Motivating Your Little Couch Potatoes

During the winter months we find ourselves less active and our children spending more time in front of their computer and television. As a result, more children are less fit or weigh more than they used to. Exercise helps children control their weight, strengthen bones and reduce their heart risks later in life.

Here are a few suggestions that may motivate your children to be more active:

• Limit television to two hours a day and take evening walks or bike rides as a family.
• Encourage your children to walk their pet, do yard work and other chores around the home.
• Buy toys that keep your children active.
• If the weather is keeping you inside do an exerices video together.
• Instead of driving your children to the neighbors home, have them ride their bike or walk.
• Plan an activity to go swim, bowl, play volleyball or visit a local gym.
• Organize a play group with your friends.
• Encourage your children to participate in team sports or learn a new skill.

Helping your children find their strengths and encouraging them to develope them to their full potential, will bring life long benefits to their well-being. Set those goals together!

Happy New Year!

Gina

Finding Calm in the Chaos

It is the season of service as you work to display love for the people in your life. With the hectic pace of the holiday season, you may have forgotten to make time for your own self-care. The holiday season can also bring memories of a painful past or emphasize the loneliness you may be feeling. Don't let another day pass without nurturing yourself.

It may be the perfect time to try meditation and find the inner peace that you long for. Studies have found long term health benefits from individuals that practice meditation regularly.

• A Heathly Heart: Meditation has been found to lower your blood pressure, blood sugar and insulin.
• Increased Alertness: Individuals who meditate for 40 minutes daily surpassed others in mental alertness testing who had taken a nap for 40 minutes.
• Better Sleep: The brain waves of people who meditate are similar to those sleeping.
• More Brainpower: Meditators have a increased thickness in their brain in the areas of attention and processing sensory input.
• Less Bingeing: Obese women who practiced mindfulness meditation had an average of four fewer binge eating episodes per week than before practicing meditation.
• Happiness: The prefrontal cortexes in the brain that are responsible for happiness and pleasure lit up even when individuals were not meditating.

So think about finding a quiet moment to still your mind and let peace enter your soul for the holiday.

Best wishes

Gina

Tis the Season to Volunteer

During this time of year the needs of other people are highly publicized on the news. It lets the general public know that there are many families in our community that need our assistance to survive the winter and holiday season. Volunteering your family through your church or school is a wonderful way to have your family look outside of themselves. It also allows you to count your blessings as you work to serve others.

Studies report that children who volunteer do better in school, feel more positive about themselves, and avoid risky behaviors like drugs and alcohol. Children that have participated in service activities are more likely to vote, have a positive work ethic, and live a socially responsible life. Learning to make a difference in your community can make a lifelong impression on your children and family as you work together to serve the less fortunate.

Have a blessed season.
Gina

Tis the Season for Shoplifting to Occur

Parents the holiday season will bring out the "wants" in your children. This is an opportune time to teach your children the difference between "wants and needs" by doing a service for others. It helps children identify how fortunate they are to have their needs met in a loving environment.

If you have teenagers they are going to want to venture to the mall with friends to do a little shopping. One role of the parent is to prepare children for the new environments that they will encounter. Going to the mall alone or with a friend will be a new experience for you child. Prepare you child by discussing safety, store security systems, and the legal consequences of stealing.

Some teens will steal because it is a statement of rebellion, thrill seeking or their parents just won't let them buy the item. Try and teach your children the concept of working for items they want and to resist the notion of instant gratification.

If your child has been caught shoplifting, studies report there are approximately 23 million shoplifters and about one-quarter of them are teenagers. Most businesses will press charges against shoplifters. If this happen, support your child but have your child take responsibility for their choices. If the business gives your child a warning, decide on a community service project your child can do to pay restitution for their behavior. If shoplifting becomes a persistent problem with your child you will need to seek professional help.

Best wishes.

