Do You Think My Child Has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?

CME WebsitesBehavior, Challenging Behavior

Do you think he has ADHD? As an early intervention therapist this is a question I get asked by parents with children as young as 16 months of age. It is important to know that ADHD should never be diagnosed in children younger than age 4, and between ages 5-18 is when most children will receive an ADHD diagnosis providing …

7 Parenting Tips on Building Self-Esteem and Self-Reliance in Young Children

CME WebsitesBuilding Independence, Building Self Confidence

Give Choices: We all feel more in control when we are given a choice and not forced to do something. Making choices gives children a sense of power, creates responsibility and allows them to learn from circumstances. For example, your child protests when you tell her to wear a hat on a cold day. She chooses not to wear a …

Tips To Deal With A Screaming Toddler

CME WebsitesBehavior, Challenging Behavior

Toddlers love to hear the sound of their own voices. And yes, as annoying at it is, toddlers love to shriek-often at the top of their little lungs! Often in public places like grocery stores and restaurants, much to their parent’s dismay. Toddlers may scream for a variety of reasons. Some kids just get louder and squeal because they are …

when kids say bad words

What To Do When Little Kids Say “Bad” Words

Tamara GuoBehavior, Challenging Behavior

The first time that your toddler uttered a swear word, it undoubtedly caught everyone by surprise and might have even made people laugh. Why do little kids say bad words? Because they often get a BIG reaction (be it positive or negative) from the big people in their lives.  They may have heard an older sibling say a swear word, …

selective mutism

Language Delay or Selective Mutism?

Katie BlauthBehavior, Child Development, Expected Behavior by Age

This question comes up very often when a child seems to understand everything you tell her, yet she isn’t talking.  Many parents report that they feel that their child is able to talk, but is refusing to do so. Selective Mutism Characteristics of selective mutism are described by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association as: consistent failure to speak in specific …

toddler hitting

Why is My Toddler Hitting?

Stephanie SaikalyBehavior, Challenging Behavior

We have heard it before: My toddler just started hitting!  Rest assured, you are not alone if this is something you have encountered.  It is often a “phase” that toddlers may experiment with during interactions or play.  However, for some children it could require further investigation as to what may be the cause of this behavior and how to prevent …

preventing tantrums

Preventing Tantrums at the Store

Stephanie SaikalyBehavior, Challenging Behavior, Errands, Parent Routines

You are perusing the aisles at Target (or insert the name of your favorite store) and you hear a child screaming for a candy bar at the checkout counter. Now, what if the above-described child is YOUR child?  This is when we need to consider intervention strategies. How can we avoid that embarrassing supermarket meltdown from happening in the first …

sensory issues or temperament

Child Behaviors: Are They Due to Sensory Issues or Temperament?

CME WebsitesBehavior, Child Development, Expected Behavior by Age

As a mother, therapist, friend, and neighbor, I hear people say all the time, “Oh he/she is the best baby…he/she never cries, fusses, puts anything in his/her mouth, and can sleep through a train driving through our house.” Or I may hear the opposite, “He/she will only sleep if it is totally silent, cries all the time, and never seems …