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Short guides for health professionals

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that can cause children and adolescents to starve themselves. Children and teenagers with anorexia believe they are too fat, even though everyone else sees them as way too thin. To maintain a very low weight, they eat very little and engage in behaviors such...

Short guides for health professionals

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental health disorder that can affect kids who have experienced something very frightening, traumatic, or life-threatening, such as violence, abuse, natural disasters, or bad accidents. The child or teen does not even have to experience the upsetting event for him or herself, as PTSD can...

Short guides for health professionals

Depression and Dysthymia

Depression can have a lot of negative effects on an individual’s life, such as missing school and not wanting to be around friends. It is typical for children and adolescents to feel sad when bad things happen, but a child or adolescent with depression doesn’t feel better if things change. Children...

Short guides for health professionals

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

What are the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder? Core symptoms Associated symptoms Notable anxiety or fear related to one or more situations wherein the individual may be exposed to peer scrutiny Excessive anxiety or fear about being embarrassed, humiliated,...

Short guides for health professionals

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Often, compulsions are not connected to obsessions realistically. For example, a child might have an obsessive fear that their parents will be in a car accident. To deal with that fear, they might turn a light on and off five times. Even if they know it doesn’t make sense, they feel that the ritual...

Short guides for health professionals

Tic Disorders

What are the symptoms of a Tic Disorder? Tics are repetitive, rapid movements or sounds. Most are called “simple” tics, meaning tics that are one movement, like a squint or a quick head nod. Some are called “complex” tics, meaning they are larger combinations of movements or sounds, like reaching...

Short guides for health professionals

Separation Anxiety Disorder

What are the symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder? The fear, anxiety, or avoidance that children with Separation Anxiety Disorder experience is much more than what is normal for their age. Specific symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder include: Core symptoms Distress in...

Short guides for health professionals

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Children and teens with body dysmorphic disorder often feel tremendous shame. They may not want to go to school or see their friends because of the flaw in their appearance. They might try to cover up what bothers them with clothing or make-up or even want to have surgery to correct it. However,...

Short guides for health professionals

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

DMDD is a new disorder created to more accurately categorize some children who had previously been diagnosed with pediatric Bipolar Disorder. For children with DMDD, their behavior is stable and not episodic, as in Bipolar Disorder. What are the symptoms of DMDD? Specific DMDD symptoms are...

Short guides for health professionals

Intellectual Developmental Disorder

Children with Intellectual Developmental Disorder have deficits in general intellectual functioning that can have multiple degrees. They have difficulties with reasoning, planning, judgment, abstract thinking, and multiple types of learning. They often struggle in school and may also have...

Short guides for health professionals

Specific Learning Disorder

Children with “Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Reading” have an unusually difficult time learning how to read. They often struggle with reading new words, picking out words they have already learned, reading words and sentences at an appropriate pace, and/or comprehending the...

Short guides for health professionals

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Typically, the symptoms of ASD are recognized between 12 and 24 months of age. They may be seen earlier than 12 months if a child’s developmental delays are severe, or not seen until after 24 months if a child’s symptoms are more subtle. The symptoms of ASD impact children in two meaningful...

Short guides for health professionals

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

What are the symptoms of GAD? The excessive anxiety or apprehensive worries that children and teens with GAD experience is much more than what is normal for their age or the situation they are in. Specific symptoms of GAD include: Core symptoms of GAD Associated symptoms of...

Short guides for health professionals

Specific Phobia

What are the symptoms of Specific Phobia? Specific Phobias usually fall into one of five categories: Animal Type (dogs, bugs, snakes, etc.) Natural Environment Type (storms, earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.) Blood-Injection-Injury Type (getting shots, seeing blood or...

Short guides for health professionals

Panic Disorder

What are the symptoms of Panic Disorder? Panic Disorder involves recurrent, unexpected Panic Attacks. In between attacks, the individual persistently worries about having another attack and/or changes their behaviors or activities to avoid having an attack. Specific symptoms of a Panic Attack...

Short guides for health professionals

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

What are the symptoms of ODD? Children with ODD have a pattern of behavior problems with the following common symptoms: Core Symptoms Associated Symptoms Angry or irritable mood: Often losing temper Often touchy or easily annoyed Often angry or...

Short guides for health professionals

Conduct Disorder

Bullying, hurting animals, and lying for no reason are all signs of Conduct Disorder. In younger kids, Conduct Disorder starts with pushing, hitting, and biting. In older kids, conduct disorder can come with more extreme violent behavior and/or crimes like stealing, destroying things, and setting...

