Children anxiety disorders are common, but the exact number of sufferers is unknown, most likely because the condition is often under-diagnosed, undiagnosed or unreported. While it is very treatable with good, persistent medical care, medical experts agree that anxiety problems during childhood (when misjudged and overlooked) will likely to persist as an adult psychiatric disorder. In other words, early manifestations of anxiety through anxiety attacks during childhood must be addressed as early as possible hence, reducing the chances of developing into an adult version.

Through the following symptoms, you can detect that a child is a possible candidate of a specific type of anxiety disorder or if the child is undergoing another episode of anxiety attack.

Separation anxiety is very common among children when they reach school age. They exhibit unreasoned fear and panic at being separated from their parents or their home during parents. Symptoms include crying and begging not to go to school. It is also possible that a child complains stomach aches, headaches, toothaches, and other maladies that would keep him from going to school. Alternately, a child will show a demeanor when at home or during the company of parents.

Social phobia is almost the opposite of separation anxiety. A child may choose stay home alone or keep separated from parents. Social phobia can push children to stay away from peers as they feel that they are different from other kids or that they have clothes or hair style that are apart from the interest of other kids. A child with social phobia may choose to read a book than to go to summer camp or any activity that involves mingling with others.

Performance anxiety can be closely linked to social anxiety. A child who does not play good sports may show signs of fear during physical education class. A child with poor reading skills or cannot perform simple mathematical equation may panic and become ill when called to recite for the class or solve a problem on the board.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic worry or fear over almost everything without any apparent reason. Symptoms of GAD are very similar to what adults would experience. Patients with GAD may complain about stomach upset, fatigue, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. In addition, a child may throw tantrums, may cry, have nightmares, may be keyed up and even begin to show problems in school that were not present before.

What causes anxiety to children?

There are many studies supporting that child anxiety is genetically acquired. Parents, for example, who manifest anxiety, will likely have anxious and nervous children. This condition can be learned as well. It is possible that a child develops anxiety disorder after a bad experience – ridiculed by classmates, victim of bullies in school, or making a mistake in front of the class. Separation of parents, abuse, death of a loved one or any traumatic experiences can lead to anxiety disorder as well. Fear of being alone, is afraid of the dark or afraid of certain animals may be reflections of events with bad memories.

Behaviors during anxiety attacks and symptoms of anxiety disorders are similar to other psychological, physical and behavioral condition. It is important, therefore, to seek professional help to be able to rule out other reasons and provide the right treatment to the patient.

Little do people know about how parents have an effect on their kids, but studies have revealed that there is a strong correlation on self –esteem among adults and children. An adult’s outlook often has similar characteristics as it has with their children, especially on how they value their self worth, since parents with low esteem are more likely to encourage their children to give importance or value themselves highly as well.

Such problems could be devastating to children since they could grow up to be timid or shy, reclusive or less sociable.

This could even result to children growing up less sociable and detached from society, since confidence –building measures have not been introduced properly during the younger years that could affect relationships, careers and even the drive for success.

Adults should therefore be conscious about things that they manifest to children, since role-play is key to the growing up years of children, what they see in adults, they see in themselves. Self–esteem is important in children as it is important among adults, since it is helpful in helping them make sound decisions and fair judgment in the face of peer pressure, in the same way that adults deal with coping mechanisms in the face of adversity.

Self–esteem also makes children proud about being themselves and on things that they excel in, be it a skill or talent.

It’s what makes children gain acceptance among friends, compared to reclusive ones who shun off company and friends. Just like in adulthood, self–esteem is responsible for bringing about respect in an individual, so is the same with children.

The need or consciousness for self–esteem occurs the moment an individual develops rational thought and conscious processes, which is true among babies who still cannot determine or differentiate good from bad and are still not capable of rational thought.

Self–esteem becomes a need for people, the moment they feel the ups and downs of day to day situations and circumstances, especially in coping with those they feel as adversities of life in the face of social pressure or individual inner battles.

The older children get, they are tasked with the bigger responsibility of developing their own self –esteem, which can be governed or influenced by the way perceive it from role examples – especially in their own parents.

One of the best manifestations of self-esteem among children is a sense of humor, since it bespeaks of confidence and self- acceptance that is gauged by how they carry themselves in public or among a number of peers in a social group.

