It's not perfect. It's parenting.
Sometimes you need answers to the little everyday things that parents encounter. And sometimes, you just need someone to encourage you through all of the craziness and challenges of parenthood. Welcome to Parent-ish, a blog from the experts at Children's Mercy.
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Category: Mental health
Growing your child’s emotional piggy bank
All humans have an emotional piggy bank, and throughout the day all your interactions result in a deposit or a withdrawal. All these little things add up, and if you’ve had more withdrawals than deposits, you may feel like you don’t have much left to give. As parents, you can make sure your children have plenty of deposits, so they can better deal with the withdrawals that come their way.
How to keep youth sports fun
This just in: Kids like to have fun. It shouldn’t be news, but in the current competition-crazy culture of youth sports, it is. “Fun” is the key idea parents should remember from the new State of Play Kansas City, a report and study by the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program and a broad group of KC-area youth sports advocates (including Children’s Mercy Kansas City).
Teaching kids not to bully – and how to react if you find out they are
We all think the best of our kids – but that doesn’t mean at some point, they won’t exhibit bullying behaviors. Why does this happen, how can you teach your kids not to bully and most importantly…how do you react if you find out they’ve bullied a classmate or friend?
Are you a new parent feeling sad, tired or anxious? Here is a guide to help.
While many moms and other birthing people experience the “baby blues” in the first 2 weeks after having a baby (worry, sadness and tiredness), these symptoms usually resolve on their own. However, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) can be more serious
Ways to handle homesickness
Staying the night at an aunt’s house or an overnight sleepaway camp is often the first chance a child experiences a go of independence. Even the most confident of kids may experience homesickness and there are ways parents can help.
How transplant changed my life
On the outside, you may look at me and see a typical soon-to-be college graduate. I’m preparing for finals, making memories in my favorite activities and looking forward to starting my career as a music teacher this fall. But none of these things would have been possible without my life-saving liver transplant when I was 10 years old.
Anxiety and depression: what parents and caregivers should know
Mental health is becoming more commonly talked about and less stigmatized, which is a step in the right direction. Still, many adults are unsure of how to support children’s mental wellbeing. Sadness and nervousness are normal human emotions, so how do you know what type of support to give your child? We’re sharing guidance from our clinical expertise to help you answer that question.
What every parent should know about preventing child abuse
Everyone deserves to be respected, nurtured and loved. But many children and teens face a different reality. Caring adults need to be aware of the signs of child abuse and how they can help prevent it.
Attending large events following a tragedy
Our community is still processing the events of the post-Super Bowl parade. A day meant for celebration quickly turned into a nightmare for families who were in attendance, or even watching it on TV. As your family considers attending large events – sporting events, concerts, shows – that you once enjoyed, planning these activities now comes with extra concern.
How school breaks affect kids’ mental health
There’s a lot for kids and teens to look forward to on a break from school. No homework, for one. But breaks are not without their challenges. Young people can exhibit increased mental and behavioral health symptoms when adjusting to a new day-to-day routine outside of school. Luckily, parents and caregivers can make a big difference in helping kids adjust and cope. Use a few tried-and-true tips to make upcoming breaks less stressful for your family.
7 tips for less stress this holiday season
The holiday season is here! While it’s an exciting time of year filled with traditions, treats and fun, this time of year can also cause stress and anxiety. The shopping, cleaning and planning can feel endless, and, while we want to celebrate with all of our friends and family, sometimes schedules and budgets won’t allow it. If you are struggling with making holiday decisions and talking about them with family, we hope you find these tips helpful.
When your child’s ‘winter blues’ become something more serious
As much as so many of us complain about daylight saving time, it’s always a shock to the system when it ends. Soon we’ll start preparing ourselves for shorter days, leaving work when it’s already dark and just that feeling that, yes, winter is coming.
The power of self-esteem: How to prevent bullying in children
Self-esteem begins to develop in early childhood when children start to develop their sense of self. As children begin to understand and know who they are, they start to identify the key qualities and aspects of themselves. Self-esteem plays an important role in early development and continues to be impacted over the course of development for a child.
Improve your sleep, improve your mental health: 8 steps to better sleep for your family
Getting more sleep—for you and your child—is a goal many parents dream of. After all, sleep has a significant impact on our mental and physical health.
Conversations about weight: A focus on overall health
Talking about your child’s weight may feel uncomfortable or challenging to bring up for a variety of reasons. But what if “weight” wasn’t the main focus of the conversation? While weight and height are important numbers to measure as your child grows, there are many factors that contribute to overall health. As a parent, you can be your child’s greatest advocate and help them form healthy habits at an early age.