Pediatric Mental Health Blog

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Family Dinner Guide
Adolescent, Behavior Management, Child Therapy, Counseling, Discipline, Mental Health, Family Dinner, Family Therapy, Parents Katherine Milani Adolescent, Behavior Management, Child Therapy, Counseling, Discipline, Mental Health, Family Dinner, Family Therapy, Parents Katherine Milani

Family Dinner Guide

Gathering for family meals has documented benefits for the mental and physical health of children. Meal planning is out of our scope of practice, but we do have tips and resources to help make family dinners feel more meaningful and connected.

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Best Fidget Toys for Kids
ADHD, Adolescent, Anxiety, ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Behavior Management, Child Therapy, Play Based Learning, Coping Skills, Counseling, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Mental Health, School Counselors, Therapeutic Activities, Therapists, Psychotherapy, Fidget Toys, Sensory Processing Disorders, Classroom Accommodations Katherine Milani ADHD, Adolescent, Anxiety, ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Behavior Management, Child Therapy, Play Based Learning, Coping Skills, Counseling, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Mental Health, School Counselors, Therapeutic Activities, Therapists, Psychotherapy, Fidget Toys, Sensory Processing Disorders, Classroom Accommodations Katherine Milani

Best Fidget Toys for Kids

Fidget toys can relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and channel excess energy to support productive habits. Fidget toys are particularly beneficial for children (or adults!) with neurodivergent brains (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorders, etc.) because they provide a physical sensory outlet for suppressed energy.

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite fidget toys that help kids engage in therapy (also great for long commutes, waiting rooms, or quiet time)!

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Children’s Books About Grief
Anxiety, Play Based Learning, Bibliotherapy, Narrative Therapy, Grief, Loss, Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Counseling, Child Therapy, Early Childhood Education, Psychotherapy Katherine Milani Anxiety, Play Based Learning, Bibliotherapy, Narrative Therapy, Grief, Loss, Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Counseling, Child Therapy, Early Childhood Education, Psychotherapy Katherine Milani

Children’s Books About Grief

Grief and loss are complex emotions that children (and adults) often struggle to comprehend and express. Picture books can serve as gentle and compassionate guides to help kids navigate the emotions and challenges associated with losing a loved one or going through a hardship. Read on for our recommended children’s books about grief.

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Child Therapist Tips: Building Rapport
Mental Health, Behavior Management, School Counselors, Counseling, Therapeutic Activities, Child Therapy, Therapists, Social Workers, Parents Katherine Milani Mental Health, Behavior Management, School Counselors, Counseling, Therapeutic Activities, Child Therapy, Therapists, Social Workers, Parents Katherine Milani

Child Therapist Tips: Building Rapport

Rapport is the foundation of effective therapy because it represents trust, respect, and positive regard. When a therapist thoughtfully establishes this connection, a child is more likely to open up, express emotions, and securely engage in the therapeutic process to facilitate healing and growth.

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Therapeutic Activities with Play-Doh
Activities, Art Therapy, Behavior Management, Play Based Learning, Child Therapy, Coping Skills, Early Childhood Education, Mindfulness, Sensory Processing Disorders, Play Therapy, Preschool, School Counselors, Therapeutic Activities, Science Experiement Katherine Milani Activities, Art Therapy, Behavior Management, Play Based Learning, Child Therapy, Coping Skills, Early Childhood Education, Mindfulness, Sensory Processing Disorders, Play Therapy, Preschool, School Counselors, Therapeutic Activities, Science Experiement Katherine Milani

Therapeutic Activities with Play-Doh

Modeling dough (like Play-Doh) can be used as a tactile sensory tool for exploring therapeutic concepts with kids. Read on for 5 of our favorite dough activities to help kids relieve stress, exercise emotional literacy, practice coping skills, and resolve conflict.

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Behavior Management Tools & Tips
Child Therapy, Coping Skills, Discipline, Early Childhood Education, Reinforcement, Parenting Styles, Behavior Management, Parents, Therapists Katherine Milani Child Therapy, Coping Skills, Discipline, Early Childhood Education, Reinforcement, Parenting Styles, Behavior Management, Parents, Therapists Katherine Milani

Behavior Management Tools & Tips

Every kid is different and we have to tailor behavior management plans to their individual needs and abilities. Read on for practical guidelines for a balanced approach to behavior management.

