for July 2008
Resources to Build Your Toolbox of Comfort
VACATION & TRAVEL
SUMMER FUN
PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
National
Washington State
King County, Washington
Kitsap County, Washington
NURTURING OURSELVES
MEDIA
GENERAL RESOURCES
STATISTICS
Do you have a resource or a professional you wish to recommend? To better serve our readers around the world, we are actively looking for additional specialists and other sources of information. Please send your suggestions to: Elizabeth@awildride.net. Type “Resource” in the subject line.
Web sites
Special Needs Camps lists camps for a number of special needs including Aspergers, Asthma, Learning Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities.
Children’s Hospital in Seattle prepared a booklet of Summer Camps and Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs. You can download the booklet here.
Finding a Camp for Your Child with Special Needs is an excellent article on the KidsHealth web site.
Camps for Moms!
If you can afford the luxury of a getaway camp for yourself, check out these options on Camp GetAway.
Also, a night at the local Holiday Inn ain’t bad either!
Or spend the night with a girlfriend who doesn’t have children or at least has a guest room!
Resources to Build Your Toolbox of Comfort
Books:
Self-Nurture, Learning to Care For Yourself As Effectively As You Care For Everyone Else, by Alice D. Domar, Ph.D., and Henry Dreher
Shifting Gears: Access Your Best Brain by Robin Rose
Tapes and CD’s:
The Domar Center for Mind/Body Health
Offers guided relaxation and meditation tapes.
Biofeedback:
A biofeedback device to help transform stress.
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Check out these on-line resources:
This site lists many resources, including information on legal issues parenting plan worksheets, in addition to an active forum and a newsletter.
This site offers a directory of resources, a forum, articles and a live chat.
Check out Terri Mauro’s Parenting Special Needs Blog and search expectations.
You’ll find stories and strategies on all sorts of topics related to expectations.
Here’s an excellent article from Family Resources addressing the special needs of the adopted child who has difficulty with bonding and attachment. Many other special needs families can relate to the deep sadness and other emotions that this issue raises. Search for “Your Expectations about the Emotional needs of your child.”
Emotional Health is extremely important when parenting a child with special needs. Go to Emotional Intelligence to find some helpful techniques to cope with negative feelings.
Want to enhance the quality of life of
a person with autism?
Want to help maximize the potential of a person with autism?
Need practical tips and effective strategies for every day
living?
FAQautism, an outstanding resource on the Web, is designed for parents of autistic children.
Created by Cathy Knoll, MA, MT-BC, a board certified music therapist with over 30 years clinical experience with children, teens, and adults diagnosed with autism, and her husband Dwight Knoll, a technical wizard and mentor to individuals with autism, FAQAutism.com answers questions from family members, teachers, therapists, employers, medical professionals, residential staff, job coaches, and others interested in the well-being of individuals with autism.
The site’s best feature is their 5 MINUTE PODCAST. Click “Listen Now” to listen to a short audio Podcast featuring concise, practical tips that can make a lasting impact on the quality of life for autistic children and their parents.
According to the Web site for Children's Hospital Boston: "Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a hereditary condition that can cause learning and behavioral problems in both males and females. It is the most common known cause of mental impairment."
The site goes on to say: "Those with fragile X syndrome have certain physical, behavioral and intellectual characteristics seen in both males and females. Not everyone with fragile X syndrome will have all of the mentioned characteristics."
I knew a little about the condition, specifically that it is the most common cause of autism, but I was further enlightened by a mother's Blog: Fragile What!? The ongoing story of a blended family of 6 who happens to live with fragile x syndrome.
For more information on Fragile X Syndrome, FXSMom lists other resources on the site including:
Conquer Fragile X
The National
Fragile X Foundation
The Fragile X Research
Foundation
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I love how Dr. Suess captured the holiday in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. “And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more!”
Here are a few resources to help give more meaning to your gift giving.
On the Web:
Campaign for a Commercial-free childhood
For inexpensive, creative and co-friendly gift ideas go to Newdream.org
Select toys that promote positive play. Check out TRUCE’s (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment) “Toy Action Guide.”
On the Web:
National Education Association: How to Make Parent-Teacher Conferences Work for Your Child.
PTA: Making Parent–Teacher Conferences Work for Your Child
About Our Kids: Parent-Teacher Conferences: Working as a Team
On the Web:
The National Sleep Foundation: Waking America to the Importance of Sleep
The National Sleep
Foundation Sleep for Kids
U.S. Department of Health and Services National Institutes
of Health Star Sleeper for Kids: Sleep Well. Do Well.
