Your baby’s first birthday is just around the corner and you are likely feeling a wide range of emotions. From excitement over that first birthday party to sadness over the fact that your little one is about to become a toddler, know that no matter what you are feeling, your feelings are justified—even if they change from day to day. You and your baby have accomplished a lot this last year and you have even more adventures awaiting you....
No one wants their child to be defenseless when it comes to bullying. Thankfully, they don’t have to be. There are many things parents can do to help kids stand up to bullies at school and elsewhere. By preparing them in advance, you will be equipping your child with skills to effectively deal with bullies. More importantly, you’ll help them gain self-confidence and internal strength, two assets that will serve them well for the rest of their life....
If you’ve been around the birthday-party block a few times, you know the possibilities are endless (and can easily become overwhelming). Simplify matters by planning an active birthday party, one that includes plenty of physical activity and good old running around. It’s healthier for everyone, and always a lot of fun. The guests will have such a good time—and be so worn out—they won’t notice if the napkins match the plates or care about what comes in the goodie bags....
Learning to manage your stress includes many steps. Among those is adopting healthy habits that are designed to lower your stress levels. The food you eat, the exercise you get and your sleeping habits can make a significant impact in controlling stress. Living a low-stress life can help you in other aspects of your health. It can make you feel better physically and even help you heal from injuries. The mental health benefits are significant because you can learn how to remain calm and handle challenges in healthy ways....
A hallmark of 12-step recovery programs is the offer of anonymity to participants, but the principle goes much deeper than just not revealing last names. This is Tradition 12, “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.” To keep the focus on principles rather than personalities, personal anonymity should be maintained at all levels of participation in 12-step fellowship—in meetings, in 12th step work, and even in sponsorship....
As we age, our sleep quality is more likely to suffer. And while the myth persists that older adults don’t require as much sleep, the National Institute on Aging recommends the same seven to nine hours each night as any adult, regardless of age. Key Takeaways Older adults have more difficulty falling and staying asleep, which can negatively affect overall quality of life.A review of sleep studies revealed that calming music can positively impact older adults’ quality of sleep....
Can you eat foods that contain garlic when you’re breastfeeding? Is it safe for your baby or should you avoid it? If you’re worried about eating garlic and how it will affect your child and your breast milk, you’re not alone. Here’s what you need to know about garlic and breastfeeding. Overview Garlic (Allium sativum) is a commonly used ingredient found in many recipes all over the world. But, garlic is more than just a flavoring for food....
Clustering involves organizing information in memory into related groups. Memories are naturally clustered into related groupings during recall from long-term memory. So it makes sense that when you are trying to memorize information, putting similar items into the same category can help make recall easier. How Does the Clustering Process Work? Have you ever tried memorizing a long list of words? Imagine that you are trying to remember lists of vocabulary words for a biology class....
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a taxing time for just about everyone. Racially diverse communities, however, have fared worse than others. Not only have pre-existing disparities put people of color at a higher risk of getting sick and dying from the disease itself, the pandemic’s economic impacts have also burdened them with significant job losses and wage cuts. Key Takeaways Two underrepresented communities in New York City saw a 400% uptick in a hair-loss condition during the pandemic, according to new research....
Having a backyard is fabulous—trust the woman who spent most of her life in a yardless apartment. The trend today is to fill that glorious running, jumping, free-play space with elaborate swing and play sets. I know my rugrats would love one of those sets—and I would have too as a kid. But you don’t have to invest hundreds—or thousands—of dollars in an elaborate playground structure to make your backyard an exciting, physically challenging, boredom-busting play spot the whole neighborhood will want to line up to enjoy....
Vaginal secretions (which may contain cervical mucus or cervical fluid, because it is secreted by the cervical glands) changes in amount, consistency, and even smell throughout the phases of the menstrual cycle. Some women check their cervical mucus to help predict ovulation so that they can time sex to increase or decrease the odds of conception. Even if you’re not trying to conceive or prevent pregnancy, it can be useful to know how much vaginal mucus to expect and when, as well as what’s normal for you....
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews experts, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Dr. Drew Ramsey Drew Ramsey is a psychiatrist and a leader in nutritional psychiatry. He’s also an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons....
Reward systems can be one of the best ways to improve your child’s behavior. And the best news is a well-designed reward system will work fast. Many parents assume rewards need to be extravagant items. But rewards don’t have to cost any money. There are many free and low-cost ways to reward kids. In fact, you can use many of the privileges your child likely enjoys already. Just make sure your child is invested in earning the incentive....
The abrupt school closures during the coronavirus pandemic have left many students feeling like they’re getting a raw deal. Many are missing out on major rites of passage, like the prom or even a graduation ceremony. Others are missing their regular school-related activities, like sports, band, or their favorite after-school club. Many college students are missing out on life with their friends. Key Takeaways The sudden school closures across the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have had a psychological impact on students....
There’s a reason white noise videos on YouTube rack up hundreds of millions of views: They help us to relax. Countless people rely on the soothing sound of a whirring fan or radio static to unwind, especially at bedtime. While white is likely the most commonly recognized “color” of noise, other shades can have an impact on the brain, as well. Key Takeaways The “color” of a sound refers to its mix of frequencies and how energy is distributed across them....
Returning to school each fall always brings a mix of excitement and nervousness as kids—and parents—anticipate what the upcoming school year will bring. This year, in addition to navigating back-to-school shopping and new teacher assignments, parents and their kids will be wrestling with the idea of how to separate from one another after having spent most of the previous school year at home. Whether families learned entirely at home or in a hybrid setting that combined online and in-person learning, there are bound to be increased worries and concerns about returning to school full-time....
No matter how healthy a couple’s relationship is, there’s bound to be a few squabbles here and there. And a few occasional disagreements usually aren’t a big deal. Mature conversations, keeping it generally out of the kids’ view, and refusing to name-call all show a child how to deal with disagreements in a healthy manner. But more serious conflict definitely takes a toll on kids. Physical altercations, insults, and tactics such as “the silent treatment,” are just a few of the toxic interactions parents can have that are likely to create some emotional damage to a child in the long run....
The summer 2020 deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and others has taken a toll on Black people in the United States. They are hurting, confused, and exhausted—and in need of your kindness and compassion, particularly your friends and family members. Part of being a good ally to the Black community is recognizing the need to check in on your Black friends and family members. They need to hear from you and know that you are thinking of them—but there are some things to consider before you make that call....
Feelings are complicated, especially for a 4-year-old who doesn’t understand why you won’t let them eat another cookie or an 8-year-old who is upset that you got called into work and you have to leave the playground early. It’s hard to teach kids about feelings because it’s a fairly abstract concept. It’s hard to describe how it feels to be sad, scared, or excited. It’s important to begin teaching kids about their emotions as early as possible since their feelings affect every choice they make....
To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends social distancing. This means that individuals are encouraged to limit unnecessary social contact. Key Takeaways Online therapy has become more common during the coronavirus pandemic.There are pros and cons of online treatment, and some forms of therapy work better via phone, email, or video chat than others.Answering a few key questions can help ease the transition to online therapy....
