Pediatric Mental Health Blog

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Art Therapy: Emotion Storms
Activities, Adolescent, Anxiety, Art Therapy, Child Therapy, Coping Skills, Counseling, Family Therapy, Grief, Early Childhood Education, Mental Health, Mindfulness, School Counselors, Therapeutic Activities, Parents, Therapists, Psychotherapy Katherine Milani Activities, Adolescent, Anxiety, Art Therapy, Child Therapy, Coping Skills, Counseling, Family Therapy, Grief, Early Childhood Education, Mental Health, Mindfulness, School Counselors, Therapeutic Activities, Parents, Therapists, Psychotherapy Katherine Milani

Art Therapy: Emotion Storms

Looking at a storm through a window allows us to see what’s happening while staying safe inside. In a similar way, this therapeutic art activity gives kids an opportunity to conceptualize, visualize, and explore different emotions from a safe distance. Read on to learn how to do it!

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Play Therapy: Cooperative Play
Play Based Learning, Play Therapy, Preschool, Teachers, Parents, School Counselors, Social Workers, Therapists, Family Therapy Katherine Milani Play Based Learning, Play Therapy, Preschool, Teachers, Parents, School Counselors, Social Workers, Therapists, Family Therapy Katherine Milani

Play Therapy: Cooperative Play

Cooperative play is a form of play that requires working together towards a common goal. It often involves teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. This type of play encourages collaboration and helps kids develop social skills as they learn to negotiate roles, share ideas, and support one another through collective effort.

In play therapy, the act of working together in a safe environment allows children to develop a sense of belonging and confidence, which can enhance emotional resilience and overall well-being.

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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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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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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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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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3 Empathy-Building Activities for Kids
Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Therapists, Child Therapy Katherine Milani Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Therapists, Child Therapy Katherine Milani

3 Empathy-Building Activities for Kids

By regularly practicing empathy, children learn to recognize unique perspectives and exercise compassion for themselves and others. Empathy allows kids to navigate difficult situations, support others (and themselves) in need, and recover from setbacks. Empathy is a key component of resilience and a growth mindset—learn how to nurture it through 3 simple activities!

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Parenting Styles: Explained
Parents, Child Therapy, Therapists, Parenting Styles, Discipline, Infographics Katherine Milani Parents, Child Therapy, Therapists, Parenting Styles, Discipline, Infographics Katherine Milani

Parenting Styles: Explained

Parenting styles are often categorized into four main types based on the work of psychologist Diana Baumrind: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and disengaged. These styles reflect different approaches to parenting and have varying impacts on a child's development. Read on to learn about the different styles and print our free Parenting Styles Infographic.

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Oobleck and Transformative Nature
School Counselors, Child Therapy, Therapists, Play Therapy, Science Experiement, Play Based Learning, Teachers, Activities Katherine Milani School Counselors, Child Therapy, Therapists, Play Therapy, Science Experiement, Play Based Learning, Teachers, Activities Katherine Milani

Oobleck and Transformative Nature

Oobleck is a fun and easy demonstration of a non-Newtonian fluid. Non-Newtonian fluids are kind of like us—their behavior is variable depending on stress! This hands-on sensorial experiment can help kids understand that stress (anxiety, frustration, disappointment, failure, anger) can change our behavior.

Read on to learn how to make Oobleck and how to talk to kids about transformative nature.

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How to Talk with Teenagers
Adolescent, Teen, Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Therapists Katherine Milani Adolescent, Teen, Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Therapists Katherine Milani

How to Talk with Teenagers

Effective communication during adolescence builds mutual trust, understanding, and respect. This kind of communication allows parents to better recognize cues and attend to the needs of their teenager. Learn more about parent-teen communication and checkout our free conversation starters for teens!

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Reinforcement: Positive & Negative
Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Child Therapy, Therapists, Reinforcement Katherine Milani Parents, Teachers, School Counselors, Child Therapy, Therapists, Reinforcement Katherine Milani

Reinforcement: Positive & Negative

Both positive and negative reinforcement can be effective ways to shape and encourage favorable behavior, but understanding how to use reinforcement to support healthy growth and development is key! Read on to learn about what reinforcement is, common misconceptions about reinforcement, and how to use reinforcement at home or in the classroom!

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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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Counseling Games for Kids
Child Therapy, Parents, Play Therapy, School Counselors, Teachers, Therapists Katherine Milani Child Therapy, Parents, Play Therapy, School Counselors, Teachers, Therapists Katherine Milani

Counseling Games for Kids

Cooperative games help kids learn the significance of collaboration, integrity, and respect. Through shared objectives and collective problem-solving, kids build interpersonal skills while exercising ethical conduct and resilience. Read on for tips on how to foster positive sportsmanship through a social-emotional learning lens.

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