(Features Garfield)
On PyschCentral If Your Child Has Problems, It May Due to Lack of Sleep
University of Michigan Health System Your Child: Sleep Problems
American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryChildren’s Sleep Problems
Books
Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving...or Missing Sleep? (Paperback) by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
Description reprinted below from Amazon.com
Does your child:
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Refuse to cooperate in the morning?
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Get into trouble for not listening?
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"Lose it" over seemingly insignificant issues?
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Seem to resist sleep?
An estimated 69 percent of American infants, children, and teens are sleep deprived. Studies have shown that sleep deficits can contribute to hyperactivity, distraction, forgetfulness, learning problems, illness, accidents, and disruptive behaviors. Often what our misbehaving kids really need isn't more "consequences" or more medication but more sleep.
Sleepless in America offers weary and frustrated parents a helping hand and an exciting new approach to managing challenging behaviors by integrating research on stress, sleep, and temperament with practical strategies and a five-step approach that enables parents to help their "tired and wired" children get the sleep they so desperately need.
Order now.
Books recommended on About.com: Pediatrics
Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems
By Richard Ferber, MD, Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems is one of the most popular parenting books that will help you get your child sleeping through the night. Although often thought of as the 'cry it out' approach, Dr. Ferber will teach you how to develop good sleep patterns and teach your child to fall asleep on his own and sleep through the night. Plus tips on solving other sleep problems.
Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night. This is a great book for parents who want an alternative to the Ferber method.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Children
A step-by-step program for a good night's sleep by a Pediatrician. Dr. Weissbluth will teach you how to establish good sleep habits for your child to prevent sleep problems from occurring. Includes a month-by-month guide to normal sleep patterns, including naps, and how to deal with common sleep problems.
American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Sleep : Birth Through Adolescence
By the American Academy of Pediatrics Staff, a comprehensive guide to your child's sleep, including how much sleep your child needs, fixing problems sleeping through the night, understanding fears, nightmares and sleep terrors, the importance of bedtime routines and rituals and how to solve common problems from infancy to adolescence.
Nighttime Parenting : How to Get Your Baby & Child to Sleep
By William Sears, MD, Nighttime Parenting was written to help your whole family sleep better. Includes a discussion of attachment parenting, the benefits of the family bed, co-sleeping or sharing sleep, and how to get your baby to sleep and stay asleep.
Sleep: The Brazelton Way covers everything a parent needs to know about sleep, including the first great "touchpoint" of helping the baby sleep through the night, deciding whether to start with, and weaning a child from, a "family bed," sleepwalking, nightmares, and, above all, how to help children learn how to get themselves to sleep.
Web site: AboutOurKids.org
Friends and Friendships by Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D. and Anita Gurian, Ph.D.
“Most parents recognize how important and how rewarding friendships are in the lives of children. A blueprint of how children make friends and what friendships are like at different ages will enable parents to help children through rough spots.” Site includes real-life stories.
Web site: About.com: Learning Disabilities
Top 6 Tips to Teach Social Skills and Help Them Make Friends From Ann Logsdon
“In the middle of school IEP committee meetings, academics issues are at the forefront. Whether or not social skills are ultimately included in an Individual Education Program, there are some things that can be done to help children with learning disabilities build the valuable social relationships that are so important to their self-esteem and sense of belonging. Try these tips to teach your students what they really want to learn - how to make friends.”
Web site: Family Guide (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Helping Children with ADHD Make Friends
“Having ADHD does not mean children always have poor relationships with their peers. Parents and caring adults often can help children with ADHD to make friends.” This site offers ways parents can help.
Books: It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success by Richard Lavoie (Author)
Note: I found the book, with its pages upon pages of checklists, a little daunting, but it’s still worth a read through. Just don’t let the list of to-dos overwhelm you. ~ Elizabeth
From Publisher’s Weekly: "Life without friends is a lonely and barren existence," but that's a common fate for children who fail to develop proper social skills, writes veteran special education teacher Lavoie in his insightful guidebook to helping children with learning disabilities overcome social skill deficits. Eschewing sink-or-swim and carrot-and-stick approaches, Lavoie stresses communication and patience for parents looking to guide their children through the maze of social interactions encountered daily, from arranging successful play dates and navigating the hidden curriculum of school, to language difficulties, social anxieties and family issues. Lavoie, who has taught and worked in the special education field for over 30 years, shows how to detect learning disabilities, discusses their impact on a child's social development and provides strategies (most notably his "Social Skill Autopsy") for implementing behavior change. Organized by the different types of social skills-those commonly used at home, at school and in the community-Lavoie's text is refreshingly free of jargon and is suitable for both spot- and cover-to-cover reading. Though aimed at parents of learning disabled children, this comprehensive guide will be handy for any parent whose child has trouble socializing at school or home.”