Short guides for health professionals

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

What are the symptoms of ADHD? Symptoms of ADHD are divided into two groups: inattentive behaviors, and hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. Symptoms of Inattention Symptoms of Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Not giving close attention, missing details, or making...

Short guides for health professionals

Substance Use Disorders

Kids and teens use substances for a variety of reasons. They may begin because of curiosity and peer pressure. Often, those who become habitual users are trying to “solve a problem.” Substances can help them relax, alleviate boredom, fit in socially, escape emotional or physical pain, deal with...

Guides for disorders, for health professionals

Enuresis

What are the symptoms of Enuresis? The main sign that a child has Enuresis is regularly peeing in their clothing or bed at age 5 years or older (it is common for younger children to have poor bladder control). The frequency of a child’s urination results in problems in school, at home, and/or in...

Concerns about learning

Short Guides for Caregivers

Early developmental concerns

What is typical development? There are many ways that caregivers can evaluate if a child is developing typically and achieving their milestones. Some of the core milestones are: Physical Language Communication Sitting up without help by 7 months Babbling by...

Short guides for educators

Early developmental concern

What is typical development? Early childhood educators in day care, as well as nursery and preschool programs, often get to witness children building new developmental skills. There are many ways of evaluating if children are developing typically and achieving their milestones. Some of the core...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Reading difficulties

What are typical reading expectations? Reading is a difficult skill that we do not learn all at once. We build our reading skills gradually over the years, and every time we learn something new we get ready to learn something else. Typical reading skills include being able to recite the alphabet,...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Reading difficulties

What are typical reading expectations? As any complex skill, the ability to read builds on throughout the years. Typical reading skills include: Age range Expectation By age 3 Recite alphabet By age 3-4 Recognizing letters By age 4-5 Matching...

Short guides for educators

Reading difficulties

What are typical reading expectations? As most teachers are already aware of, there are some reading expectations for children depending on their age range. Age range Expectation By age 3 Recite alphabet By age 3-4 Recognizing letters By age...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Math difficulties

What are typical math expectations? Mathematics is a difficult skill that we can not learn all at once. It builds throughout the years, and every time we learn something new we get ready to learn something else. Typical math skills include being able to identify and count numbers when we see them...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Math difficulties

What are typical math expectations? As any complex skill, the ability to deal with numbers builds on throughout the years. Typical mathematical skills include: Age range Expectation Between ages 5 and 6 Counting to 20, backwards and forwards Associating numbers...

Short guides for educators

Math difficulties

What are typical expectations about mathematical skills? As most teachers are already aware of, the ability to deal with numbers is complex and builds on throughout the years. Typical mathematical skills include: Age range Expectation Between 5 and 6 years of...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Social communication difficulties

What is typical social communication? We begin to have interactions with other people very early in our lives, even before we know how to speak! When babies look at us when we call them, smile at us, and mimic our faces, they are already communicating. We continue to develop social communication...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Social communication difficulties

What is typical social communication? Even though every child is different, there are typical skills that could be expected for children around certain ages. Age range Expectation Around 6 months of age Smiling back at people Trying to make eye contact with...

Short guides for educators

Social communication difficulties

What is typical social communication? Even though every child is different, as most teachers are already aware of, there are typical skills that could be expected for children around certain ages. Age range Expectation Around 6 months of age Being able to...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests

What are typical restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests? It's expected that we all have certain interests, preferences, routines, or rituals. When we enjoy something very much, we tend to want to do it or talk about it a lot. For example, someone fascinated about the universe may talk a...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests

What are typical restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests? Infants are normally attached to favorite objects and engage in a number of repetitive rhythmic motor behaviors, like rocking and flapping. Young children show an insistence on certain toys, fairy tales and bedtime rituals....

Short guides for educators

Restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests

Short Guides for Caregivers

Difficulties with bladder control

What is typical toileting behavior? Urinary accidents are common during the nursery and preschool years, as most children are toilet trained by about 3 years of age. Young children may have accidents during the school day, especially when they are toilet training and younger than 5 years of age....

Short guides for educators

Difficulties with bladder control

Concerns about emotions

Short Guides for Adolescents

Excessive worries

What are typical worries? There are many different types of worries that we may experience at different moments in our lives. Worries are usually related to the challenges and experiences we are going through at the moment we are in life, so they can vary a lot. Some typical worries that most...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Excessive worries

What are typical worries? There are many different types of worries that children and adolescents may experience at different points in their lives. Worries are usually related to the challenges and experiences children and adolescents are going through at each developmental stage. Some typical...