The sense of self-esteem among children is what helps them motivate to achieve more, not only because they crave for more attention or acceptance, but also they themselves would want to satisfy their inner conscience and feel good about themselves. A good self–esteem makes kids see things in a positive manner, makes them want to do more and always aspire to do the right things, that is, with the proper guidance and examples that is set before them.

As parents, always try to make it a point to always make it a point for their children to develop good self–esteem, because it is what shapes them for the future.

So by now, you see the importance of self- esteem among adults and children.

Education is fundamental in the lives of children. It is highly unlikely that they will be successful in today’s society without some level of education. Basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills are highly necessary even for the most entry-level positions. There are few children that are able to just grasp the information that they have learned in school. The vast majority of children need to study to reinforce the information they learned in class. It is your responsibility as a parent to help your child develop the study habits that they need to be successful.

One of the things that children need to understand about studying is that it is more than just completing their homework assignment. Many children think that just because they whiz through putting answers on their paper that they have studied. Their true understanding of the information is reflected in quizzes and tests. As your child is going through a chapter or lesson, encourage him to take notes on what he is reading. When your child can accurately summarize the chapter in his own words, this is a sign that he has understood the information that he read in the chapter. For dates, formulas, spelling words, and other lists, use flash cards to review the information.

Help your child learn to take effective notes in class. Many children are mistaken on how to accurately take notes. They believe that note taking involves writing down what the teacher says word for word. It is nearly impossible to write down everything the teacher says. When children use this tactic for taking notes, some percentage of the information is left out of the notes entirely. The information that is left out could very well be the information that is on the test. Help your child understand correct note taking. Read some information to him from a textbook and have him take notes on what you have read to him. If there was some point that was missed, point it out to him.

Set rules for your child about television and radio during study time. The rules that you set should be specific to your child’s needs. Some people, even adults, need to have some kind of background noise for them to study well. Pay attention to your child while he is studying. If you notice that the television is a distraction, make a rule that the television should not be on during study time. On the other hand, if your child is capable of studying even with the television on then you can allow the child to leave it on.

Set aside a certain area of the house that is conducive to studying. This might be the family office, the child’s bedroom, or some other room in the house. If your child is prone to distractions, eliminate distractions as much as possible. The room that your child uses for studying should have enough space for him to spread out his books and papers as needed. Many desks do not have enough space for this. The kitchen table is a good area for children to study because it is large enough to open several books at a time.

A regular study time will be helpful in developing your child’s study habits. This time can be before or after dinner depending on activities that your child may participate in. As you think about the study time, consider your child’s development. A first grader will only be able to concentrate on a single take for about fifteen minutes. A high school student, on the other hand, can focus for more than an hour. Include study breaks or rewards for a job well done.

Pay close attention to your child and watch for signs of frustration. This may indicate that the needs your help on a particular problem. Your child can’t learn if he is upset about homework that is too difficult to accomplish. This is also true of assignments that are too long. If you have to stop the homework assignment for that night, you might need to write a letter to the teacher giving an explanation for the situation. Some parents have conferences with the teacher if the problem continues.

Aside from elderly people, children are considered as one of the most vulnerable age groups because of their inability to protect themselves. It is the duty of the adults, particularly those who are involved in criminal defense. It is up to their parents and knowledgeable to defend their rights as children in any possible way. One of the great things that lawyers should do when handling cases related to child abuse is to keep a safe environment for their clients. Yet, at this point in time, the system most specifically the government isn’t perfect.

According to reports, there are about thirty percent of child abuse cases that only resulted in one successful allegation. The rest of the percentage was considered unsubstantiated or false in their accusations. Some of the crimes committed against children are the following:

• Child neglect and battery
• Underage forced labor
• Child kidnapping and trafficking
• Child molestation
• Exposure to substances that are dangerous

Reporting child abuse is the start of a meaningful relationship between the lawyer and its client. When engaged in a child abuse case, the criminal defense lawyer has that responsibility to be an advocate. A lawyer must first identify how it all started. Therefore, the lawyer must know how child abuse took place and what its components are. Complications which may lead risks for abuse are:

• Family history of child abuse – patterns of an abused parent is being pinpointed as one of the main factors why their children are abused. They to receive the same treatment as what their parents have encountered when they were still children. Sadly, there is no possible treatment seen because of continuous denial that there is something wrong.