Gina

New Study Reports TV Doesn't Cause ADHD Symptoms

Previous studies have reported that children watching television would develop attention problems. A new study in the March issue of Pediatrics failed to find a connection between ADHD and TV viewing habits.

The researchers looked at children's behavior during their first year of kindergarten and then again at the end of first grade. They monitored information such as television exposure, limits placed on television viewing, parental involvement, socioeconomic status and symptoms of ADHD. They found no association between television and symptoms of ADHD.

Dr. Jess Shatkin, director and training of New York University Child Study Center, said that he didn't feel there was enough data to support the new findings. He then stated that moderation in all activities and interests are best for the developing brain.

Until next week.

Gina

Family Dinners Are Not Just For Thanksgiving

This week across America families will gather to share their Thanksgiving meal together. Research has found that, like other forms of parental involvement, families that eat at least one meal together daily will create positive outcomes for their teenagers. Teens who eat regularly with their family are less likely than other teens to get into fights, think about suicide, smoke, and drink. They also do better academically in school and will detour from sexual activity at an early age.

So as your family shares this special day try and discuss how you can all arrange your schedules to eat more meals together. Assign each child a job to help prepare and clean up the meal. That way it doesn't become a burden for any one person and the meal becomes an emotional bonding time for your family. You can also make it fun by having an ethnic theme for each evening meal like Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and of course American. Your children might even surprise you some evening with your favorite meal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gina

Building Healthy Realtionships

Everyone wants to have healthy relationships with the people that they care about. At times this seems a very difficult task, especially with your life partner. There are several areas of your relationship that you must be attentive to, when nurturing your relationship and partner.

• Commitment of the couple is one of the most important ingredients to the relationship. It represents a focus on the couple and the partner - not the self.
• Satisfaction to each person within the partnership is important to a healthy relationship and must be openly discussed as it will effect the commitment each person displays.
• Positive Communication that is respectful and has been characterized as involving humor and compromise will keep all relationships healthy.
• Conflict resolution that couples face together to determine how to successfully problem solve the issue is a characteristic of a healthy marriage.
• Fidelity or being faithful to your spouse is very important for a healthy relationship, as many relationships do not survive this betrayal of trust.
• Time together or positive interaction is an important display of enjoying the company of each other.
• Intimacy and emotional support will bond your relationship with feelings of trust, caring, love, and physical affection which are all an important dimension of a healthy relationship.
• Commitment to children and their development and well-being within a healthy relationship creates a strong family bond and marriage.

All relationships take work and there will always be times that they will make you feel frustrated and you will wonder if it is worth all the effort. If you stop and think of the joy that your relationships bring you I am sure you will say, "Yes" . Tomorrow will always bring the opportunity to try again.

I'll write again next week.

Gina

Learning with Matthew

My first book will be out in November and I am very excited about this event. I wrote Learning with Matthew; A Caregivers Guide to Problem Solving School Issues with Their Child after I had been a therapist in the public school system for three years. I realized that the majority of parents and caregivers that I was working with, didn't know what their options were in helping support their children in the school system. I am hoping that Learning with Matthew helps parents understand some of the social and academic pressures that their children feel while at school. The book will also guide caregivers on how to find help for their children and give them guidance in solving their problems.

If you are interersted in purchasing a copy of Learning with Matthew I have set up a link for your convenience on the right side of this page. You can click on Learning with Matthew and it will take you directly to Tate Publishing where you can order your copy for $7.99 plus shipping and handling.

Thank you for your purchase.

Gina

Take Control of Your Stress

Balancing your family's needs will always bring more stress into your life than you want. Many people today face long hours at work, financial pressures and problems with spouses and children. This stress will release chemicals into your body that effect every cell within you.