Short guides for educators

Excessive worries

What are typical worries? There are many different types of worries that children and adolescents may experience in school at different points in their lives. Worries are usually related to the challenges and experiences children and adolescents are going through at each developmental stage. Some...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Excessive fears

What are typical fears? There are many different types of fears that we may experience at different moments in our lives. Fears are usually related to the challenges and experiences we are going through at the moment, so they can vary a lot. Some typical fears that most people have at some point...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Excessive fears

What are typical fears? Birth – 6 months Loud noises, loss of physical support, rapid position changes, rapidly approaching unfamiliar objects 7-12 months Strangers, looming objects, sudden confrontation by unexpected objects and unfamiliar people 1-5...

Short guides for educators

Excessive fears

Short Guides for Adolescents

Excessive shyness

What is typical shyness? Being shy is not by any means a problem. In addition to those characteristics in temperament, many of us at many ages experience shyness to some degree at one point or another. But those who are shy in a typical level gradually warm up to new situations over time. We may...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Excessive shyness

What is typical shyness? Being shy is not by any means a problem. In addition to those predispositions in temperament, many children at many ages experience shyness to some degree at one point or another. But children who are shy in a typical level gradually warm up to new situations over time....

Short guides for educators

Excessive shyness

Short Guides for Caregivers

Excessive fear of being apart from a caregiver

What is a typical separation fear? Nearly all children between 6 months and 3 years old get clingy and cry if their caregivers leave them, even for a short time. Young babies don't understand time, so they think a parent who walks out of the room is gone forever. Babies can become anxious and...

Short guides for educators

Excessive fear of being apart from a caregiver

Short Guides for Adolescents

Persistent Sadness

What is typical sadness? It’s typical for us to feel down when bad or unexpected things happen. It is part of human nature. As some time goes by or bad things start to ease up, we begin to gradually feel better. When we remain sad despite positive things happening to and around us, it can be...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Persistent sadness

What is typical sadness? It’s typical for children and adolescents to feel down when bad or unexpected things happen—we all do. We then begin to feel better when things take a turn for the better. When children remain sad despite positive things happening to and around them, that is...

Short guides for educators

Persistent sadness

What is typical sadness? It’s typical for children and adolescents to feel down when bad or unexpected things happen—we all do. We then begin to feel better when things take a turn for the better. When students remain sad despite positive things happening to and around them, that is...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Ritualistic behaviors and repetitive movements

What are typical ritualistic behaviors? People in general often like routines—they are safe, predictable, and comforting all at the same time. We often have established morning routines, in-class routines, after-school routines, homework routines, and bedtime routines. When we need to deviate from...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Ritualistic behaviors and repetitive movements

What are typical ritualistic behaviors and repetitive movements? Children often like routines—they are safe, predictable, and comforting all at the same time. At home, caregivers, children, or adolescents often establish morning routines, in-class routines, after-school routines, homework...

Short guides for educators

Ritualistic behaviors and repetitive movements

What are typical ritualistic behaviors? Children often like routines—they are safe, predictable, and comforting all at the same time. In School, teachers often establish routines throughout the day, which may include a routine for activities and a routine for clean up. Older students attend their...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Obsessive thoughts

What are typical obsessive thoughts? Most of us would agree that we get stuck on things that we enjoy. At times, it may seem like we are always thinking about our favorite show, song, game, or activity. For instance, we may talk about the same artists over and over again and know all about their...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Obsessive thoughts

What are typical obsessive thoughts? Most caregivers would agree that their children get stuck on things that they enjoy. At times, it may seem like the child or adolescent is always thinking about their favorite show, song, game, activity, or toy. For instance, a 3 year old may frequently think...

Short guides for educators

Obsessive thoughts

What are typical obsessive thoughts? Most teachers and caregivers would agree that children or adolescents get stuck on things that they enjoy. At times, it may seem like the child or adolescent is always thinking about their favorite show, song, game, activity, or toy. For instance, a 3 year old...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Eating concerns

What is typical eating? Our temperament, body, and environment determine our typical eating habits that follow us from childhood to adulthood most of the time. Some people eat three meals per day, others two or five. A lot of people love snacks and often have them in between meals (and that is...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Eating concerns

What is typical eating? Children and adolescents' temperament, organic conditions, developmental issues, environmental and parental factors determine typical eating habits in early childhood to a large extent. Some people eat three meals per day, others two or five. Children and adolescents love...