• Drug and alcohol abuse – if the child is brought up by alcoholic parents, there is a high tendency that because of being under the influence of drug or alcohol abuse, determination of right and wrong can’t be accounted for. Without control of sudden outburst of impulses, emotional and physical abuse is more likely to happen. Parents or guardians who are always intoxicated tend to abuse their child more often.

When these are diagnosed by the criminal defense lawyer as grounds pertaining to child abuse, then the case will be filed to court. Children who have suffered too much under neglect and abuse may have higher chances of winning a case but that doesn’t mean that the pain of their past will go away. Emotional and physical scarring can be expected to run through parts of their life which may damage the child’s ability to have a healthy relationship as well as the capability to maintain a sense of well-being.

Criminal defense lawyers have the opportunity to make a difference. But first, it should start with a concerned citizen who can no longer take the abuse received by a neighbor or an acquaintance. You may become reluctant in interfering with a life not yours but it is also your responsibility to help others in need, especially children.

If children are taken away from abusive guardians, then they will have a higher chance of healing earlier from what was done to them. That is why, before it’s too late, you should immediately report to concerned authorities in order to proceed with appropriate sanctions.

Kidney stones are common to adults who have sedentary life and unhealthy lifestyle habits. But, if you hear a child suffering from kidney stones, that would be an entirely different story.

Experts say that before, children are lesser prone to kidney stones because they are healthier and more physically active. But, over the years, there has been a constant increase in the number of children that are being affected by kidney stones. Maybe because more and more kids now are living sedentary lives by being in front of the computer or by eating foods that are high in protein, calcium, and sodium.

Kidney stones in kids

Studies show that majority of the children who are prone to developing kidney stones are those that suffer from underlying medical conditions which increases their risk of developing stones this early.

For parents to understand how to deal with kidney stones in case their kids suffer from it, they must first understand everything about the condition. Having a broad understanding of the condition can help parents trace possible causes, identify symptoms, and give immediate response to the child in pain.

Just like in adults, there are different types of stones, which can be developed in a child’s system. This can either be “calcium oxalate” which is the most common and caused by too much presence of calcium in the urine, the “struvite stones,” “uric acid stones,” and “cystine stones.” These types vary depending on the levels of the minerals found and their characteristics.

Parents would never know if their children are suffering from kidney stones if they are not familiar with its symptoms such as abdominal or back pain, blood in the urine or hematuria, vomiting or nausea, and the often need to urinate. In younger kids, these symptoms cannot easily be recognized that is why there is a need to undergo laboratory evaluation and tests.

Since kidney stones is not common among children, especially to younger ones, it is a must to identify the risk factors present such as:

- possible history of the kidney stones which makes children more prone to the condition in the future. (Studies show that kids who have history of kidney stones are likely to suffer from the same problem in the next 10 to 20 years of his or her life.);

- low fluid—especially water—intake because it affects the ideal amount of urine that should be released daily. (If there is lesser water or fluid intake, the chances of developing kidney stones are much higher because there will be more concentration of substances that leads to faster kidney stone formation.);

- amount of diet, especially those high in animal protein such as beef, pork, lamb, or chicken are likely to develop kidney stones because they have higher concentration of protein which is one of the primary causes of kidney stones. (Experts say that children who consume too much protein are at risk in developing “calcium oxalate stones” along with problems in terms of intestinal absorption.);

- having a ketogenic diet which involves a minimal amount of carbohydrates that directly affects the levels of mineral intake;

- experiencing cystic fibrosis;

- suffering from urinary tract abnormalities like dysfunction of the bladder or the kidneys;

- some inherited disorders from the parents; and

- undergoing medications such as “furosemide,” “allopurinol,” and “acetazolamide” which are known to promote formation of urine crystals that leads to the formation of kidney stones.

The question of Child Custody arises when parents decide to put an end to their relationship with each other through divorce or annulment. Child custody refers to the legal and practical right over the child. Most countries follow the legalities put forward by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child.

The most appropriate analogy that can be drawn in this case is Robert Benton’s 1979 film Kramer vs. Kramer, based on the book by the same name by Avery Corman. In this film, Joanna Kramer (Meryl Streep), frustrated with her role of a housewife taking care of her son Justin Henry, abandons her husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman) in order to explore her “self”.