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10 Hands-On Therapeutic Activities for Kids
Activities, Anxiety, Play Based Learning, Child Therapy, Early Childhood Education, Education, Coping Skills, Infographics, Mindfulness, Science Experiement, Play Therapy, Therapeutic Activities Katherine Milani Activities, Anxiety, Play Based Learning, Child Therapy, Early Childhood Education, Education, Coping Skills, Infographics, Mindfulness, Science Experiement, Play Therapy, Therapeutic Activities Katherine Milani

10 Hands-On Therapeutic Activities for Kids

From a therapeutic perspective, interventions that utilize hand-on learning techniques can lead to increased interest, motivation, engagement, and progress! Here we have collected 10 of our favorite hands-on therapeutic activities to help kids develop emotional literacy, build self-esteem, practice coping skills, manage behavior, and recognize values.

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Sensory Processing Disorders
ADHD, Anxiety, Child Therapy, Early Childhood Education, Education, Coping Skills, Infographics, School Counselors, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, Sensory Processing Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders Katherine Milani ADHD, Anxiety, Child Therapy, Early Childhood Education, Education, Coping Skills, Infographics, School Counselors, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, Sensory Processing Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders Katherine Milani

Sensory Processing Disorders

Children with sensory issues may struggle with textures, loud noises, crowds, food preferences, etc. These sensitivities are often seen in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but they can also appear in otherwise typically developing children. Understanding and supporting a child’s unique sensory needs can help them feel more comfortable and engaged in their environment. Read on for more information and free printable resources.

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Alphabet Feelings
Activities, Child Therapy, Coping Skills, Early Childhood Education, Education, School Counselors Katherine Milani Activities, Child Therapy, Coping Skills, Early Childhood Education, Education, School Counselors Katherine Milani

Alphabet Feelings

"Alphabet Feelings" provide a framework for adults to help kids to systematically explore different emotions, scenarios, and coping skills. Print this FREE resource and check out our other recommended ways to exercise social and emotional learning.

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Bibliotherapy for Anxiety
Anxiety, Child Therapy, Parents, Therapists, Play Therapy, Play Based Learning, School Counselors, Preschool, Bibliotherapy Katherine Milani Anxiety, Child Therapy, Parents, Therapists, Play Therapy, Play Based Learning, School Counselors, Preschool, Bibliotherapy Katherine Milani

Bibliotherapy for Anxiety

One of the best ways to tame childhood anxiety is to demystify it. Explore the feelings, triggers, behaviors, and outcomes of anxiety through targeted story books and conversation, or bibliotherapy. Learn more and explore our recommended children’s books about anxiety.

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Quiet Coping Skills
Child Therapy, Therapists, School Counselors, Teachers, Parents, Play Therapy, Mindfulness, Infographics, Coping Skills Katherine Milani Child Therapy, Therapists, School Counselors, Teachers, Parents, Play Therapy, Mindfulness, Infographics, Coping Skills Katherine Milani

Quiet Coping Skills

Quiet Coping Skills are subtle but effective ways to privately regulate emotions without attracting scrutiny from others. These techniques aim to interrupt overwhelming feelings by focusing on specific physical tasks and simple mantras.

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Childhood Perfectionism
Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Child Therapy, Infographics, Therapists, ADHD, OCD Katherine Milani Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Child Therapy, Infographics, Therapists, ADHD, OCD Katherine Milani

Childhood Perfectionism

A perfectionist aims for the ideal version of a pursuit and has disproportionate feelings of disappointment if they fail to reach their goal. Perfectionism can have many roots, but it is generally tied to a person’s perception of their self-worth.

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Art Therapy with Kids: Ideas
Parents, Therapists, Child Therapy, Art Therapy Katherine Milani Parents, Therapists, Child Therapy, Art Therapy Katherine Milani

Art Therapy with Kids: Ideas

Art therapy empowers children to develop coping skills, build self-esteem, and find healing by using creativity as a means to communicate thoughts and emotions that words alone cannot express. Explore our art therapy prompts, ideas, and activities, and check out our recommended materials for art therapy with kids!

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Five Kinds of Productive Play
Play Therapy, Parents Katherine Milani Play Therapy, Parents Katherine Milani

Five Kinds of Productive Play

Play contributes to the physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being of children. It enhances motor skills, stimulates creativity, and cultivates social intelligence through interactions with peers. Play also serves as a natural learning platform, helping kids understand the world around them. Learn about five kinds of productive play and explore toys that support each kind.

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6 Types of Child Therapy
Child Therapy, Infographics Katherine Milani Child Therapy, Infographics Katherine Milani

6 Types of Child Therapy

Understanding what type of therapy is best for your child can be overwhelming. This comprehensible post breaks down 6 common modalities used by child therapists: play therapy, family therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Once you understand what might be the best fit for you child, you can search for an appropriate licensed child therapist near you!

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