Short guides for educators

Eating concerns

Short Guides for Adolescents

Body image concerns

What is a typical body image? Almost all of us worry about our physical appearance in some way. Body consciousness and its perception is significantly affected by physical changes that occur during our adolescent years, by peer relationships and acceptance, as well as by messages on social media...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Body image concerns

What is a typical body image? Some children and nearly all adolescents worry about their physical appearance in some way. Body consciousness and its perception is significantly affected by physical changes that occur during adolescence, by peer relationships and acceptance, as well as by messages...

Short guides for educators

Body image concerns

Short Guides for Adolescents

Persistent anger

What is typical anger? We all get angry–anger is 100% typical. Typically, anger goes away in under 30 minutes. But when it is frequent (eg, present many times a week), or lasts for long periods (eg, lasting many hours instead of minutes), it can take us away from our experiences. Additionally,...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Persistent anger

What is typical anger? Children and adolescents get angry just like adults do – anger is normal. Typically, anger goes away in under 30 minutes. But when a child's anger is frequent (eg, temper tantrums many times a week), or lasts for long periods (eg, lasting many hours instead of minutes), it...

Short guides for educators

Persistent anger

What is typical anger? Children and adolescents get angry just like adults do–anger is normal. Typically, anger goes away in under 30 minutes. But when a child's anger is frequent (eg, temper tantrums many times a week), or lasts for long periods (eg, lasting many hours instead of minutes), it can...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Persistent distress after traumatic experiences

What is typical distress after traumatic events? It is expected that we struggle and feel scared or upset after one, or multiple seriously frightening or upsetting events. It usually takes us a little while to recover and readjust after traumatic experiences. It is fairly common to experience...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Persistent distress after traumatic experiences

What is typical distress after traumatic events? It is expected for a child or adolescent to struggle and feel scared or upset after one, or multiple seriously frightening or upsetting events. It usually takes them a little while to recover and readjust after traumatic experiences. It is fairly...

Short guides for educators

Persistent distress after traumatic experiences

Short Guides for Adolescents

Panic attacks

Are panic attacks typical? Even though our bodies have a natural alarm system that goes off when something is wrong to prepare us to handle emergency situations, having panic attacks is not typical. Usually, when we experience panic attacks, the alarm goes off without a real threat or...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Panic attacks

Are panic attacks typical? Even though our bodies have a natural alarm system that goes off when something is wrong to prepare us to handle emergency situations, having panic attacks is not typical. Usually, when children and adolescents experience panic attacks, their alarm goes off without a...

Short guides for educators

Panic attacks

Are panic attacks typical? Even though our bodies have a natural alarm system that goes off when something is wrong to prepare us to handle emergency situations, having panic attacks is not typical. Usually, when children and adolescents experience panic attacks, their alarm goes off without a...

Concerns about behaviors

Short Guides for Adolescents

Rule breaking and aggression

What are typical rule breaking behaviors and aggression? It’s typical for most of us to break rules and even be aggressive towards close people around us at least some of the time. There are occasions when we break rules at home or in school even though we know that if we are caught there will be...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Rule breaking and aggression

What are typical rule breaking behaviors and aggression? It’s typical for children and adolescents to break rules and even be aggressive towards their caregivers and peers at least some of the time. While younger children are pretty rule-driven, older children and adolescents will occasionally...

Short guides for educators

Rule breaking and aggression

What are typical rule breaking behaviors and aggression? It’s typical for students to break rules and even be aggressive towards their caregivers and peers at least some of the time. While younger students are pretty rule-driven, older students will occasionally break rules in school even though...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

What are typical levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity? Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are common when we are children younger than 6 years of age. As we get older, the demands placed on us gradually increase and if we remain inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive, we...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

What are typical levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity? Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are common in children younger than 6 years of age. As they get older, the demands placed on them gradually increase and if they remain inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive, they...

Short guides for educators

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

What are typical levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity? Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are common in students younger than 6 years of age. As they get older, the demands placed on them gradually increase and if they remain inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive, they...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Alcohol and substance use

What is typical alcohol and substance use? None. There is no typical alcohol or substance use during childhood or teenage years. Even though alcohol and other substances are illegal for minors and people would expect us to abstain from use, we are curious and get exposed to these things, offered...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Alcohol and substance use

What is typical alcohol and substance use? None. There is no typical or acceptable alcohol or substance use during childhood or teenage years. Even though alcohol and other substances are illegal for minors and we would expect that they would abstain from use, children and teenagers are curious...

