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Many of us have heard someone say they “are OCD”. We may have also told someone, “You are so OCD!” Some people do, in fact, have minor characteristics of OCD. They like things tidy, or they like to do things in a certain order and in a particular way. But clinical Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be a serious, even debilitating, mental illness for both adults and children. It can create significant distress, and interfere with daily functioning. People with severe symptoms of OCD may find it difficult to work, go to school, or carry out other daily activities. [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]

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]

Just because parents love their children unconditionally does not necessarily mean that siblings also share the same level of affection. Kids fighting with one another can become a serious domestic problem when one child dominates or bullies the other persistently. While it seems like an ordinary everyday scenario, the situation can become complicated if not addressed in early stages. You can do several things, especially now when the summer is approaching and your kids will be spending much more time at home – with each other. [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]

There is no denying the fact that factors like education and parenting style play a vital role in developing the personality and learning skills of a child, but another factor that significantly influences the personality of a child is birth order. Factors like communication skills, cognitive skills, decision-making abilities depend on the birth order of a person. Not only this, birth order also influences the psychology of a person. Factors like the number of siblings, age gap between siblings and birth order decide the personality of a child (Leman, 2009). [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]

Becoming a parent is like a dream come true, particularly if the baby is your first born. However, these happy emotions are also accompanied by the fear of losing your old life. Mothers worry about taking care of the baby, while fathers usually have financial considerations. If someone is comfortable with his/her routine, then resisting any major change is natural. [More]