Since I view myself as the Queen of Traveling with Challenging Children, I thought it appropriate to share a few of my favorite vacation and travel websites:
About.com offers several articles on travel. Terri Mauro writes on “How to Reduce Child Turbulence on Plane Flights”.
The article suggests before flight preparations such as “picking the right seat” and “bringing stuff”. She also offers these tips:
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Don't dump all your little emergency playthings and distracters when you prepare your purse or pockets for a trip. You'll need all tools at your disposal, at every moment.
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Check with the airline before you leave to make sure you have all the ID required for every member of your party to board without delay. Chances are you'll have to wait in enough lines without that nuisance on top of it.
Terri describes the essentials in your travel bag of tricks. Visit Bag of Tricks.
Also on About.com is an entire section on Travel with Kids. where you will find ideas for family travel. Teresa Plowright writes a particularly helpful article if you are traveling with small children called How to Survive Plane Rides With Small Kids.
Take it from me, that traveling with a small challenging child on a crowded plane is probably NOT a good idea. But if you must, some of Teresa’s ideas may work for you.
NYU Child Study Center also offers some traveling tips. Dr. Richard Gallagher suggests that when parents are planning a trip that may want to:
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Consider the child’s age
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Involve the child in the planning
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Make frequent stops
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Have an eating plan (especially important, I think, for challenging children).
He offers several other ideas. To read Dr. Gallagher’s piece “Traveling with Children” go to AboutOurKids.org.
Back at About.com, there’s an excellent piece on “Traveling with Medications – What you need to know.” You will find this article on their site for Arthritis, but the suggestions apply to anyone traveling with medication.
If you are planning a trip soon, remember the words of Helen Hayes:
“When traveling with someone, take large doses of patience and tolerance with your morning coffee. “
You may also want to read the article “Taking the kids: It’s mom’s vacation too” on CNN.com.
Don’t forget to read Mary Scribner’s Strategies and to check Summer Planning on our Blog. ~ Elizabeth
MAGAZINES & OTHER PUBLICATIONS
There are parenting publications, local magazines and
newspapers devoted to families all over the country. In the
Seattle area there is Seattle’s Child, Parent Map, and
Family First. Each of these publications has a monthly
calendar of events that can help you plan activities and
outings for your family.
BOOKS
Lotions, Potions, and Slime; Mudpies; and
More and More Mudpies: 101 Alternatives to Television, by Nancy Blakey
These are great books to help eliminate summer boredom.
Check out Nancy’s website at
nancyblakey.com You can try
out some of her recipes for fun, order her books, and read
her wonderful articles on parenting.
ORGANIZATIONS
YMCA is a family-centered organization with a mission to
build strong kids, families, and communities. Local programs
may include childcare, family nights, support groups, day
and overnight camps, and more. Visit
YMCA.net to find
your local chapter.
Check out your local Parks and Recreation Departments
for classes and summer programs.
WEBSITES
NYU Child Study Center created
AboutOurKids.org,
a website with some great articles on mental health in
children and adolescents. Check out the article titled
"Summer Plans for Children with Attention Deficit
Disorders." Though written about children with ADD, it has
some great advice for selecting summer camps for all
children with challenges.
Today's Mama, headquartered in Salt Lake City, is a website
dedicated to the 21st century mama. Founders Rachael
Herrscher and Stephanie Peterson, are also the founders of
The Mama's handbooks, resource guides for mothers and
families on activities and hot spots in your area. The Utah
Mama's Handbook launched in October 2004, quickly grew to a
best seller within months. Other handbooks available are
D.C., Houston, Nevada, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Seattle, and
Spokane. Visit todaysmama.com for more great
information.
