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Help school-agers add more activity to their day with an after-school kids’ running club. Starting one yourself is easy to do and simple to maintain. Plus, you get to join in on the jogging and walking, so your fitness levels get a boost too. Setting up a youth running club requires very little equipment and doesn’t have to cost anything. Expect to spend a few hours on initial set-up then a few hours a week to run or walk with the kids who join....

A new study suggests that maladaptive daydreaming (MD) might be a better diagnosis than ADHD for some individuals. Maladaptive daydreaming is a condition in which a person’s daydreams are immersive and actually disconnect them from reality. MD may indicate an underlying mental health condition. Key Takeaways A recent study suggests that maladaptive daydreaming (MD) might be a better diagnosis for some people previously diagnosed with ADHDMD causes a person to “get lost” in their daydreams, but the condition is not yet recognized by the DSM....

Catastrophic thinking is a tendency to expect the worst to happen without considering other possibilities. People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experience cognitive distortions such as catastrophic thinking. Cognitive distortions are extreme, exaggerated thoughts that don’t match up with the reality of a situation. For example, if you were in a car accident, you might have a lot of trouble getting back into your car or driving near the site of the accident....

Mindfulness can be a helpful tool for anybody trying to stay grounded or focused while existing in the present moment. It has even been incorporated into the curriculum at some schools, where kids can learn how to focus on their breathing and practice meditation. Key Takeaways Mindfulness has benefits for children and adolescents, including improved focus, sleep, and conflict resolution skills.A new study found that mindfulness taught in schools does not improve kids’ mental well-being....

Naturalistic observation is a research method that involves observing subjects in their natural environment. This approach is often used by psychologists and other social scientists. It is a form of qualitative research, which focuses on collecting, evaluating, and describing non-numerical data. It can be useful if conducting lab research would be unrealistic, cost-prohibitive, or would unduly affect the subject’s behavior. The goal of naturalistic observation is to observe behavior as it occurs in a natural setting without interference or attempts to manipulate variables....

The COVID pandemic has caused sharp increases in unemployment and poverty levels in the United States. A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family sheds light on a little-known aspect of financial well-being called net worth poverty. Key Takeaways A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family raises concerns about how net worth poverty can affect children.Net worth poverty is different from income poverty, and it tends to endure through generations because families who struggle with this type of poverty aren’t able to get ahead....

Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. It is important in breastfeeding, but has many functions in the human body. It increases relaxation, lowers stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and causes muscle contractions. Oxytocin is also the hormone involved in social relationships, bonding, trust, and love. During childbirth, oxytocin causes the uterus to contract and push out the baby. It’s also involved in orgasm, and it plays a pivotal role in breastfeeding....

From learning how to take turns to counting to 10, preschool is about discovery. By the time your child graduates from pre-K, they will have learned a lot. The entire span of lessons and content that your child will be taught during the course of preschool education is what’s known as the preschool curriculum. Depending on the preschool you choose and the early childhood education philosophy it follows, your child may explore a wide variety of academic, social, physical, and emotional lessons....

Ensuring that your children eat a balanced diet is an important part of their growth and development. One essential dietary component is protein, and you might be wondering if your child is getting enough. First, know that protein deficiency is extremely rare in the U.S. The majority of parents have no need to be concerned about their children meeting the daily recommended intake of protein. A 2018 analysis of Americans’ protein intake found that all age groups met or exceeded their estimated daily requirements (EAR)....

A doctor is going to be very careful when diagnosing depression or any other mental disorder. In some cases, you may have either a provisional or differential diagnosis until more information can be gathered. The key is to be patient and honest because this will help a doctor create the proper treatment plan for you. This article covers the definitions of provisional diagnosis and differential diagnosis. It also reviews a particular approach to the differential diagnostic process a doctor or healthcare professional might use for making a diagnosis....

