Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a lifelong condition. After a diagnosis, families often feel upset, worry, overwhelm, or even relief. Chances are if kids are hyperactive or impulsive, others may have noticed challenges at school or daycare. Sometimes, parents worry about how hard it is to get their child to pay attention, have …
Handouts
When Divorce Happens: Stay Child-Focused
Sometimes relationships end in divorce or separation. It is one of the more common “adverse childhood experiences” that can occur over the course of a child’s lifetime. Almost 50% of all first time marriages will end in divorce within 15 years, according to the CDC . It is never an easy decision to end a …
Helping families get extra support at school for children with ADHD
Parents need to feel they can ask for help for their children when struggling in school. Children with ADHD, anxiety or depression can have challenges with relationships and school performance. Knowing how to request the extra support can be overwhelming. There are terms or abbreviations that need explanation in clear language. Families can follow a …
Tired of nagging your child to get off screens?
If you are a parent, chances are you have a love-hate relationship with screens. Especially if your child is into Fortnite, Roblox or Minecraft. Or maybe they are watching the newest toy reveal on YouTube Kids? Or watching a famous YouTuber play their favorite video game? Are you TIRED of nagging your child to get …
Fluoxetine: Medication Fact Sheet for Families
Doctors may sometimes prescribe fluoxetine for children or teens after a diagnosis of anxiety or depression. Families often have lingering questions about treatment after the visit. Having a handout or reference sheet to refer to and share with other family members can help ease stress. Anxiety and depression is a common in childhood and can …
The ABCs of Positive Parenting: Infographic & e-book journal
What exactly IS ‘positive parenting’? Positive parenting is a way of interacting with your child that includes attention to: your child’s developmental age your child’s unique needs keeping in mind your child’s strengths and what is going well understanding your child’s cues thinking about situations from your child’s point of view being mindful about your …
Escitalopram: Medication Fact Sheet
For those of you who have seen my med fact sheets for ADHD and mood disorders, this is the third installment for the selective serotonin uptake inhibitors/SSRIs. Escitalopram is also known as commonly known as Lexapro (brand name). Escitalopram is used as a second line agent for pediatric depression and anxiety. It is NOT approved …
Mood Medication Handout: Sertraline
This is the second of my new handout series: Medications and Mood: Handouts for Patient Education. This time it is for Sertraline, another Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), that is commonly used to treat anxiety and depression. In case you missed it, my prior post on Fluoxetine explored SSRIs and the Black Box Warning, check …
GUEST BLOG POST: What is Restless Leg Syndrome?
As a behavioral pediatrician I often see children who have sleep issues–whether it be taking a long time to sleep, night wakings or refusing to sleep. One of the first things I must do is to determine whether there is a medical reason for the sleep challenges or if it is purely behavioral. One of …
Teens & Depression: What Parents Can Do
On Monday, the revised two-part Guidelines for Adolescent Depression-Primary Care (GLAD-PC) were published in Pediatrics. The original guidelines were released in 2007. The guidelines reflect 10 years of additional research and evidence around what practices can do to prepare, identify and begin to manage teen depression (part I) and guidance around ongoing management (part II). …