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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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Mom sitting on couch reasoning with her son.

Parent-Child Relational Problem

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What is a Parent-Child Relational Problem? A parent-child relational problem is a pattern of miscommunication, discipline challenges, and difficulties getting along with one another to the point of significant distress. [1,2] My story: As a child psychologist, I was once faced head-on with this term when my own son was diagnosed. Yes, I understand the&hellip; Continue reading Are You and Your Child Not Getting Along?

What Is a Parent-Child Relational Problem? - Cadey

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Are You and Your Child Not Getting Along?

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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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Social Awkwardness

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What is Social Awkwardness in Children? Social awkwardness in childhood is the tendency to act oddly or unusually around peers or adults. The child may hide behind their mom’s leg when meeting new people, avoid social situations, or seem abrasive in interactions with peers.  “Kids with these issues may seem like a square peg in&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Awkward in Social Settings?

Social Awkwardness in Children: Symptoms, Causes, What to Do- Cadey

Is Your Child Awkward in Social Settings?

Concerned about your child’s motor skills or sensory needs?

Moving and Sensing

Is Your Child Struggling With Coordination, Sensory Awareness, and Motor Skills? Moving and sensing skills in childhood include gross motor skills (running, jumping, climbing), fine motor skills (handwriting, stringing beads, building with blocks), and sensory regulation (responding to lights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch sensations). Children can have strengths and weaknesses in several of these areas without any cause for concern. In the articles that follow, you can learn about the types of sensorimotor skills that can impact your child’s development and whether or not intervention is needed. The articles in this facet include topics such as coordination, handwriting, body space awareness, and sensory sensitivity. Visit this page for general information about moving and sensing.

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Finger Movements

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What are Finger Movements in Childhood? Finger movements in childhood are repeated flicking, tapping, or unique finger motions commonly associated with a developmental disability like the Autism Spectrum. These movements may be rhythmic, and it may feel that your child has no control or awareness of their fingers. The movements may increase in the presence&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Moving Their Fingers When Excited or Nervous?

Repetitive and Unusual Finger Movements in Children - Cadey

Is Your Child Moving Their Fingers When Excited or Nervous?

Little boy having a timeout on a dock at a lake.

Behavior Problems

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What are Behavior Problems in Childhood? Behavior problems in childhood are failures to follow the rules or follow an adult&#8217;s directions.  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.   Child behavior problems can take many&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Having Behavior Problems?

Behavior Problems in Children: Symptoms, Causes, What to Do - Cadey

Is Your Child Having Behavior Problems?

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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Boy at desk looking at his paper airplane instead of books.

What are Focusing Skills in Childhood? 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&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Having Focusing Problems?

Focusing Problems in Children: Symptoms, Causes, What to Do - Cadey

Is Your Child Having Focusing Problems?

Concerned about your child’s emotions?

Feeling

Are Your Child&#8217;s Emotions and Mood Swings Normal? Feelings issues in childhood are difficulties with your child’s emotions, self-esteem, or overall sense of well-being. Emotional challenges in childhood indicate a child is struggling with their mental health, wellness, or coping skills. These struggles can occur throughout different phases of life and may or may not cause long-term distress. Your child’s feelings are important, from the first time they can express them to you through adulthood. All children experience some level of sadness and anxiety in life. When these symptoms take over and impact day-to-day functioning, it is important to intervene. In the articles that follow, you will learn about emotional wellness and how to foster it. These articles include topics like meltdowns, mood swings, cognitive distortions, and self-esteem. Visit this page for general emotional information.

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Two children are bickering while their dad looks discouraged in the background.

Family Problems

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This article was written with significant contributions from Chesleigh Keene, Ph.D., researcher and counseling psychologist at the University of Arizona. What are Family Conflicts in Childhood? Family conflicts in childhood are challenges that arise and lead to difficulty with communication, trust, and harmony in the household.  Most families encounter disagreements or difficult interactions. Some level&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Arguing with Family Members?

Common Family Problems: Types, Tips, and Resources - Cadey

Is Your Child Arguing with Family Members?

A seated teen girl leaning against a wall with her hand on her head.

Depression

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What is Depression in Childhood and Teen Years? Depression in childhood and teen years is persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities; as well as, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, and frustration.  “Depression is a diagnosis that includes pervasive sadness or loss of interest in activities your child used to enjoy. Low serotonin levels in the&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Generally Unhappy?

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

Is Your Child Generally Unhappy?

Teen girl with right hand on her forehead.

Delusions

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What are Delusions or Fantasy in Childhood? A delusion in childhood is a belief that is not consistent with reality. Delusions can look different depending on if they are caused by young age, autism, bipolar, drugs, or childhood psychosis. Very young children tend to engage in fantasy play frequently and this is generally not of&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Worried About Going Crazy?

Autism and Delusions: Symptoms, Causes, and What To Do - Cadey

Is Your Child Worried About Going Crazy?

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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Response to Name

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What is Response to Name in Childhood? Response to name in childhood is the ability to look toward, motion toward, or verbally respond to someone when they call your name. Even in infancy, we expect babies to orient to caregivers when their names are called. A baby should be responding to their name by six&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Not Responding When You Call Their Name?

Is Your Child Not Responding to Their Name? - Cadey

Is Your Child Not Responding When You Call Their Name?

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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Smiling child peeking through clothes on a rack.

Gender and Sexual Orientation

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This article was written with contributions from Hannah Larson. She is a Pediatric Therapist and LPC.  What is Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation in Childhood? Gender identity in childhood is a deeply felt sense of who we are and how we see and identify ourselves. Gender Identity can be girl, boy, neither, or both. Gender&hellip; Continue reading Is Your Child Questioning Gender or Sexual Orientation Identity?

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