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There are many causes for mental illness, including biological, social, and emotional factors. Being a single mother can be incredibly stressful, and stress can contribute to the development of mental illness, or aggravate existing mental health problems. In one study, single mothers were found to have more incidences of moderate to severe mental disability than women who had partners to help with parenting. Financial hardship and lack of social support were two factors thought to contribute to the increased incidence of mental illness Crosier, Butterworth, & Rodgers, 2007). [More]

These disorders are very dangerous, and must be taken seriously and treated by a professional. As a parent, it can be difficult to know what to do. You want more than anything to help your child, even while you and your family struggle with conflicting emotions, including fear that your child will seriously harm herself, or even die. [More]

What is the best way to help children from aged five to eight with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? A recent study from Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island offers an interesting insight. Researcher there found that family-based cognitive behavioral therapy is beneficial. They found that developmentally sensitive family-based treatment that included exposure/response prevention was more effective in reducing OCD symptoms and functional impairment in this age group when compared to a structured relaxation program. [More]

One only has to turn on the television to see yet another case of youth violence. It seems that it is happening more and more often, from school shootings to cases of bullying so severe that the victim takes his or her own life. Too often, youth are turning to emotional and physical aggression to solve problems and cope with their own feelings. The causes of youth violence are complex, and many of us struggle to understand why it happens. [More]

For many parents, educating their children is a job delegated to teachers where they absolve any responsibility to have any influence in shaping their child’s academics. This is the fundamental error that many parents commit where they are content being confined as only passive observers, reducing their role in perhaps the single most important event in the growth and development of their child. There has to be a realization on the part of parents to play an essential role in their children’s education. They have a lot to gain by doing so. [More]

Summer vacations are a time for fun and frolic for the young ones, giving them a reprieve from their education, making space for them to unwind and relax. However, this time is all the more hectic for mothers who have to make sure that their young ones also use this time constructively. Many concerned mothers enroll their children in summer camps for the duration of summer. [More]

Educational psychologists believe that achievement gaps between average and brilliant students can be removed during the summer break. The difference is created when one group of children dedicates time to playing, reading, and live sports, while others vegetate on computer games and television. It’s not a child’s fault if they find video games more pleasurable; even an adult would gravitate towards such interactive screens. The focus should not only be on making physical activities more fun, but also to encourage kids to learn while playing. [More]

Disagreeing about parenting approaches is inevitable when you have kids. It will most likely happen time and time again. The conflict may be over something as simple as allowing dessert close to bedtime, should they be allowed to sleep over at a friends or as daunting as addressing risky behaviors among teens like drug and alcohol use. Regardless of the size of the dilemma, parents can move past conflict and towards compromise with the right frame of mind and, most importantly, keeping a dialogue. Here are a few tips for addressing disagreement. [More]

Juggling with family and household chores all the time can be really stressful, particularly if one has small kids to look after. All these responsibilities and robotic routine often leave mothers stressed out. The American Psychology Association (APA) conducted a primary survey in 2010 to determine if motherhood is more stressful than fatherhood. According to the results, a major percentage of mothers participated in the survey reported physical and psychological symptoms of depression and stress. [More]

Your divorce is imminent. There is no turning back now. There is a new meaning to ‘normal’ for life as things are about to change for you and your kid(s). Through all the change, parenting must remain a priority. [More]