What toys are best for your child? It seems like an easy enough question, but you don’t want to buy your child a toy that isn’t safe or that he isn’t going to play with. In addition to considering your child’s interests and asking what he would like, one of the most important things to keep in mind is the age recommendations for the toy. For example, for younger children, it will help you avoid toys with small parts and those that pose choking hazards....
Does your child throw himself to the ground, scream, and kick his feet? You’re not alone. All kids throw temper tantrums every once in a while. While they can be embarrassing and downright frustrating, temper tantrums can be resolved with a little patience and persistence on your part. These discipline strategies can help your child see that no matter what happens to him, throwing a tantrum won’t help. Reasons for Temper Tantrums When kids struggle to get a grip on what’s going on for them emotionally, they often show their frustration through their behavior....
Hypnosis is perhaps one of the least understood therapeutic tools in use. While most people think of hypnosis as a way to get somebody to bark like a dog at the snap of your fingers or take off their clothes when you say the word ‘stupendous’, hypnosis can be a valuable tool in helping people overcome fears, withstand pain, or improve their ability to manage stress in their lives. Contrary to popular belief, nobody can hypnotize you without your consent or awareness....
Evolutionary psychology is a scientific discipline that approaches human behavior through a lens that incorporates the effects of evolution. It combines the science of psychology with the study of biology. Evolutionary psychologists seek to explain people’s emotions, thoughts, and responses based on Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Through Natural Selection, similarly to how evolutionary biologists explain an organism’s physical features. Evolutionary Psychology Approach Proponents of this psychological approach posit that as our ancestors confronted problems and developed ways of solving them, some had certain innate instincts and intelligence that gave them the ability to figure out and apply the most successful solutions....
From car seats and vaccines to screen time and obesity, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) routinely publishes guidelines and advice to help parents keep their kids safe and healthy. In fact, there is likely an AAP policy statement for just about every major pediatric issue. The AAP even weighs in on issues like drug testing in schools. For instance, the AAP supports substance use prevention and intervention programs, but they conclude “that research evidence does not support the initiation or expansion of school-based drug testing programs at this time....
You may have heard at your ultrasound that you had a three-vessel cord or that they were looking for a three-vessel cord. What is a three-vessel cord? Let’s start with the basics of the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is the connection between your baby and the placenta. The vein brings in oxygen and nutrients to the baby from the mother. The arteries are used to transport waste away from the baby to the mother via the placenta....
What Is Mental Abuse? Mental abuse can be harder to recognize than physical abuse; however, it can be just as harmful and may lead to emotional scars and health issues. Furthermore, mental abuse is often a precursor to physical abuse, so it’s important to recognize it and get help as soon as possible. Mental abuse, also known as psychological or emotional abuse, involves deliberately hurting someone and causing them emotional pain, or trying to control or manipulate them through verbal or non-verbal communication....
Deciding to sleep next to your partner can be a pretty big step. Since we spend about one-third of our days—and our lives—sleeping, this can feel like a pretty big commitment. While the thought of cuddling up with your partner can definitely seem cozy and appealing, you may wonder how it will affect your ability to sleep and whether sleeping next to your partner is better than sleeping alone. In addition to deepening your physical, emotional, and spiritual connection with your partner, sleeping next to your partner can benefit your mental health in many ways, says Claudia de Llano, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist....
What Is Pessimism? Pessimism is not a mental illness, but a personality trait in which someone has a more negative—or some might say, realistic—view of life. A pessimist usually expects unfavorable outcomes and is suspicious when things seem to be going well. Pessimism is not a trait most people aspire to. It’s associated with negativity, a “glass half-full” attitude, depression, and other mood disorders. However, a healthy dose of negative thinking isn’t necessarily all bad....
One of the many fears people experience after losing a pregnancy is that they’ll never get pregnant again. Keep in mind that a previous pregnancy loss doesn’t mean you’re any less fertile. In fact, many parents go on to expect a baby after an early miscarriage. Here’s what you need to know about conceiving again. Chances of Conceiving After a miscarriage, it’s very possible to become pregnant, have a full-term pregnancy, and deliver a healthy baby....
