It’s no secret that kids don’t come with directions—a shame considering that’s exactly what new (and sometimes, seasoned!) parents need. After all, when it comes time to go back to work or get the help we all need, a chapter on hiring childcare would be of particular use. Simply put, it’s difficult to nail down exactly what characteristics to look for in a person who will spend many hours around your child....
Spending time with family and friends is often one of the highlights of the holiday season. However, these gatherings may involve tension for some families. Talk of politics and other topics ripe for disagreement with loved ones can be common. Such conversations can be stressful and can even create discord in families. Learn more about how to navigate these difficult conversations during the holiday season. Politics, Race, and Public Health According to a 2019 article, many Americans believe that politics have negatively impacted their physical health, emotional well-being, and personal relationships....
Many people experience irrational thoughts that are often negative or upsetting. You may have heard terms that are related to irrational thinking, like ruminating, self-deprecating, or catastrophizing. In order to change your thinking, it’s helpful to first become aware of these thought patterns. Once you understand the way you think, you can learn to address and reframe your thoughts. Types of Irrational Thoughts The following categories are common types of irrational thoughts....
No matter how I curate my social feeds or dating profiles, it seems that never a day goes by without seeing “good vibes only” somewhere on my phone, expressed by one or more smiling people. I cringe every time I see that phrase—partly because the statement is obnoxious and partly because I harbor guilt at having once been one of those obnoxious people. There’s no doubt that gratitude and positive thinking positively impact one’s life, and it’s been proven by studies again and again....
What Is Love Addiction? Love addiction is a condition that causes a person to develop an unhealthy and obsessive fixation with a love interest. Being in love is a beautiful emotion everyone deserves to experience. Having someone to love and be loved by is something almost everyone strives for. However, being in love can manifest in an unhealthy way. It can make some people act in strange and irrational ways to the detriment of themselves and the people they love....
Cheating has become an epidemic among teenagers. It’s become so common that many teens think it’s normal and they don’t understand why it is wrong. Technology makes cheating easy and it becomes harder for teachers to detect. Students use their smartphones to look up answers in class—or to text the answers to their friends. They can take someone else’s work from the internet and try to pass it off as their own....
Whether children should go to funerals is a common but important concern of parents, and it depends less on your child’s specific age and more on their maturity and your dialog with them. If there’s been a death involving someone your toddler knew and loved, you should think about taking your toddler to the funeral. Here are some things to consider when making your decision. Consider Your Toddler’s Behavior Another important consideration is your toddler’s behavior....
We all know people who BS their way through conversations and life in general. According to researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, such people may be more susceptible to a taste of their own medicine. Key Takeaways Research shows those who spread BS-style misinformation are themselves more prone to believing it.There are two kinds of BS—persuasive and evasive, which could determine your susceptibility. “[We found] that people who often intentionally engage in misleading others (e....
Many health providers have categorized the onset of postpartum depression as the “baby blues.” This softening of the disorder is sometimes accompanied with the promise of symptoms clearing up within a few weeks. In reality, when discussing concerns around pregnancy and mental health, postpartum depression is one that should be seriously considered. Key Takeaways A recent study found that suicidal thoughts increased substantially up to a year after participants gave birth....
Students with specific learning disabilities in basic reading, reading comprehension, and dyslexia need effective strategies, such as PQ4R, to understand what they read and to remember details of what they’ve read. This strategy can also help students without disabilities improve reading comprehension and retention. The PQ4R strategy is a good study skill that can be adapted for students of all ages. PQ4R is an acronym for preview, question, read, reflect, recite, and review....
Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that is characterized by fear and worry. One of the most salient symptoms is the experience of persistent and often unanticipated panic attacks. Panic disorder is diagnosed as occurring with or without agoraphobia. Agoraphobia involves a fear of having one of these intense panic attacks in a place or situation where it would be very difficult or embarrassing to escape. Here’s an overview of the symptoms, features, and treatments for panic disorder....
It’s crazy that we ask pregnant people to build a baby registry. It’s so much physical work to build a baby, but to research and acquire all the baby’s stuff, too? It’s a lot! When it came time to build my own baby registry, I was lucky to have how-to guides at my fingertips, but I still reached out to all my mom friends about their baby registry must-haves. Of course, everyone had strong opinions....
Every pregnant woman wants to know her due date. But a due date calculated from last menstrual period with a due date calculator often doesn’t match the due date that is estimated by ultrasound (also known as a sonogram). During an ultrasound, a technician spreads a warm gel over the lower part of the abdomen, and then presses a tool called a transducer against the belly to examine the fetus using sound waves....
What Are the 5 Stages of Memory? Each stage can be affected by different factors, which can influence how well information is remembered. Below, let’s take a closer look at each of the stages of memory. What Is Memory? Some researchers break down memory into a process that includes five main stages: encoding, storage, recall, retrieval, and forgetting. Stage 1: Encoding Encoding is the first stage of memory, and it refers to the process of converting information into a format that can be stored in our memory:...
The “terrible twos” refers to a normal stage in a child’s development in which a toddler can regularly bounce between reliance on adults and a newly burgeoning desire for independence. The symptoms vary between children but can include frequent mood changes and temper tantrums. Although parents often expect the terrible twos to occur around a child’s second birthday, the behavior that’s typical of this stage often begins around 18 months and can last until age 4....
When the back-to-school time comes around, teachers and school administrators start looking for room parents. But what does a room parent do? A room parent (also known as a class parent) facilitates communication between parents and the teacher, school administration, and/or parent-teacher organization (PTO), and supports the teacher in needs that may arise. Typical Tasks for Classroom Parents The responsibilities of a room parent vary from school to school, from teacher to teacher and grade to grade....
Democratic leadership, also known as participative leadership or shared leadership, is a leadership style in which members of the group participate in the decision-making process. This type of leadership can apply to any organization, from private businesses to schools to the government. With a democratic leadership style, everyone is given the opportunity to participate, ideas are exchanged freely, and discussion is encouraged. While this process tends to focus on group equality and the free flow of ideas, the democratic leader is still there to offer guidance and control....
What Is Emotional Labor? It can be an employer’s rule that employees may not react to customer mistreatment, a partner’s presumption that the other person will handle housework and life logistics, or an acquaintance wanting an explanation for why their behavior is problematic. Emotional Labor Emotional labor is unpaid, often invisible work that a person is compelled to do by others to keep them happy. The Origin Of The Term The term “emotional labor” was coined by sociologist Arlie Hochschild in 1983 in her book The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling....
This article will review the term’s history, examples of intersectionality, why it is important, and how you can use this knowledge to create change. Intersectionality acknowledges that each individual has multiple identities and is subject to various forms of intersecting oppression. History of the Concept of Intersectionality The term ‘‘intersectionality" was first coined by civil rights scholar and the founding voice behind critical race theory Kimberlé Crenshaw. The Term Intersectionality Was Coined in 1989 Crenshaw first introduced the term in 1989 in her seminal article for the University of Chicago Legal Forum titled, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory, and Antiracist Politics....
What Is Stigma? Unfortunately, stigma surrounding mental health is still common. While stigma is not limited to mental conditions, attitudes towards psychiatric illnesses tend to be more negative than that toward medical conditions. Stigma Stigma involves negative attitudes or discrimination against someone based on a distinguishing characteristic such as a mental illness, health condition, or disability. Social stigmas can also be related to other characteristics including gender, sexuality, race, religion, and culture....
