Our psychologists have provided counselling for thousands of children, teenagers and parents in the last several years. Here are 20 things parents should know before booking any counselling sessions for a child or teenager:
Sleep
New Year Resolutions for Parents — Part 1: Supporting Childhood Mental Wellness
New Year’s Resolutions tend not to last very long…
But maybe that’s because you’re not doing them right.
This year, why not resolve to put practical, productive and achievable plans into action…
To promote mental wellbeing for your children (and yourself).
The combination of each of these small acts will help you to help your children have a prosperous year.
And happy and healthy children make for happy and healthy parents!
What Have Smart Phones Done to a Generation?
New research on teens and the effect of smartphones has been circulating around the internet…
And the findings are both surprising and somewhat disturbing.
They come from psychologist Jean M. Twenge, who has been researching generational differences for 25 years.
For the majority of her career, Twinge noted that these differences changed relatively naturally and modestly.
But in 2012, something changed.
‘I noticed abrupt shifts in teen behaviours and emotional states’, she explains.
‘In all my analyses of generational data—some reaching back to the 1930s—I had never seen anything like it.’
So what happened in 2012, to instigate such a sharp change?
The Side-Effects of Teenage Sleepiness
We all know what a bad night sleep can do to our mood and ability to function throughout the day.
But for working adults, we’re generally forced to self-motivate and get on with things, often with the help of caffeine.
For teenagers, on the other hand, sleepiness can have more ongoingly detrimental consequences at school.
10 Tips for Being a Better Parent: From a School Principal
Teachers may not be child psychologists, but they sure know kids.
Their day-to-day activities, likes and dislikes, attitudes and behaviours…
And they’ve often got good insights into where their behaviours come from.
A recent article in The Guardian revealed how teachers might sometimes understand more about your kids than you realise.
This author of the article — a school principal in the UK — has identified a number of strategies we often use in our work with children and parents.
R U OK? Signs of Depression in Children
Thursday of last week was national “R U OK?” day — a day when we are inspired to meaningfully connect with the people around us who may be struggling.
“R U OK?” aims to support people suffering from mental health issues such as depression and anxiety by increasing awareness, encouraging friends and family to reach out, and teaching ways to help and support those around us.
45% of Australians will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime, and one in seven will experience depression.
And while “R U OK?” has an emphasis on suicide prevention, it does bring up the important issue of being aware and open about mental health issues with those around us, and to take away the stigma from these increasingly common challenges.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the warning signs of depression in young people.
Is Your Child Experiencing Nightmares or Night Terrors?
Nightmares occur during the dream (Rapid Eye Movement, REM) stages of sleep, usually very late at night or in the early in the morning.
After a nightmare, a child will usually be responsive, will know who you are and be reassured or soothed back to sleep.
The child may or may not remember the content of the dream, but if you ask them about it the next morning, they’ll usually remember that they had a nightmare.