There are five simple techniques that you can learn to keep a clear mind, body and spirit. Here is how to take control:

• Just Breathe. Stop and take two or three slow deep breathes whenever you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Fill your diaphram completely and release the cleansing breath slowly. This small act will release parasympathetic chemicals into your body that will leave a calming effect for you.
• Think Positive. Whenever we stop to think about all the blessings in our life and how grateful that we are for our gifts we send a chemical message throughout our body that life is good. Close your eyes and visualize what is endearing to you and breathe. The experience will change your life.
• Slow Down. It seems we are always multi-tasking and making lists to complete everything that we feel is important to do. Try going for a walk or getting some type of exercise for 30 minutes to release your stress in a positive way. That list will still be there and you will feel more refreshed and ready to tackle it when you return.
• Love Yourself. We all make mistakes, but sometimes we are very hard on ourselves when we make them. Support yourself by taking responsibility for your choice and then make a plan on how to move forward.
• Let it Go. There will be times in your life when you need to recognize that you cannot change the situation. You will need to release it to your belief system, or high power and move forward. Dwelling on the issue will not change the results. Learn from the experience and do your best not to repeat the mistake.

Taking care of your emotional well-being can seem like a full time job at times, but the benefits can be a better quality of life for you and your family.

I'll write again next week.

Gina

Lighten the Load

With the academic season well under way, we see many children carrying heavy backpacks to and from school. For some children it is mainly books, for others it is band instruments and sports equipment. These items can weigh alot, and the majority of the weight is supported by your children's back.

There have been many studies done that have reported that children are carrying too much weight on their backs. One study found that backpacks triggered back pain in nearly half of the 237 children that were involved in their study. Many of the children only carried their backpacks approximately 5 to 15 minutes a day.

The study gave several suggestions to help protect your child's back:

• Choose a backpack that has two wide padded straps that go over the shoulder. Make sure your children put both arms through the straps, not just one.
• Monitor what your children carry. The total weight should not be more than 10 percent of a child's body weight.
• Teach your children to pack the heaviest books closest to their backs.
• Coach your children to go to their lockers as often as possible to minimize the time that they are carrying their books.

Teaching your children these health tips to lighten their load will benefit their back as an adult. You might also want to look at the weight of your purse and briefcase. Are you modeling good health habits there for your children?

I'll write again next week.

Gina

Learning How to Apologize

We all make mistakes and hurt people unintentionally at times. We will usually apologize for the poor choice to the individual we hurt and try to move forward. Unfortunately there will be times that people will choose not to accept our apology.

Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas have written a book together titled, The Five Languages of Apology. They discuss in their book that different individuals need to hear different things in their apology before they are able to accept the apology. The review five different aspects of an apology:

• Express regret
• Accept responsibility
• Make restitution
• Genuinely repent
• Request forgiveness

Depending on the person and the extent of the violation, some people will want a combination of these five areas in their apology. Learning how to give an apology to the people that you love can open the door to forgiveness and eventually to reconciliation.

I'll write again next week.

Gina

Talking to Your Children About School Violence

Unfortunately school violence is the current topic in today's news, and your children are going to have anxiety about their personal safety at times. It will be important that you discuss their concerns openly, and answer their questions directly without excessive emotion that could increase their anxiety.

The National Mental Health Association has released a guide for parents that are wanting to discuss these tough issues of school violence, with their children.

• Encourage your children to talk about their concerns and express their feelings.
• Talk honestly about your own feelings regarding school violence.
• Validate the child's feelings.
• Empower the children to take action regarding school safety.
• Discuss the safety procedures that are in place at your child's school.
• Create safety plans for your child.

It is important that you monitor your children's behavior after discussing their concerns. You may note that your children are having difficulty sleeping, have a change in appetite, refuse to attend school, or display outbursts of aggression. These behaviors may be a way of how your children are expressing their anxiety and fear. If your children continue to display adverse behaviors for an extended period of time, you may want to contact a mental health professional for a consultation.