“Psychomotor” refers to how the brain’s mental processes affect physical movement. Psychomotor activity can be increased (psychomotor agitation) or decreased (psychomotor retardation). Psychomotor agitation or retardation can be a feature of several types of mental illness but is commonly used to diagnose bipolar disorder. Psychomotor changes can be indicative of a manic or depressive episode. These movements, or lack thereof, are directly related to what’s going on in your brain. For example, if you are depressed, you will generally have less psychomotor activity as your emotions leave you feeling sluggish and weak....
When you think of stay-at-home parents, you probably think of parents of babies and toddlers. Research shows moms of children up to age 3 are the most likely group to stay home with their kids. These parents spend an average of 18 hours per day on childcare, largely because little ones need so much time and attention. But there’s a new group of children increasingly needing more attention—high schoolers. Almost half of all high schoolers have said they’ve felt hopeless or sad during the past year....
The idea that sugar can cause ADHD or make ADHD symptoms worse is a pervasive myth that continues to be widely believed, despite a growing body of research that suggests it simply isn’t true. This persistent belief is likely because there seems to be a link between sugar consumption and ADHD. In this article, we’ll look at what the science says about the link between sugar and ADHD and what you can do about your sugar intake if you feel it’s negatively impacting your mental health....
Consuming a pre-workout snack can help keep you nourished during exercise and potentially improve performance and recovery time. “The goal of a pre-workout snack is to help fuel your workout to maximize effort and minimize physical and mental fatigue,” explains Brittney Bearden, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD, a sports dietitian based in Dallas, Texas. It’s important to make sure your pre-workout snack contains adequate carbohydrates, as carbs break down to glucose which is your body’s main form of energy....
We’re constantly told, in almost every aspect of our lives, to put ourselves into boxes. Once we pick a lane or find a tribe, the solidity of our identity will supposedly make everything easier. Ambiguity begets complexity, and so we’re always striving to understand ourselves in relation to the approved blueprint of society. Verywell Loved is a series on the dating and relationship topics people are talking about, with personal stories and expert advice to help you better understand your own experiences....
Usually, when people think of racism, most solely think of the prejudices individuals have toward a particular group of people or the systems of power and oppression. However, environmental racism is an important aspect of this broader system of oppression. In the American context, it disproportionately affects Black Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Latino populations. This article discusses environmental racism and its impacts on BIPOC groups, the history of environmental racism, examples of it, and what can be done to mitigate this issue....
Some people who have experienced any type of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can attest to the fact that the abuse happened in very predictable cycles. In some instances, violence can be repetitive and may have generational roots. While abusive behavior can be repetitive, it’s important to note that abuse does not always occur in a cyclical pattern. In fact, assuming that violence occurs in cycles can lead to victim-blaming. Abuse can be unpredictable and it is never OK....
Parents of gifted children know that these kids love asking loads of questions. They are incredibly curious and can’t seem to get enough information. One of their very favorite questions to ask may very well be “why?” It is sometimes just too tiring and frustrating to continue answering the never-ending “why” questions. And sometimes, we just don’t know the answers to all those questions! Fortunately, parents can use certain strategies to have more effective dialogues with gifted children when the kids bombard them with questions....
When you say, “You shouldn’t do that,” to a teenager, your feedback is likely to be met with an eye roll. By the time kids turn into teens, they don’t think they need much help from adults—especially their parents. But, just because your teen doesn’t appreciate your words of wisdom, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t offer your advice. Constructive criticism can be essential to your teen’s well-being. Your teen needs to know how to improve their social skills....
How a baby receives nutrition in the NICU will depend on gestational age at birth, current gestational age, as well as their medical health, condition, and stability. Premature babies born after 33 weeks gestation may be ready to begin to feed on a nipple within a matter of days while babies born before this time may have a little bit of a journey until they are developmentally ready to begin this task....
