Your newborn baby has just arrived. This first, precious, golden hour is upon you. What happens now? Many practitioners will allow you to have the baby placed directly on your abdomen or chest. Warm towels or blankets will be placed over both of you to help keep your baby warm. This time for bonding in many hospitals and birth centers is limited to the first hour, though this can vary....
While the majority of Americans send their children to local public schools, doing so is not a given for every family. The decision about whether to send your children to a public school is often a tough one, especially because public schools often get a bad rap. You might have heard that they are overcrowded or that they only “teach to the test.” As you consider whether to send your children to public school, it’s important to separate fact from fiction and make an informed decision....
When Sarah LaFleur went to dinner seven years ago with her then-boyfriend, now-husband, Chris, the intention was simply to celebrate her 30th birthday—but they wound up having a fateful discussion about family-planning. They ultimately decided that having kids was not something they could afford financially or logistically at the time, as Sarah was just a few years into starting M.M. LaFleur, a clothing brand catering to busy, working women. Parents don’t work 9 a....
Should you let your baby “cry it out” sometimes to go to sleep? This is a hotly debated topic among parents and parenting experts, and the simple answer is: There’s no simple answer. All babies and all parents are different, and to expect one method to work for all of them is probably unrealistic. Plenty of parents have struggled with how to best teach their baby how to go to sleep....
By fifth grade, children are pros at navigating the routines and expectations of school. They have spent many years in a classroom, from kindergarten (and perhaps even preschool) on through the grade they’re in now. They are on the cusp of adolescence and looking ahead to middle school. Their maturity is showing in how they handle themselves emotionally and in terms of discipline and behavior, and they’re handling increasingly challenging work at school as they tackle more difficult academic requirements in the classroom....
Treatment programs aimed at those who have alcohol and drug addiction problems can have better outcomes if the abuser’s family or close associates are also involved in the process. In fact, if the family does not become involved in learning about substance abuse and the role it can play in the dynamics of the family, it might actually hinder the alcoholic or addict’s recovery if family members continue their dysfunctional or enabling behaviors....
“Mom, a kid told me I’m weird because I’m a quarter Korean,” my 7-year-old daughter quietly whispered to me as we were lying in her bed. I’m glad it was dark so she couldn’t see the dual look of frustration and sadness on my face. As any loving parent would do, I kissed her head and reassured her she wasn’t weird. She was special and unique, and she should be proud of her Asian heritage....
“The moment you decide to start trying to conceive, your body is no longer your own,” my best friend confided to me during a long walk. She had a baby; I did not. What she meant by that is when you’re trying to conceive (TTC), you’re often wondering what tweaks you need to make to your diet and lifestyle to support conception. Perhaps that means cutting alcohol and coffee or choosing low-impact workouts....
A highly sensitive person (HSP) is a neurodivergent individual who is thought to have an increased or deeper central nervous system sensitivity to physical, emotional, or social stimuli. Some refer to this as having sensory processing sensitivity, or SPS for short. While highly sensitive people are sometimes negatively described as being “too sensitive," it is a personality trait that brings both strengths and challenges. The term highly sensitive person was first coined by psychologists Elaine Aron and Arthur Aron in the mid-1990s....
What Is a Mood Tracker? A mood tracker is a tool that is used to keep a record of a person’s mood at regular intervals. The purpose of this type of tool is to help look for patterns in how moods vary over time and due to different situations and circumstances. In some cases, a mood tracker can be useful for people with mental health conditions—such as depression and anxiety—to help identify and regulate moods....
What Is Destination Anxiety? The problem with this way of thinking is that it leads to a feeling of dissatisfaction with your current life and a constant yearning for something more. This can cause immense amounts of stress and anxiety, as well as prevent you from enjoying the present moment. Destination Anxiety Destination anxiety refers to the belief that happiness is waiting for you at some point in the future when you attain something....
The AP Psychology test can be an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. The exam can be tough, but knowing what to expect and being prepared can help you tackle the test. Discover what the AP Psychology test is, what the test covers, and what you need to do to prepare for the exam. What Is the AP Psychology Exam? Advanced Placement Psychology, more commonly referred to as AP Psychology, is a college-level introductory psychology course offered at many high schools....
Stress-induced asthma is a form of asthma that is triggered or worsened by stress. Asthma is a condition that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe due to inflammation of secretions in the airways. Asthma is very common in the general population and accounts for 1.6 million emergency room visits in the United States annually. This article discusses the symptoms of stress-induced asthma and factors that can contribute to this condition....
When people say “I love you,” it’s often considered a big step in a relationship. But what about when you need to tell someone that you don’t love them or don’t love them yet and are unsure of how you feel. Or, maybe you did love them and now you’ve lost those feelings of love. While important emotions need to be discussed, it’s not always easy to express them out, especially when it’s something as difficult as saying “I don’t love you....
It probably seems like just yesterday that you were strapping a barely steady baby into a high chair for their first taste of solid food. While some children continue to use a high chair happily and safely into the preschool years, others need to move on much earlier. A booster seat can be a good option for a toddler who wants to eat at the table like the rest of the family, but isn’t tall or balanced enough to sit in a regular chair....
Many children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have difficulty with reading comprehension. Because reading plays such a crucial role in a child’s life and can even affect a student’s self-esteem, it’s important to be aware of the literacy struggles that disproportionately affect children with ADHD and to get help for them. The Importance of Reading for Children Reading is such an important part of school and learning in general, whether or not a child has ADHD....
Parenting a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can require a great deal of patience and understanding on the part of the parent, but what about the siblings? Having a brother or sister with ADHD can also be quite a challenge. Children may experience all sorts of emotions living with a sibling with ADHD. They may feel exasperated, frustrated, and baffled by their sibling’s behaviors. Days at home may seem exhausting and unpredictable....
It is not uncommon for people to gain weight when taking certain medications used to treat bipolar disorder. Medication-induced weight gain is one of the more typical side effects of psychotropic drug use. It can place a person in the position having to manage not only one’s moods but one’s weight, as well. There are strategic ways to deal with this. In the end, a diet plan should not be founded on drastic exercise programs or severely cutting back on food intake....
A short attention span and high energy level don’t necessarily mean your child has ADHD—there are many reasons why kids may be hyper or have trouble concentrating. However, some kids struggle more than others to sit still and pay attention, and it causes problems for them in their daily lives. If you have a child who seems to bounce off the walls or who can’t focus long enough to get work done, it’s wise to be concerned about the possibility of ADHD....
The human body senses time in a similar way that it senses light, sound, taste, and other elements of our environment. Based on a mix of internal and external cues, a typical human brain can map out a reasonably accurate sense of what time of day it is, how much time has passed, and how much time there is before any upcoming events. ADHD Symptom Spotlight is a series that dives deep into a hallmark or overlooked symptom of ADHD each week....