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NURTURING OURSELVES
When it comes to resources for self-care, no one is better
informed than A Wild Ride co-author Mary
Scribner. Here are some of her suggestions:
BOOKS
Self-Nurture, Learning to Care for Yourself As
Effectively As You Care for Everyone Else by Alice
Dl Domar, PH.D. and Henry Dreher
Domar’s book “is a yearlong stress manager for women. It
offers specific guidance for handling the stresses that
plague you,” offering exercise and methods that give you
greater awareness and self-care from one season to the next.
She “offers this book as a balm for today’s overextended,
underappreciated, self-esteem-challenged women.” Sign me
up!!
The Joy Diet, 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life
by Martha Beck.
Martha Beck is a life coach who writes a monthly column for
O. The Oprah Magazine. She wrote a wonderful
memoir detailing the tender story of life with her son who
has Downs Syndrome in Expecting Adam. I expect no less than
deep wisdom and solid humor from Beck as she helps the
reader to navigate life’s emergencies.
The World According to Mister Rogers, Important Things
to Remember by Fred Rogers.
One of my all time heros. Fred Rogers brought solid consistency and
predictability to my chaotic world. He lived and spoke of
the values and wisdom of friendship, respect, honesty, and
more. Reading this little book helps me to reconnect with
what’s really important in my life and redirects my anxiety
to once again feeling grounded and secure. Try it!
Nonviolent Communication, A
Language of Compassion by Marshall B. Rosenberg,
Ph.D.
This book will improve the quality of your personal and
professional relationships. Marshall will give you
tools to use for yourself and/or with others. He reminds us
of compassion and empathy and helps us to reconnect us to
our inner wisdom. The tools of observation, feeling,
needs, and requests are very effective.
A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlin
This is truly a short book about slowing down, living deeply
every day from our own unique selves.
Websites
www.robinrose.com
Robin puts out a StayWell newsletter. She has
some great ideas on dealing with everyday stress.
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MEDIA
The American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org/healthtopics/mediause.cfm The AAP has been very active in publishing research on the effects of media. Go to their website for information on the media’s impact on children, ideas on establishing guidelines for media use, rating systems, and general education on media.
Entertainment Software Rating Board www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp The board rates age-based categories and overall content of video and computer games. This is a non-profit, self-regulatory arm of the Entertainment Software Industry, so you’ll still need to do more homework than just take their word for it.
The Center for Media Literacy www.medialit.org The Center designs and supports media literacy implementation by helping youth develop critical thinking skills and understand messages imbedded in our media. You’ll find tools on how to help your children feel empowered over these messages.
Turn Off Your TV Week www.tvturnoff.org This non-profit group encourages and inspires families to turn off their TV and turn on life. They work to educate families about the negative impact of excessive TV watching. This year’s "Turn Off Your TV Week" is April 23rd-29th. This site has fact sheets, information, kits, and strategies to help you turn off the TV.
Commercial Free Childhood www.commercialexploitation.org This national coalition of concerned professionals and parents work to counter the harmful effects of marketing to children. This site informs readers of various corporate marketing ploys aimed at our children.
Books and Magazines
Parenting Well in a Media Age, Keeping Our Kids Human by Gloria DeGaetano. This author articulates the challenges of parenting in an “industry-generated culture” and how to remedy this by reflecting and acting on a family’s “essential” needs. She suggests and offers tools to reclaim your parenting identity and to move toward a personally-generated culture.
Endangered Minds by Jane Healy.
Screen Smarts: A Family Guide to Media Literacy by Gloria DeGaetano and Kathleen Bander.
“Adbusters: Journal of the mental Environment” published by The Media Foundation in Vancouver, B.C. Read this provocative, fun magazine about our advertising/image-deluged culture.
Parent Coaching: Some days I just long to have a conversation with someone who “gets it”.
Someone who could help me sift through all of the unique and complex factors that affect my child. A guide, a collaborator, someone who would help me make sense of it all. An advocate who could help me put life in perspective as I (once again) highlight 20 recommendations in the latest best seller on having a more resilient, cooperative child in 30 days. I need a cheering squad who champions my cause and strengthens my resolve to continue supporting my child to develop his capacity. I need this for myself and wish to offer this kind of support to others. - Mary
For more information on Parent coaching visit: www.SoundParent.com/
Jackie Kelm is a mom, author, and consultant whose web site offers tools and inspiration based on the concepts of Appreciative Inquiry, a positive approach to change. Check out her site at: www.appreciativeliving.com/
WASHINGTON STATE
The Fathers Network provides current information and
resources to assist all families and care providers involved
in the lives of children with special needs. This
information is up-to-date, helpful, and designed to promote
the resilience of all family members. We have award winning
monographs, videos, newsletters, and curriculum available
upon request. Visit our Links about Families, Fathers,
Disabilities, Health Care, and Legal Issues. Learn about the
remarkable work of the Washington State Fathers Network, and
our fifteen statewide programs which provide powerful,
positive support and fellowship.