Reading decoding is the practice of using various reading skills to read or “decode” words. In reading decoding, readers sound out words by pronouncing their parts and then joining those parts to form words. In order to read with sufficient fluency to comprehend what is being read, readers must be able to decode words and join the parts quickly and accurately. Children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, basic reading, or reading comprehension often have difficulty learning decoding skills and need a great deal of practice....

Good listening skills are vital to healthy relationships. Whether you’re strengthening a relationship, resolving a conflict, or offering support to a friend facing a crisis, good listening skills can be a lifeline to peace. Learn how to be a truly supportive listener, and you may find yourself surrounded by others who are able to do the same. Here are some important steps to developing good listening skills: Here’s How Listen, Listen, Listen....

What Is Structural Family Therapy? Structural family therapy (SFT) is a type of family therapy that looks at the structure of a family unit and improves the interactions between family members. This approach to therapy was originally developed by Salvador Minuchin and has become one of the dominant forms of family intervention. It suggests that dysfunctional family relationships can create stress and mental health problems for members of that family. By addressing how members of the family relate to one another, the goal is to improve communication and relationships to create positive changes for both individual family members and the family unit as a whole....

Whether you’re eating at home, dining out, or having dinner with friends, good table manners for kids are an important part of every meal. When you teach your child good mealtime etiquette, you are giving them important tools for social interaction that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Laying the groundwork can really start when your child begins to speak and use utensils. And as with much of parenting, this will take a while to catch on....

If you’re running outdoors and don’t have access to drinking fountains, you may need an alternate way to stay hydrated. Convenient and easy to use, handheld water bottles are a great option for keeping water or sports drinks right at your fingertips. Many of them are insulated, so they help with fluid temperature control and prevent your hand from getting too cold. “Runners want to make sure that a handheld water bottle has a high-quality nozzle that’s easy to open and close so that they can drink on-demand without worrying about it leaking,” says Lauren Sheu, certified running coach and owner and founder of Running for Wellness....

Whether you’re enjoying a general Hatha class or diving into vinyasa flow, a solid sports bra is key for a successful yoga session. Intense activities, like running or training, typically call for a straightforward, high-impact bra. While yoga is undoubtedly low-impact, yogis still need support when hitting different poses. “If you’re doing a lower intensity activity, like yoga, you’re going to need something with a heavy stretch and high support, but not something with too much compression,” says Claire Edwards, assistant store manager at Athleta in Louisville, KY....

Whether you’re traveling, working out, or just completing your daily activities, a windbreaker is a worthy addition to the mix—few other pieces of outerwear strike the same balance between lightweight protection and breathability. The best windbreakers are stretchy and packable and have a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Windbreakers come in a variety of sizes, styles, colors, and textiles, so it’s easy to find one that meets your personal preferences. Helpful features that you may want to have include hoods, UPF protection, pockets, and machine-wash compatibility....

As a comfortable, flattering, and versatile pant, seamless leggings can be worn for exercise, lounging, and everything in between. They are perfect for elevating your workouts, but also providing comfort on those much-needed rest days. Different from traditional leggings,—made from sewn-together fabrics—seamless leggings are made from a knit-together single-piece fabric, creating a smooth, breathable, and second-skin feel. “The seams in traditional leggings are just uncomfortable, and visually, seamless can look quite nice....

Shopping for the perfect gift for the active person in your life doesn’t have to be an endless hunt. We did the heavy lifting to help you stick to your budget while finding something they’ll love (and actually use, too). When looking for fitness gifts under $50, there’s a lot to consider. But quality and safety are the most important, Heather Lachance, CPT, CNC, and owner of Made Possible Personal Training studio in St....

For many runners, finding the perfect piece of running apparel is often an uphill battle. Leggings can sometimes get too warm, and shorts can contribute to chafing. While not new, running skirts can help you switch up your workout look. When buying a running skirt, look for ones made from a lightweight fabric that allows you to move freely. Pockets aren’t required, but most runners appreciate them. Reviewed & Approved...