Until next week,

Gina

Preparing Your Children for Adolescence

If you have children in the fourth to sixth grades in your home, you are most likely seeing a lot a changes in them mentally and physically. This can be a very important time in your children's life, as they explore their interests and strengths. During this time they will also develop their self-image, of who they are as reflected by their peers. This can be a very challenging time as children will try to assume the morals and values of their peers over what they have been taught in the home by their parents.

There are several resources for parents to read for guidance to help their children during this time. Two series that are written for parents are, Focus on the Family and Family Life Today. These books discuss tough topics like authority, peer pressure, puberty, and dating from a biblical perspective. You can modify the information to meet your family's morals and values.

There are several other things you can do to stay connected to your pre-adolescent. Plan family activities together, eat your evening meal together, and listen to their issues on friendships. Then invite those friends over so that you can get to know them and they can see your family's lifestyle. Don't get discouraged if your children are not receptive to these ideas. Be persistent as they do want their parents involved in their lives.

Good luck!

Gina

Healthy Stress

There have been several studies done over the last ten years that have reported that stress can ruin our health. Doctors report that stress can increase our blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. Studies have also linked stress to immune suppression which can put us at risk for colds and flu. What the news hasn't reported is that short-term stress can give our immune system a boost and the additional energy boost needed in those life or death situations.

Other studies have reported for years that 30 minutes of exercise daily can boost our immune system and relieve stress. But prolonged exercise that becomes to intense can also weaken your immune system. Marathon runners are always fighting colds and their defense systems can take months to resume normalacy after a race. Studies have also reported that the long distance bicycler will not suffer from this depletion of the system.

Moderate exercise for senior citizens can slow the aging of their immune system. Combining movement, meditation, and special breathing which is practice in Tai Chi has been known to lower the risk of heart disease, and even change the growth of neurotransmitters to improve our mood.

So making time for short-term stress on our bodies can be healthy for us. Make time in your schedule for you and live a balanced life. Choose activities that you enjoy and do them in moderation. It will be the best gift that you ever gave yourself.

Take care

Gina

Preventing Suicide

Living with a loved one that suffers from depression is no simple task. Even if they are taking an anti-depressant, there will still be times when they will feel depressed, sad and withdrawn. For these individuals it will be very important that they live a healthy, balanced lifestyle. They will need to eat healthy, exercise, maintain an average of eight hours of sleep and nurture their spiritual life. Sustaining this lifestyle takes structure and dedication that many people have difficulty perserving.

Individuals that suffer from depression often have a pessimistic viewpoint of life. They will obsess about wanting to die, abuse drugs and alcohol and make choices that will deliberately harm themself and the people that they love. If you are concerned about someone suffering from depression there are some steps that you can take.

• Let the person talk about their feelings.
• Be accepting of them and try not to judge.
• Ask them if they are having suicidal thoughts.
• Take all suicide threats seriously.
• Do not swear to secrecy. Tell someone.
• Contact a counselor, pastor, or your local mental health helpline.

There are several websites that offer more informations and support.

• Suicide Information & Education Centre www.suicideinfo.ca
• American Association of Suicidology www.suicidology.org
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org
• Suicide Awareness/Voices of Education www.save.org

It is important to address all warning signals that a depressed person may share with you. You could be saving a life.

Take care and I will write to you again next week.

Gina

Teaching Money Skills with an Allowance

Your children are back in school and it is time to become more consistent with your schedules and responsiblities. This will be an adjustment for your whole family and it leaves little time for relaxing together unless everyone is helping. When everyone in the family works together to complete daily tasks it teaches your family unity and responsiblity in helping one another.

You may want to start paying an allowance to your children. An allowance is one of the best ways to teach children how to manage their money. It helps them to distinguish their needs and wants and gives parents the opportunity to teach their children how to save for their wants. Some parents like to pay their children for good grades. The author of "Raising Money Smart Kids", by Janet Bodar states that buying grades is distracting to children from the real reward of earning grades, and the accomplishment they should feel when they have earned their grades.

