Children
Children sometimes need psychological help, just like adults do. Treatment typically begins when parents, teachers or school counselors notice that children aren’t functioning as well as they could. Psychologists can help children cope with such problems as anxiety and depression, hyperactivity, conflicts with parents and stressful events like divorce or a parent’s death.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
What You Can Do
- Changing Diet and Exercise for Kids
When it comes to establishing healthy habits, you can teach children how to Act Boldly to Change Diet and Exercise (A.B.C.D.E.)
- Facing the School Dropout Dilemma
This article seeks to complement and supplement the APA resolution on school dropout prevention with data from more recent research on child development, early childhood education, and social and emotional learning that helps to define the school dropout dilemma.
- Confronting childhood obesity
Tips and resources for parents about helping their children make better decisions about what they eat to prevent childhood obesity.
- Summer camp blues
Parents can play a big role in helping kids overcome feelings of homesickness at summer camp.
- Children
A collection of research studies with a real-world applications, designed to help children cope with such problems as depression, hyperactivity, conflicts with parents, and stressful events like bullying and suicide.
Getting Help
- Find a Psychologist
- What Parents Should Know About Treatment of Behavioral And Emotional Disorders in Preschool Children
An overview of important factors in diagnosing and treating behavioral and emotional disorders in young children, particularly from the perspective of the parents of such children.
News
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Big sibling's big influence: Some behaviors run in the family
April 29, 2013, NPR
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How 'disease' label in kids affects treatment
April 1, 2013, Fox News
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More children with sleep problems seek overnight tests
March 25, 2013, The Wall Street Journal
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Child health experts in favor of same-sex marriage
March 21, 2013, WebMD
Monitor on Psychology Articles
- Vulnerable patients
March 2013
- Pretend play may not drive child development as much as once thought
December 2012
- Daily temper tantrums aren't normal for preschoolers
November 2012
- Bringing books to life
October 2012
- Children today are more imaginative than in the 1980s, study suggests
September 2012
- Supporting every child's right to a healthy future
May 2012
Books
- How to Find Mental Health Care for Your Child
September 2010
- Emotions, Aggression, and Morality in Children
April 2010
- Grief in Childhood
April 2010
- Child Development at the Intersection of Emotion and Cognition
November 2009
APA Offices and Programs
- Children, Youth and Families
The Children, Youth and Families Office supports the work of the APA Committee on Children, Youth and Families and serves as liaison with other APA divisions, related organizations, state associations and federal agencies.
- Children's Mental Health
Mental health -- an essential part of children's overall health -- has a complex interactive relationship with their physical health and their ability to succeed in school, at work, and in society.
