Blog: News And Resources

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Fight human trafficking: Learn the warning signs February 1, 2021 | Posted by: Lauren Book @ https://laurenskids.org Too many people still believe human trafficking exists in faraway places, on the other side of the world, in communities that look very different than their own. In actuality, this scourge is spreading in our own backyards. Men, women and children are being sold for sex, servitude and forced labor in every single community, in every state — but especially ours.

CYBERFLASHING - What is it and How you protect your kids from it! Cyber flashing is the unsolicited sending of sexually explicit images or videos to a device, often via AirDrop, Bluetooth, or messaging apps. Educate kids by setting AirDrop to "Contacts Only," encouraging them to tell a trusted adult if they receive something uncomfortable, and teaching them that online boundaries and consent are just as important as in-person ones. How to Educate Your Kids Open the Dialogue:

How to Help Teenagers Get More Sleep Article provided by Child Mind Institute @ childmind.org It's not easy, but parents still have the power to encourage good sleep habits Writer: Juliann Garey Clinical Experts: Allison Baker, MD , Mary A. Carskadon, PhD , Max Van Gilder, MD What You'll Learn How much sleep do teenagers need? What gets in the way of sleep for teenagers? What kind of limits can parents set to help teens get more sleep? What kind of little changes will help

Side Effects of ADHD Medication Article provided by Child Mind Institute @ https://childmind.org/ Side Effects of ADHD Medication What to look for, and how to handle them Writer:  Roy Boorady, MD Clinical Expert:  Roy Boorady, MD en Español Key Takeaways Common ADHD medication side effects include sleep problems, reduced appetite, slower growth, headaches, and irritability when medication wears off. When side effects are severe it may indicate the wrong dose, or timing. Most

Article provided by: Child Mind Institute @ https://childmind.org/ ADHD and Sleep Issues Why they’re common and what we can do to help Writer:  Juliann Garey Clinical Expert:  William Benson, PsyD   Key Takeaways Sleep issues are extremely common in kids with ADHD — difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up easily — and can make daytime symptoms worse. ADHD makes it harder for kids to notice cues that they’re tired, stop stimulating activities, and settle their

Triple P – Positive Parenting Program Triple P – Positive Parenting Program®  (often called Triple P) is a widely recognized, evidence-based parenting and family support system developed by Professor Matt Sanders and colleagues at the University of Queensland, Australia, starting in the late 1970s/early 1980s. It has been refined over more than 35 years and is now one of the most extensively researched parenting programs globally, implemented in over 30 countries and translat

Safe Care is important for kids and preventing verbal abuse in kids Safe Care is important for kids and preventing verbal abuse in kids SafeCare  is an evidence-based, in-home parenting program specifically designed to prevent child neglect and physical abuse, particularly among families with young children. Developed in the early 1990s (with roots back to 1979 in some forms), it is managed and researched through the National SafeCare Training and Research Center  at Georgia

PLEASE STOP! Key Prevention Strategies for Parents and Caregivers These practical steps help adults communicate constructively and avoid harmful language like yelling, name-calling, threats, ridicule, or humiliation. Pause and self-regulate before speaking or disciplining : Never discipline in anger. Take a "time-out" for yourself—step away, breathe, or walk briefly to calm down. This prevents reactive harsh words and models emotional control for the child. Use positive, nurt

PLEASE DON'T YELL AT ME What is Verbal Abuse on Children? Verbal abuse, also known as emotional or psychological abuse, involves the use of words to harm, control, humiliate, or demean a child. This can include name-calling, yelling, swearing, threats, ridicule, rejection, withholding affection, or manipulation. It differs from constructive criticism or discipline, as it is chronic and intended to belittle or intimidate, often leaving no visible marks but causing deep emotion

Don't wait to protect your family. HELP YOUR TEENS BE SAFE ONLINE National Online Safety Day! Don't wait to protect your family. With 95% of teens having access to smartphones and online predators increasingly using social media and gaming platforms to target victims, digital safety has never been more critical. Our FREE Online Safety Course teaches parents and teens how to spot online predators, recognize exploitation, and build lasting digital safety habits. This 4-part tra

WHY EVERY PARENT SHOULD WORRY ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING Article Provided By Lauren Book The truth about human trafficking every parent needs to hear. Human trafficking isn’t something that happens “somewhere else.” It’s happening right now — in our communities and increasingly online. In a powerful new Newsweek  op-ed published during Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Lauren’s Kids Founder & CEO Lauren Book sounds the alarm on a crisis hiding in plain sight — and why every p

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS STARTS WITH YOU! Information provided by LAUREN'S KIDS https://laurenskids.org/ Human trafficking isn’t just a distant problem; it’s happening in our communities. Florida ranks third in the nation, with victims exploited for sex, labor, and servitude. Know the warning signs: * Unbalanced relationships with lavish gifts *Frequent runaways or staying with non-guardians *Overly close online-only connections *Signs of abuse or “too good to be true”

Eating & Eating Disorders Information provided by: Childmind.org Eating & Eating Disorders Explore our resources for eating disorders in children to learn about types of eating disorders and how to recognize the most common signs. Resources for Eating Disorders in Children When most people think of an eating disorder, what comes to mind is a painfully thin young woman who eats almost nothing. But not everyone with an eating disorder appears underweight, and not all are women.

Bed Wetting can be a sign of child abuse. Yes, new or returning bedwetting ( enuresis ) in a previously toilet-trained child can be a sign of abuse (physical or sexual) , but it's also common due to stress, medical issues like UTIs, or genetics, so it requires investigation by a doctor to rule out other causes before assuming abuse. It's a regression to earlier behaviors often seen with trauma, but needs context with other signs like unexplained injuries, fear, or behavioral

How to Help Kids Stop Bedwetting Accidents can be a sign of the disorder enuresis Article provided by: Childmind.org Although wetting the bed or having accidents during the day isn’t uncommon for young children, it can still cause a lot of shame and frustration, particularly when kids don’t seem to be growing out of it, or are regressing back into the behavior. When the problem persists after their fifth birthday, it can be a sign of a disorder called enuresis . Enuresis is c

Helping College Kids With Depression What to watch for and who can help. Article provided by: Child Mind Institute @ childmind.org oing to college is an exciting time in the lives of young people, but for some students depression gets in the way. Whether it’s their first brush with the disorder or not, college can act as a catalyst for the onset of depression in many young people, and, on their own for the first time, the timing couldn’t be worse. Roy Boorady, MD, a child an

My 11-month-old likes to play with her hair, and even pulls it. Is this trichotillomania? Article provided by Child Mind Institute @ childmind.org Question My baby girl is 11 months old, and when she is going to sleep in my arms she likes to play with her fingers with her hair or my hair, and continues playing until she starts to pull it. I'm afraid about trichotillomania because my family has a history of psychiatric illness (mom with depressive disorder, sister with schizop

What Is Excoriation, or Skin Picking? When kids, usually teens, can't stop picking at skin or cuticles - Article provided by: Child Mind Institute @ childmind.org We’ve all heard suspenseful movies referred to as “nail-biters” and nearly all of us — kids, teens and adults — occasionally pick at a ragged hangnail or poke at a blemish too aggressively. Almost always, we end up regretting what we’ve done. But for some of us, picking at skin or cuticles becomes more than an occa

Complete Guide to Substance Use + Mental Health When children are struggling with both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder, they are said to have co-occurring disorders. Here are steps to making informed decisions about evaluation and treatment. Information provided by Child Mind Institute @ childmind.org You’ve noticed your teen is increasingly moody and anxious. Is this a sign of a mental health disorder? Or substance use? Or could it be both? What might b