An allowance is still one of the best ways to teach money managing skills. Create a work schedule with your children and discuss their responsibilities. Give them an annual review on job performance and allowance increase as their responsiblities increase. If your children do extra chores for your discuss incentive pay for those chores and how much money that would be for them. You could also match their savings to incourage them to save more than they spend.

Some parents feel uncomfortable in sharing the cost of items with their children. This is a very important life lesson they must learn so that they are able to manage their money as an adult. When eating out at a restuarant share the cost with them and discuss how much the tip should be for that service. As you fill up your car with gas share with your children how much it costs to drive a car per month and how you must budget every expense.

Your children are always learning from your example and guidance. Teaching them about money is another way to prepare your children for that step into adulthood.

See you next week.

Gina

Back to School Anxiety

School is starting for many children and everyone is probably a little anxious about the new school year. Your children are wondering if their teacher will be nice, if any of their friends will be in their classroom, and if the academics will be too demanding. For children in grades kindergarten thru second grade it may help both the parent and the child feel less anxious if you make time to take your child to school the first day. It's an opportune time to meet their teacher and help your child unpack their school supplies. Usually from third grade and older the children will feel uncomfortable if their parents walk them to their classroom as they are trying to display independence in front of their peers and teachers.

When your child gets home from school try to be there and listen to him or her about their day. Your child will need a empathetic ear that will unconditionally listen about their struggles and triumphs. You can normalize your child's fears at this time by sharing a story from your childhood about school, or even a favorite teacher and memory. It will help your child to understand that everyone experiences similar situations that will be resolved in time.

It may be that your child is very shy and is needing guidance on how to make new friends in the classroom. You can role play asking friends to play at recess, or if you know the parents of a child in the classroom, it may help to schedule play dates for your child, so that he or she may practice their social skills. The more confidence your child displays in social situations the happier he or she will be away from home.

If your child continues to display anxieties about school issues, do not hesitate to discuss them with the teacher or school counselor. They will be able to give you more insight on the concerns and suggestions on how to support your child in the classroom. You can become involved in your parent group at school or try to be a room parent for your child's teacher. These small gestures of support lets your child know that you care and are involved with their life.

Take care and I will write again next week!

Gina

Establishing a Bedtime Routine

With more and more things competing for your child's waking hours, it is not surprising to hear that most children are sleep deprived. A recent KidsHealth KidsPoll estimated that 62 percent of children ages 9 to 13 do not get enough sleep and 70 percent were wishing they could get more sleep. Experts recommend that school-age children receive 9 to 10 hours of sleep each night.

Establishing a consistent bedtime routine is the best intervention is helping your child prepare for the next day.

• Set a bedtime for school nights, and stick to it.
• Make sure that all homework and other preparations for the next day is completed early enough in the evening, so that your child gets to bed on time.
• Have you child begin their nightly hygiene routine at least 30 minutes before their bedtime.
• After your child has completed their evening tasks, allow them some quiet reading time to slow down, and relax before bed.
• Spend some quiet time with your child discussing their day and activities. Ask your child about any projects, or concerns that they may have and need assistance with.
• Say goodnight to your child and state your expectations about staying in bed in a kind but firm voice.

Ensuring that your child is rested for the next day is also important in helping their immune system fight infection effectively. Children that are sleep deprived are likely to be ill more often, have a negative outlook on their life, and display poor social skills when interacting with others. Helping your child get enough sleep is just one more step in teaching your child self-care skills for life.

See you next week.

Gina

Can We Have a Snack Now?

As a parent I wonder how many times a day we hear this question. Americans love to snack or have a "treat" several times a day even if we are not hungry. Current studies report that Americans are more inactive and obese than ever before. If you do not want your household to be a current statistic there are several things you can do.