Short guides for educators

Alcohol and substance use

Short Guides for Adolescents

Self-injury

Is self-injury typical? No. There is no kind of typical self-injury behavior. But in order to find better ways to deal with it when it happens, it is important to understand some things about it. When some people self-injury, they say they do it because it distracts them and alleviates the...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Self-injury

Is self-injury typical? No. There is no kind of typical self-injury behavior. However, in order to prevent it or deal with it when it happens, it is important to understand some things about it. Some children and adolescents say they hurt themselves because it distracts them and alleviates the...

Short guides for educators

Self-injury

Is self-injury typical? No. There is no kind of typical self-injury behavior. However, in order to prevent it or deal with it when it happens, it is important to understand some things about it. Some children and adolescents say they injure themselves because it distracts them and alleviates...

Short Guides for Adolescents

Bullying

When does typical teasing become bullying? Painful or embarrassing social experiences are part of the growing up process and almost everyone has already been teased at least one time in their lives. Learning how to rebound from negative interactions is an important skill for all of us. However,...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Bullying

When does typical teasing become bullying? People tend to be aware that painful or embarrassing social experiences are part of the growing up process and that almost everyone has already been teased at least one time in their lives. Learning how to rebound from negative interactions is an...

Short guides for educators

Bullying

Short Guides for Adolescents

Excessive screen use

What is a typical use of screens? We have become somewhat reliant on our devices, and so using them has become quite typical. For example, young children are given screen time to watch educational shows and to play educational games; older kids and adolescents attend classes, complete homework...

Short Guides for Caregivers

Excessive screen use

What is a typical use of screens? Caregivers and kids alike have become somewhat reliant on their devices, and so using them has become quite typical. Young children are given screen time to watch educational shows with their caregivers and to play educational games; older kids and teens attend...

Short guides for educators

Excessive screen use

What is a typical use of screens? Most of us have become somewhat reliant on their devices, and so using them has become quite typical. Young children are given screen time to watch educational shows and to play educational games; older kids and teens attend classes, complete homework assignments,...

I am not sure what I'm looking for

Short Guides for Adolescents

I worry about myself or a friend, but how do I know what is going on?

What are typical challenges we go through when we are children or adolescents? Growing up and being young is not always easy. When we are little, there are a lot of things we have to learn. We learn how to walk and talk, understand and deal with our emotions, communicate and hang out with friends...

infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years old)
children (6 to 12 years of age)
adolescents (12 to 17 years of age)
preschoolers (3 to 6 years old)
home
school

5min

Short Guides for Caregivers

I worry about my child, but how do I know what is going on?

What is typical development? Growing up is not easy. All children will present with expected behaviors that cause distress and difficulties as part of typical development. Children have to learn a lot of things while growing up. They have to learn how to walk and talk, understand and deal with...

infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years old)
children (6 to 12 years of age)
adolescents (12 to 17 years of age)
preschoolers (3 to 6 years old)
home
school

5min

Short guides for educators

I worry about a student, but how do I know what is going on?

Short Guides for Caregivers

What to expect from infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years)

What are typical infant and toddler milestones? During the first years of life, infants and toddlers are entirely dependent on their caregivers and cannot do anything by themselves. So, it is not uncommon for caregivers to feel tired, worried, or insecure with the challenges they face with their...

Short Guides for Caregivers

What to expect from preschoolers (3 to 6 years)

What are typical preschooler milestones? Preschoolers quite literally increase their physical skills by “leaps and bounds”, build very rapid cognitive and language development and make numerous emotional and social gains. Here is a list of the main physical, cognitive and language, emotional, and...

Short Guides for Caregivers

What to expect from children (6 to 12 years)

What is typical childhood development? Physical skills development: Early in this age range, 6- and 7-year-old children continue to build upon the foundation skills they acquired during their preschool years. Physically, they continue to build their balance and independence using bicycles and...

Short Guides for Caregivers

What to expect from adolescents (12 to 18 years)

What is typical adolescent development? Thinking and problem-solving skills development Adolescence is a period of brain development just as much as body development. Adolescents are expected to gradually move away from concrete ways of thinking toward abstract thought. As their abstract thinking...

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