Developmentalweb.com is a comprehensive listing of Seattle and King County special education and developmental resources for parents with children who have delays in development or learning disabilities. It lists tons of resources for speech and language therapy, PT/OTs, sensory integration, schools, private practitioners and support groups and listservs. Check out the website for more information: www.developmentalweb.com/
Catherine Whiting, a pediatric occupational therapist for over 24 years, works on Bainbridge Island, Washington. She defines pediatric occupational therapy as a medical profession which uses therapeutic purposeful activities to help children function better physically, emotionally, academically, and socially in their daily activities. Services may include:
- Conducting an assessment to determine strength/needs,
- Collaborating with teachers, families, and community team members on environmental and material adaptations,
- Developing strategies to enhance performance, and
- Providing individualized client interventions.
As an occupational therapist, Catherine takes a holistic view of the child and uses an extensive variety of strategies to meet a child’s individual’s needs. Check out her website for more information: www.CatherineWhiting.com .
Dr. Rutberg-Self is a licensed psychologist who works with children, adolescents, and young adults. Her services include assessment and evaluation of learning disorders and behavioral problems, counseling, and school consultation. Her website explains her services, resources on learning disabilities, support groups, and parenting articles from the University of Washington Parenting Clinic. Check it out. www.islandedpsy.com
BOOKS
When it comes to nighttime reading, I prefer mystery books to self-help, but I have been known to flip through parenting books in order to find answers and information about my son’s many challenges. Some of the books I read are recommended by other moms, some by doctors and therapists. Generally, these books offer a useful suggestion or two but I often feel overwhelmed when the suggestions go on for chapters without acknowledging that a mother could only implement a small percentage of the recommendations. Especially if she has other children to take care of, a job, a home, a marriage – a life! Here we present a few of my favorite resources. These are books, magazines, and websites that offered me more than one “aha” moments as I read the material. Come back to this site often. We’ll provide the favorites of other mothers and reviews of the latest books and information related to parenting challenging children. -- Elizabeth
Tess recommends:
Creating Capacity for Attachment:
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy in the Treatment of
Trauma-Attachment Disorders (Paperback)
by
Deborah Shell,
Art Becker-Weidman
A comprehensive book about Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy--a gentle, holistic, therapeutic approach designed to resolve trauma in children who have experienced abuse, neglect, loss, or other extreme challenges to primary relationships. From Amazon.com
Dr. Mel Levine’s A Mind at a Time. Loaded with reasons why a child has difficulty learning. Dr. Levine, founder of All Kinds of Minds Institute, describes the plight of even the average child who is “expected to shine in math, reading, writing, speaking, spelling, memorization, comprehension, problem solving, socialization, athletics, and following verbal directions.”
At times, I found this book almost “textbook” in its format. The first two chapters lay the foundation for understanding Dr. Levine’s thesis: “Many children struggle because their learning patterns don’t fit the schools they are in.” To explain why our children find learning so difficult, Dr. Levine describes the Eight Neurodevelopmental Profiles. The name intimidated me but after reading his explanations, I understood the basic ideas behind each profile and moved on to my favorite part of each chapter: the Practical Considerations. These dot points offered insightful suggestions for both parents and teachers as they support a child in school. Don’t let the sheer number of considerations overwhelm you. Pick one (or maybe two) to try. I have come to believe that Dr. Levine understands our children so well that he provides pages and pages of Practical Considerations, not because he expects us to attempt each one, but rather to offer us as many opportunities to succeed as there are options to consider.