Families have become addicted to the screen. The television, computer, Ipod, or Blackberry are just a few of today's electronics that are absorbing our time and leave us very sedentary. Try limiting your family's time using these gadgets and plan a game night. You could also learn a new exercise, go for a walk, bike ride or even join the local YMCA. Try having your family cook the evening meal together, clean it up and then read together. Working and playing together as a family helps you create memories that your children will relive with their children.

Food is also a way that people connect with each other daily. Smaller children due to their growth and development needs will need a snack every few hours. To avoid teaching your child poor eating habits talk to them about nutrition and meeting the needs of their body. There are several healthy snacks that you can have ready for your family.

• Raw vegetables with low-fat dip
• Fresh fruit
• Popsicles made with 100% fruit juice
• Pudding made with low-fat milk
• Jello
• Dry cereal mixed with dry fruit
• Animal crackers and a glass of milk
• Cottage cheese and fruit
• Peanut butter on apple slices, crackers or bread
• Tortillas rolled around turkey or beans

To put these ideas in place have a family meeting. Discuss the concerns that you have and what you would like to change as a family. You will need to give everyone a chance to speak and listen to their ideas. Write the ideas down and use them to schedule activities for the week. Ask their preferences on snacks and have them grocery shop with you. That way they know what is available to snack on and keeps them from asking, "Can I have a snack?"

See you next week.

Gina

Taking a Trip with Your Children

Summer is quickly passing but you have a couple more weeks before school begins to take a quick trip to the cool mountains, or a fun resort. Every family needs to try and travel together. This allows bonding time away from the day to day stress of life. If it sounds too expensive with the price of gas make it a short weekend get away at a local hotel that has a pool and spa.

You can eliminate a lot of the preparation stress by planning ahead. Pack a cooler with favorite snacks and drinks. This will help with expenses and hunger pains that emerge at inconvenient moments. Also having a travel game tub can be fun for the whole family. Pack inexpensive items like card games, drawing books, binoculars, and stress balls. Anything that won't melt and helps your family interact would be fine. Avoid using the dvd player and individual music devices. These items give your children the opportunity to isolate themselves from the family and not interact.

While in the car, play verbal games like "I Spy" and have them guess what you saw by giving them clues. Look at the clouds and imagine what animals they could be. See how many green Volkswagens or "Bugs" you can find. Sing silly songs together that your parents taught you. These games keep your children looking at the scenery and conversing with each other.

When you reach your destination praise your children for the positive choices they have made, which makes the trip enjoyable. Teaching your children how to travel is just another one of the many joys a parent has.

See you next week.
Gina

Is Your Child Struggling with Bed Wetting?

Bed wetting is a problem that affects nearly 20 million Americans. This problem effects one of every 4 year olds and one of every 6 year olds. If your child is over seven years old you are probably questioning whether your child is going to grow out of this problem.

Enuresis is more prevalent among boys than it is girls. Most children do outgrow this problem by the age of five. Over 90% of bed wetting is a genetic sleep disorder. This causes a state of sleep that is so deep that the signal to the brain that the bladder is full doesn't arouse the child. Therefore, they wet the bed.

The older the child the less chance you have of your child outgrowing the bed wetting. This problem causes embarrassment and restrictions for the child. Obviously the ongoing cleaning of laundry and bedclothes can become expensive also.

There are several solutions that you can try to help support your child during this difficult time.
You can set an alarm for the child to wake up after approximately four to five hours of sleep. This will work sometimes as an intervention for the child to release their bladder appropriately. The child can also sleep through the alarm since the child is such a deep sleeper. Your family physician is also another solution source. Drug therapy can be very helpful if the problem is organic. You could also restrict beverages before your child's bedtime. This is helpful at times, but your body continues to create urine without water intake so make sure your child releases their bladder before bed. Other times the parents will try and wake the child before they retire for bed. This method can be exhausting for both the child and parents.

Seeking professional help and support may be necessary to determine how to help your child. There is a strong correlation to child abuse and bed wetting. Please understand that your child needs help and not discipline in this area.

