadey

Is Your Child Using Limited or Flat Facial Expressions?

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Shared Enjoyment

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What is Shared Enjoyment in Childhood? Shared enjoyment in childhood is playing with toys, talking, or enjoying an activity because of the joy of the interaction with another person. Kids who are sharing enjoyment with each other look at each other, and show their engagement with eye contact, laughter, smiles, and facial expressions. Healthy shared&hellip; Continue reading Does Your Child Have Fun Playing With Others?

Shared Enjoyment in Childhood: Definition and Examples - Cadey

Does Your Child Have Fun Playing With Others?

Concerned about your child’s child's daily  living skills

Daily Living

Is Your Child Struggling With Tasks Like Eating, Dressing, Bathing, or Navigating Everyday Systems? Daily living skills in childhood are the skills needed for independent living, such as hygiene, domestic chores, self-care, eating, and sleeping. Activities of daily living should develop as your child grows.  For a child, independence may be dressing themselves and brushing teeth without help.  For a teen, managing transportation or meal preparation shows independence.  For a young adult, safe driving, getting to appointments on time, or managing finances are independent living skills.  Daily living skills are also referred to as Activities of Daily Living or ‘ADLs.’  Visit this page for general information on daily living skills. 

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Functional Communication

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Functional communication is clearly stating one’s own wants and needs. Learn what it is and how to help your child.

Functional Communication and Children: Issues and What To Do - Cadey

Is Your Child Struggling to Express Wants and Needs?

Concerned about your child’s behavior?

Behaving

Is Your Child Having Problems With Behavior? Behavior includes a person’s ability to follow directions, get along with others, and fully participate in home, school, and the community. It is important to note that most children will often misbehave as a part of typical development. Some research indicates that the average child misbehaves every 5-10 minutes. In the articles in this section, we will review the various behavior problems. You will understand when to be concerned and how to support your child in developing more appropriate behavior. Child behavior problems can take many different forms. In the articles that follow, you will learn about rigid behavior, rule-breaking, bossiness, and insistence on sameness. Visit this page for general information on behavior problems.

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Non-Compliance

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What is Non-Compliance in Childhood? Non-compliance in childhood is not following the rules.  When a child is noncompliant, these moments can be so frustrating for a parent or teacher. This level of frustration may lead an adult to go straight to consequences or punishment. Research shows that attention for good behavior, teaching, guidance, and positive&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Disobedient?

Non-Compliant Behavior: Symptoms, Causes, and What to Do- Cadey

Is Your Child Disobedient?

Aggression

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What is Aggression in Childhood? Aggression in childhood is physical acts like kicking, hitting, smacking, or biting that can hurt others.  Sometimes children hit. Some kids are far more physical and seek contact with other kids. Toddlers and preschoolers are learning to engage with others in the environment. They may initially hit and push other&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Hitting People?

Aggression in Children: Causes, What to Do, and Resources - Cadey

Is Your Child Hitting People?

Narrative Coherence

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What is Narrative Coherence in Childhood? Narrative coherence in childhood means telling stories that make sense. Narrative means storytelling. Coherence means putting stories together so that they make sense. You observe narrative coherence when a child tells you a story they heard in a book or movie or tells you about an event, like a&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Telling Stories That Don’t Make Sense?

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