Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. The discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience — from the functions of the brain to the actions of nations, from child development to care for the aged. In every conceivable setting from scientific research centers to mental healthcare services, “the understanding of behavior” is the enterprise of psychologists.
As parents, preventative strategies are a good start to tackling your child’s challenging behaviours. In this article, you’ll find tips on how to help your child control their own behaviour. 1. Warnings Warnings give a child the understanding that a preferred activity is ending – for example, “TV time will be finished in 5 minutes.”…
Welcome to the digital age. In the digital age, cyber addiction and its consequences are an issue at the heart of our society. A recent study shows that about 1.5 to 2% of the population suffers from cyber addiction. While most people spend about 25 hours per week on the internet, teenagers who suffer from cyber…
Constantly in action, it is not always easy to know when a child experiences temporary difficulties and when these difficulties become a disorder. Here are the main differences between a difficulty and a disorder in order to help you know when it would be relevant to refer a child to a professional. A difficulty: A…
Help your child (and yourself) understand what is going on Children, like adults, benefit from psychology services to either identify the source of a behavioral, emotional or a learning problem, or to help them develop strategies for coping with stressful events. Josh, a 10 year-old boy in grade 4, is a friendly child who was…
It’s report card time, the perfect time for reflection and for planning. At this time in the year, parents should be able to look back and list things that were learned in each subject, as well as areas that could use some improvement or enrichment. In fact, your children should be the ones to tell…
5 suggestions to increase academic motivation Teenagers are tempted by many pleasures, immediate and ephemeral. They live in the present, and their future is far for them! In their quest for autonomy, they need to feel that they control their life, that their parents no longer have so much power over them. The lack of…
by Laura Dutfield Our daily routines are filled with various transitions as we move from task to task or location to location. For children on the autism spectrum, these transitions can often produce anxiety and be accompanied by challenging behaviours. Luckily, there are a number of helpful tools to increase predictability and create structure in daily…
by Houda Nasreddine Literacy acquisition can be quite the challenge given the multitude of skills a child must first develop in order to learn how to read. The average child needs to first acquire phonological awareness, that is, learn the sounds that make up language. They need to be able to play with sound structures…
This free webinar is hosted by Dr. Samuel Siah, a clinical psychologist at Children’s Support Solutions who specializes in assessing, diagnosing and treating a variety of mental health and learning difficulties in children and youth. It will give a brief overview of social anxiety, including common signs and symptoms, different diagnoses, a common therapeutic approach…
Family mealtimes provide a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your children. Sharing meals together is one of the earliest social experiences your child will encounter and this can help to shape their participation in family and social routines as they grow. But what do you do when your child won’t eat? Having a ‘picky…
by Ashley Cooper & Ashley Rego According to the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, 1 in 10 Canadians have a learning disability. A learning disability can be described as a gap between the level of achievement that is expected and what is actually achieved. Contrary to popular belief, learning disabilities can affect people with average…
It’s that time of year…back to school! For some children and parents, this is a time of excitement. For others, it is a time of worry and anxiety. We’ve asked our experts for their advice on how to reduce this anxiety when it comes to heading back to school. Lauren Robinson, speech-language pathologist, shares: Preview…
Strategies parents can implement to manage school anxiety Times of transition or change can be stressful and anxiety-provoking for many children, especially the transition from the ever-anticipated summer break to school in September. In the days leading up to the first day of school, your child may become irritable, withdrawn and engage in frequent tantrums.…
Preparing for routine changes 5 W’s to a smooth routine change Change itself is one of the only things we cannot change. That being said, one of the most difficult things to prepare a child for is change. Whether it be changing schools, or changing a routine it is bound to be difficult. As parents,…
Working with an interprofessional team As a parent, you do everything you can to encourage and provide the foundation your child needs to reach their potential. But what happens if your child is struggling with a developmental or genetic disorder, or mental health concern? What are the common issues to accessing services? How can an…
Do changes to routines affect your child’s behaviour at home and in school? Learn how we can help. Getting children into good sleep or study routines is tough enough; vacations and daylight saving time can add an extra element to the challenge of keeping to a family’s routine. Changes in routine can be fun but…
How to help a child who is being bullied Question: My child is being bullied. Sometimes he ends up responding to the bullying in a way that makes the bullying worse or that lands him in trouble at school. How can I help him to respond in ways that will be helpful, not harmful? Answer:…
What is Applied Behaviour Analysis? Given the recent increase in the prevalence and awareness of autism and other developmental disabilities, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is becoming more common now than ever. It is often recommended by health care professionals and teachers as a treatment for a variety of behaviours. But what is ABA, and how…
“It’s not your imagination: children who are struggling with mental health, neurodevelopmental, and behavioural challenges are more likely to be bullied—and/or to bully—other children.”
Ann Douglas is the author of numerous books about pregnancy and parenting, including Parenting Through the Storm: How to Handle the Highs, the Lows, and Everything in Between (a guide to parenting a child with a mental health, neurodevelopmental, or behavioural challenge).
If you are a parent whose child struggles with bullying, it may be difficult to know who you can turn to for help. Fortunately, at a place like Children’s Support Solutions, there are a lot of different providers who can offer their expertise to help regarding many of the issues involved. Parents can feel comfortable knowing that we can identify these concerns and treat the whole child—all under one roof.
Watch our webinar “Raising a bilingual child: The top five myths” If you missed our “Raising a bilingual child: The top five myths” webinar with Dr. Caroline Erdos and Mary Jose Guerrier you can watch it here: Your Hosts: Dr. Caroline Erdos, Speech Language Pathologist and Mary Jose Guerrier, Program Manager with Morneau Shepell. Myths…
A guide to the benefits of interprofessional care for families & children Our latest guide on the benefits of an interprofessional approach to care for children and teens is now available. Download your copy today! An interprofessional approach looks like this: 1+1=3. This means that for a child who needs behaviour, speech and occupational…
Understanding Down Syndrome: resources for new parents We love to help, and most importantly, we want to share how we can help with parents whenever we can. Recently, we received this question by email by one of our community supporters: “I am wondering if you can direct me to some great resources on behalf of…
Online Therapy and Learning Services Exciting news! We now offer online therapy and learning services. From the comfort of your home – or just about anywhere with a high-speed internet connection – your child can participate in one on one therapy, live with their therapist or educator. No complicated equipment is needed just a tablet or…
Watch the recording of ‘Parenting Through the Storm’ Thank you to Ann Douglas and everyone who participated for an inspiring evening. We are looking forward to hosting more of these events in the future. Next up is ‘Advocating for your child’. This online event will be held on May 28th from 9-10pm. Spots are limited.…
Did you know that 1 in 10 Canadians has a learning disability? Ranging from mild to severe, learning disabilities can include challenges with reading, writing, mathematics and concepts related to time. Mild learning disabilities often go undiagnosed leading to challenges in the classroom and the assumption that the child is unmotivated, lazy or unintelligent. In…
For some children, dealing with transitions or changes to their routine can be tricky. Our child development experts weigh-in on how to help your child transition happily in the new year. Consistency is key! Try to keep major parts of routines consistent (e.g. wake-up and bedtime) you can help reduce the number of schedule adjustments…
Helping your child improve their report card results Soon, if they haven’t already, your child will be bringing home their latest report card. As a parent, you are an expert on your child, while your child’s teacher is a grade level expert. These reports help parents understand their child’s grade level as well as their…