If you have questions about your child, do not hesitate to write or call my office. Have a great week.

Gina

Creative Summer Afternoons

Needing ideas for these hot summer days? There are several things you can play with your children that cost only your time and imagination. Have your children put on their suits and make water balloons together. Once you have made several turn off the hose and the fun begins. Divide up into teams and start the water balloon fight. You could also play catch with them and the person that drops it, gets wet. What could feel better when it is 100 degrees outside!

This is also great weather to teach your children how to wash your car. They won't even notice that they are working and learning while they are having fun. Your children will also be proud that they have helped you with a chore that needed to be done.

How about washing the family pet outside? Buy the flea shampoo and teach your children how to bath the dog and they won't even make a mess in the bathroom. Your dog will also enjoy the cool water and all the attention.

Once everyone is tired, go inside and dig out the old sheets or blankets. It's time to build a fort to play in. Watch your children let their imaginations go as they create the fort and what to put in it. This can get a little messy but the fun is memorable. Your children will want to camp out in it over night. The fun will continue as long as you allow it.

Allowing your children to create and use their imagination will benefit them through out their lifetime. The childhood memories will keep you close as a family and they will carry on the traditions with their own children.

Summer Fun

Summer is a wonderful time to recall family vacation memories and create new ones. I hope you and your family made time to play together even though you may not have had the finances available to travel. Your backyard and neighborhood park can become a haven for learning and new experiences together. Learn a new hobby, ride your bike or go swimming. Your children love to play with you. It is fun for them to see their parents having fun and not consumed with work, bills, and other responsibilities.
Take your children to the library for their summer reading program. Teach your children that they can go anywhere and be anyone they want when reading a story. Write a story together or do a scrapbook together of your summer adventures.
Doing these activities together cost minimal money but they do involve your time. Time is a commodity that we can never recapture. It passes and we grow old over night. Value your youth and time. Share it with your family. It is an investment that will give you an unlimited return.
Take care and I will write again next week.
Gina

Dear Concerned Parent,

If you are reading this letter then you are most likely concerned about certain behaviors that your child or children are displaying. I am hoping that the information that I will share on this blog will be helpful for you and your family.

Children grow and develop at their own pace. They shouldn't be compared to others, but there are general developmental milestones that every child should meet. Your child's pediatrician would be your best resource in this area. As your child enters the school system you will see a large range of social and academic needs. If you see that your child is delayed in any area immediately speak to your child's teacher to get specific ideas on how to assist and support your child in the classroom. At times you may begin to see specific behaviors from your child that may concern you. It is your child's way of communicating his or her feelings. Even though the behaviors are inappropriate you will need to determine what your child is trying to express and help them resolve the concerns appropriately. This is when you will most likely need professional help. As a parent you will need to identify the following information:

Was your child exposed to any harmful substances during the pregnancy?
Is your child demonstrating any developmental delays?
Does your family have a history of divorce, domestic violence, depression, anxiety, or learning disorders?
Is your child sleeping through the night?
Does your child cry and refuse to get ready for school?
Is your child hitting, biting, or breaking his or her belongings on purpose?
Are you seeing extreme mood swings or social isolation with your child?
Does your child have difficulty completing tasks or sitting still?

Make sure your child is eating healthy foods and getting ten to twelve hours of sleep. Sit and play with your child and model appropriate social skills. If you continue seeing the negative behaviors escalate over a span of 90 days please seek a professional opinion. I would be glad to come to your home and assess your child in their own environment or observe their behaviors at school. You are also welcome to bring your child or family to my office at Family Counseling. I am located at 5002 E Central, Ste. B, Wichita, Ks. My phone number is 316-682-9723 or email me at ginalcmft@hotmail.com

I will continue to update my blog weekly to share thoughts and ideas that may help your family through difficult times. Let me know what topics would be helpful for you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Gina

Counseling with Gina

I will come back and introduce myself later.