Hence, Ted is forced to raise his son by himself. Although initially his workaholic attitude was one of the driving forces behind his wife’s flee, he eventually involves himself in childcare so deeply, that he even loses his job out of negligence!

Once Joanna comes back from New York after two years, she launches into a legal battle over Justin Henry’s custody. However, in the end, Joanna realizes that Justin’s ideal life is with his father, and she relents.

While trying to win child custody parents make various claims regarding themselves and allegations against their spouses/partners. False accusations of child sexual abuse, financial and educational incompetency made by parents against each other are common.

In 1994, the judge ruled against a woman named Jennifer Ireland in the battle for her child’s custody, sighting her action of placing her four year-old daughter in day care because of her work as one of the deciding factors. Julie Kunce Field, an attorney from Michigan, fought her case, attracting to it national attention in 1994. In 1995, the ruling changed in the favor of Jennifer when judgment based on a working parent’s child care methods was dropped.

Troubled pop star Britney Spears finally lost her long drawn child custody battle to her ex husband Kevin Federline who won custody of their two children, while she received visitation rights. Spears has been accused of alcohol abuse, negligence while driving with children and reckless behavior in public.

The most important thought to be kept in mind by parents, attorneys, psychologists analyzing the case, and the jury is the child’s interest. Although sole custody is a viable possibility, in most cases the legal system grants joint custody of the child.

When a child starts to stutter usually occurs between eighteen to twenty four months. This is around the time when they start to form sentences with words. Some parents may feel uneasy about them stuttering during this time period. However, it is a natural progression for young toddlers to stutter while they are still growing.

In fact, the stuttering may not even last. It may just be for a few weeks or a few months. It may not be something that happens every day. The majority of children that begin to stutter prior to turning five years old may only experience it for a time.

After that, the stuttering goes away by itself. There would be no need for any treatment or other therapy intervention. On the other hand, if the child continues to stutter incessantly and they have facial or body movements, you may want to see a speech language therapist to give your child a thorough evaluation.

Other things that may prompt you to consult a therapist for your child include:

• Excessive repetitions of words and phrases

• Frequent, excessive repetitions of sounds and syllables

• Words become increasingly prolonged when trying to speak

• Forced or strained effort to speak

• Speech muscles tighten when trying to speak

• Higher pitch or being loud when trying to speak

• Tries to avoid times when the child should be talking

• Other unchecked concerns about the child’s speech

Birthday PartyIf you are a parent of a young child then you definitely know that there are plenty of ways to throw a biggest birthday party ever. And if you are like most parents then you want your child to be happy. Unfortunately, though, many kids’ birthday parties involve having many kids over at your house only to clean up after everyone at the end of the night. Even though these types of birthday parties are sometimes messy and crowded, there are some creative ways in which you can make sure that there is plenty to do throughout the afternoon and evening for your child and the other kids as well.

Creative Birthday Tip 1: Use Fun Stuff!

The term “fun stuff,” may be a little vague, so let me define it for you. If you are a kid, “fun stuff” usually means something that they can do which will occupy them for hours on end! This is the exact type of thing that you need to have at your kids’ birthday parties. One example is to have a huge trampoline so that kids can entertain themselves for hours! Of course you’ll need to be careful with this idea because of some of the dangers with trampolines, but if you have a safety net or safety pads on the trampoline then this idea will be a big hit with every child at the birthday party!

Another “fun stuff” idea includes the use of blow-up mazes and ball crawls. These are the huge types of things that can usually be rented out from birthday equipment rental places. If you want to go all out then you may just need to invest in purchasing a couple of the huge blow-up slides or other things so that you can store it for other birthdays down the road. Kids will always be entertained by these things just because they are so huge, but they are also a whole lot of fun! Ball crawls are also a big hit, and usually kids just get to use these things at a McDonald’s play area or Chuck E. Cheese. But who says that you can’t own one? There are plenty of places that will rent or sell them to you and they are a great idea to have around in time of your child’s birthday party!

Creative Birthday Tip #2: Decorate Voraciously!

Even though the word “voraciously” may not even be in your child’s vocabulary yet, there’s nothing that says that you can’t decorate like it. For example, you could blow up hundreds of balloons to fill your entire house (which can be done) and have a scavenger hunt! Of course, the children who come to the party will need to take off their shoes before they enter the balloon-filled rooms, but this is an idea that is actually great for any birthday party!

