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Parents who struggle to pay child support—or who are owed outstanding child support payments—typically have valid questions around child support modification processes. For example, you may be wondering: Can child support be modified? If so, how? And under what circumstances? Does it matter which parent requests it? If you’re plagued by these types of questions, here’s the child support modification information you need. Reasons to Request a Child Support Modification Generally, the courts will only consider child support modification when there is a substantial change in either the obligor’s income or the child’s need....

Autism is a lifetime disorder. Depending on the severity, an autistic person may need to be taken care of for life. If you’ve just found out that your child or a loved one has this condition, you are probably wondering the next steps to take. Autism can be a challenging condition, especially when you, as a caregiver, are not equipped with the right information to take care of a person who has the disorder....

Have you gotten that dreaded message from your toddler’s daycare that she has been biting other kids? Or, are you a daycare provider and wonder what to do when this behavior arises? Proper interventions can help many kids stop biting, but it’s important not to punish a toddler for biting or bite them back. See the tips below on what to do and what to avoid. Staff Interventions Toddlers are almost certainly too young for a lecture or even timeout....

Hiccups can happen to anyone, including babies. As adults, we may see them as a minor or somewhat irritating inconvenience. While there are numerous ways people try getting rid of hiccups, most of the time you just have to wait them out. As annoying as they can be for adults and older children, hiccups are usually a minor, short-lived experience for babies, lasting only a few minutes. Babies are also typically not bothered by hiccups....

There can be many barriers to accessing treatment for mental illness and substance use. According to a recently published perspective in Neuropsychopharmacology, a team from the National Institutes of Health addressed the need for appropriate language to reduce stigma. Key Takeaways The language used to describe mental illness and substance use can contribute to stigma, which can pose a barrier to treatment.Following repeated experiences of stigma, it can be internalized, which can exacerbate issues with mental health and substances....

You may have heard the terms ADD and ADHD used interchangeably. Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are indeed the same condition, it’s just that ADHD has had several name changes in the last three decades. This is because as more research is carried out, understanding grows and the name has been changed to reflect that knowledge. Some people feel frustrated when they hear that ADD and ADHD are the same....

Admit it—you might give the side-eye to a parent whose child is running about without any protection on his feet. After all, what if he steps on a rock or, worse, a piece of glass? Before you pass too much judgment on that parent, however, take into consideration the potential benefits (or consequences) of children regularly going shoeless. The Barefoot vs. Shoe Debate As you might expect, there’s quite a bit of debate out there about whether it’s best for feet (children’s or adult’s) to be protected in a pair of shoes or let them go naked....

Many parents think the quality of their child’s homework is not up to par. It’s not the children’s efforts parents are complaining about—it’s the homework being assigned. Parents wonder whether it’s just busywork rather than assignments that are of value to their child’s education. If it’s just busywork it might be taking up time better spent by your child in healthy physical activity and valuable free play, both of which are essential for physical and mental development....

Kiara is a name with two different meanings. In an interesting spin, the dual meanings of the name Kiara are complete opposites. Kiara means “light” or “clear” as a variation of the traditional Italian spelling of the name Chiara. Chiara is the Italian form of the name Clare or Clara. Kiara is also a variation of the Irish name Ciara, which means “dark” or “black.” Ciara is the feminine form of the Irish name Ciar or Ciarán....

The Harvard Psychiatry Review recently released a special series focusing on the connections between mental health and violence. Historically, people dealing with psychiatric conditions have often been unfairly treated as dangerous, unstable, and violent. In short, the connection between mental health and violence is poorly understood, in a way that is too dismissive of people who are suffering. Key Takeaways Unfairly connecting mental disorder and violence without evidence does a disservice to everyone navigating issues with mental health....

Psychosis is a mental health symptom that involves losing touch with reality and experiencing hallucinations and delusions. It can have several causes and is one of the most distinguishable symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that distorts how a person thinks, acts, feels, and behaves. Psychosis can also occur without schizophrenia. Several conditions and situations could lead to the development of psychosis. Psychosis is a symptom of several mental health conditions but is typically not considered a disorder itself....

Eating enough of the right nutrients is important during pregnancy, but it can be challenging. On top of the higher energy demands for you and a baby, you may also be fighting nausea, changes in taste, heartburn, bloating, or other discomforts with pregnancy. You may not have enough energy to regularly cook meals, especially as your pregnancy progresses. While it’s recommended to focus on eating nutrient dense foods during pregnancy and to take a prenatal vitamin, a healthcare professional may recommend additional supplements—like protein powder—to make it easier to meet your nutrition needs....

Children and teenagers with social anxiety disorder (SAD) may live with symptoms into adulthood without ever being diagnosed. Although SAD is the third most common mental health disorder, many parents and teachers are not familiar with the signs and symptoms in children and teenagers. Social anxiety disorder involves an intense fear or phobia of social and performance situations. Although most teenagers go through periods of normal anxiety related to the changes that go along with adolescence, those with SAD experience fear that is out of proportion to the situations that they face....

If you’re ready to take your workouts to the next level, some home fitness tech gear can help you get there. Helping you track health metrics, monitor exercise in real time, or provide professional-led workouts are just some of the benefits of tech products. From smart home gym equipment to industry-leading wearables, there is a variety of innovative fitness products that’ll make reaching your health goals that much easier. Consider your exercise space and storage space before purchasing any equipment....

Your child takes an IQ test and you get the score back. You’re likely wondering what their score really means. But before you can make sense of what their specific result tells you, it’s important to understand what IQ scores represent and how they’re categorized. Learn more about how to interpret the the meaning of IQ scales and IQ test scores. Measuring IQ Scores The term IQ stands for intelligence quotient....

Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Diane Macedo Diane Macedo is an Emmy Award-Winning journalist who works as an anchor and correspondent for ABC News. She often appears on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and World News Now....

If you have wanted to quit drinking alcohol but were hesitant to do so because you feared that the withdrawal symptoms would be too severe, you are not alone. Many people are afraid that if they quit drinking, withdrawal symptoms could be difficult to manage, or even dangerous. You may have tried to quit drinking alcohol and discovered that the symptoms you experienced were more severe than you anticipated. Maybe you decided to go back to drinking just to relieve those symptoms....

Pregnancy brings a whole host of changes to your body, with some more expected than others. While a growing belly, fatigue, and nausea are par for the course, you might be surprised to notice your skin darkening in spots on your face. Rest assured that while possibly annoying, this hyperpigmentation, or chloasma, is a normal part of pregnancy. Appearance Chloasma, which is also called melasma or the “mask of pregnancy,” is a common condition in pregnancy....

The Christmas season is a special time for many families. Singing Christmas carols, decorating the tree, hanging lights and stockings, celebratory meals, and decorating cookies are among the numerous traditions many families partake in at this time of year. Another great family holiday activity is to do Christmas crafts together with your kids. Christmas crafts are a wonderful way to engage with your children, make memories, and create new traditions. Crafts also boost kids’ creativity and fine motor skills....

You can’t spell unique without “U,” and these “U” names are just that! You may not immediately resort to the letter “U” when searching for a baby name, but if you’re looking for one that is a little less common, it’s the perfect option. From celebrity names like Uma and Usher to more unique options such as Ulla or Urbain, the 21st letter of the alphabet has a lot to offer your little boy or girl on the way....