MAGAZINES
Brain, Child. This self-proclaimed magazine for “thinking mothers” turns ordinary mothering issues into literary marvels. Printed quarterly, Brain, Child is not a typical parenting magazine; rather it offers essays, features, humor, reviews, art, cartoons, and readers’ own stories, leaving recipes and parenting tips to the more traditional parenting publications. Funny, poignant, always thought-provoking, recent articles include a debate on child-free public spaces, a feature on the subject of mean teenage girls, and a discussion on falling birthrates. The final piece, called “Motherwit,” is always good for a bit of comic relief. For more information, visit their website at Brain, Child Magazine.
 | Touchpoints: Your Child's Emotional and Behavioral Development, Birth to 3 -- The Essential Reference for the Early Years by T. Berry Brazelton |
 | Ready or Not, Here Life Comes by Mel Levine |
 | Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka |
 | The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, Revised Edition by Carol Stock Kranowitz, Lucy Jane Miller |
WEBSITES
www.yesyourteeniscrazy.com/. Mary Scribner, one of my co-authors, recommends this particular website by Dr. Mike Bradley, author of Yes, Your Teen is Crazy and Yes, Your Parents are Crazy because of the parenting forums it offers. Dr. Bradley is a licensed psychologist who specializes in adolescent behavior. Appearing on The Today Show, CNN News Tonight, Pure Oxygen, and National Public Radio, Dr. Bradley shares his views on successfully raising a teenager who by simple definition is more often than not a challenging child. The topics in the parent forums or chat rooms include teen rage, drugs and alcohol, single parenting, and praising your teen. As a parent of an adopted child whose first year of life was “horrific” and who struggled within her new family situation during her second year, Dr. Bradley is ranked among the experts who understand the challenging child from the outside in.
Knowing that I am not the only parent of a challenging child is often as comforting as knowing my son’s issues are not all my fault. Statistics sometimes offer me this perspective and generally, they provide an opportunity to understand my son better. I present the information below merely as reassurance that you are in good company! -- Elizabeth
The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/
According to results of a parent survey included in America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2005, written by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, five percent of children 4 to 17 years olds (an estimated 3.65 million children) were reported by a parent “to suffer from definite or severe emotional or behavioral difficulties, problems that may interfere with their family life, their ability to learn, and their formation of friendships. These difficulties may persist throughout a child’s development and lead to lifelong disability, including more serious illness, or difficult to treat illness, and co-occurring mental illnesses.”
American Psychiatric Association
http://healthyminds.org/adhdfacts.cfm
“Nearly eight million children in the US suffer from mental disorders, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the more prevalent. In fact, it is the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition in American children today. According to the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, ADHD afflicts between 3% and 5% of school-age children in any six-month period.” American Psychiatric Association
http://www.healthyminds.org/multimedia/
commonchildhooddisorders.pdf
“As many as one in ten children between ages six and twelve experience persistent feelings of sadness – the hallmark of depression.”
Medical Journal of Australia
http://www.mja.com.au/public/mentalhealth/
articles/tonge/tonge.html
“Worldwide, the prevalence of clinically significant psychiatric disorder in children is at least 7%. This rate rises in socially disadvantaged and densely populated urban areas. It also increases by 3%-4% after puberty. Childhood psychopathology presents as:
- Disturbed or antisocial behaviour (externalising disorders) -- prevalence 3%-5%
- Troubled emotions and feelings (internalising disorders) -- prevalence 2%-5%
- A mixture of psychological problems and physical illness (somatoform disorders) -- prevalence 1%-3%
- More rarely as childhood psychosis or pervasive developmental (autism spectrum) disorders -- prevalence about 0.1%.
Boys are two or three times more likely than girls to be affected by disturbed and antisocial behaviour. The ratio is more equal for emotional disturbances. There are more girls than boys affected by depression and anorexia nervosa. Children with intellectual disability and those with chronic physical illness that involves the brain have a significantly increased risk of developing a range of emotional and behavioural problems.”
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolarupdate.cfm
“Findings from an NIMH-supported study suggest that the illness [bipolar disorder] may be at least as common among youth as among adults. In this study, one percent of adolescents ages 14 to 18 were found to have met criteria for bipolar disorder or cyclothymia, a similar but milder illness, in their lifetime. In addition, close to six percent of adolescents in the study had experienced a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood even though they never met full criteria for bipolar disorder or cyclothymia. Compared to adolescents with a history of major depressive disorder and to a never-mentally-ill group, both the teens with bipolar disorder and those with subclinical symptoms had greater functional impairment and higher rates of co-occurring illnesses (especially anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders), suicide attempts, and mental health services utilization. The study highlights the need for improved recognition, treatment, and prevention of even the milder and subclinical cases of bipolar disorder in adolescence.”
It’s summer. What will I do all day long with my challenging child?