All of these things are certain to make your child jump for joy at the thought of inviting friends over to have and celebrate their birthday party! They are also ideas that will make the clean-up just a little bit easier! Having blow-up equipment, ball crawls, and balloon-filled rooms are just some of the many creative ways to make your child’s birthday party fun!

It is natural for parents to be very conscious about what their children eat from a very early age. Making baby food at home is a great way to ensure your child gets every bit of the nutrition they need. For those children with allergies, this is a safety precaution because then you don’t have to read every single ingredient on the labels to make sure your child won’t have a reaction by eating it.

You will find a baby food grinder is the perfect solution to making your own baby food. They feature different sizes of holes that determine how small the particulars of food will be. You can have almost complete liquids for those very young babies or those with sore gums due to teething. You can make it with more texture for older babies that have some teeth to chew with.

Many parents find a baby food grinder is the perfect way to help their young ones start enjoying what they rest of the family is eating. They want them to get the nutritional value from meats and various vegetables but these items often pose a high risk for choking. Grinding up these foods though minimizes that risk and allows them to enjoy such foods.

There are many different models of baby food grinders on the market for you to choose from. You will find they come in various sizes and display many features. You can get a very basic baby food grinder for less than $20 and an advanced model for around $60. These make perfect gifts for new parents too so if you are struggling to find something this may work out very well.

With a baby food grinder you don’t have to go out and buy prepackaged baby food. You can use the ingredients you want for your child and know exactly what is in every bite you offer them. You can also cut down on the cost of paying for baby food as making your own is less than buying it at the store. You can store it in various sized containers so you always have meals ready to serve when your child is hungry.

Every child has a hobby of getting dirty. Playing around with friends under the heat of the sun or climbing trees. Whatever activity there is, it is always proper to maintain personal hygiene care for the sake of your child’s health. Make your child realize that being hygienic is as important as making friends. In addition, being clean can make him feel more positive about himself.

You need not to wear designer clothes just to look good. Even your home wear can make you already feel
good just by being hygienic about yourself from top to toe. You, as a parent, have to explain things clearly
to your child so that as early as possible, he can learn important tasks to stay hygienic.

Hair

Our bodies are surrounded by hair. No matter how thin or how thick it is, it’s still considered as hair.
Hair follicles produce oil that keeps hair smooth. Your scalp has sweat glands and dead skin cells. If combined, sweat, oil and dead cells can turn your hair greasy and will look dirty not unless you wash it
regularly. To keep your child’s hair clean, you must:

• shampoo regularly (choose a brand that wouldn’t harm your child’s hair and scalp)

• massage the scalp well to help remove unwanted dead cells, grease, etc.

• rinse well with clear, clean water

• if your daughter has long hair, apply conditioner to make it smoother but otherwise, conditioners aren’t
really necessary.

• when combing, use a wide toothed comb especially for wet hair.

Clothes

Change your child’s clothes everyday. It is optional though, to change more than once a day. This only
happens when your child sweats a lot after playing under the heat of the sun. Immediately change your
child’s clothes to prevent the build-up of microorganisms that produces body odor.

Feet

Advice your child to wash his or her feet well while taking a bath or right before bedtime. Dry them
thoroughly with clean sheets of towel. If you’re going swimming and will wash up in public areas, it is also
good that you advice to wash his entire body together with his feet thoroughly. This will protect him from
acquiring infections or other people’s skin problems that he came in contact with while swimming in the
public pool.

Shoes

Spending a lot of time with your child’s feet is as important as your child’s shoes. A human’s feet is
considered as the area of body where sweat glands have the largest accumulation. Once your child’s feet
sweats, it goes to the shoes and stick to it, thus, cultivating bacteria that may cause foot diseases. As soon as your child comes home from school, let him take off his shoes. Teach him how to keep his shoes clean by washing, brushing or polishing it.

Perfume and deodorants

“Smell nice” products can be used to accentuate your child’s proper grooming. If your child is old enough
to create body odor, it’s time to start buying him deodorants to keep his armpit from smelling like vinegar.

Even if he is still young, it is good that you teach him the different aspects on how to be more conscious
about his body. Being clean can attract a lot of friends and people. Personal hygiene can definitely improve your child’s health and other people’s impression about him.