Leo Kanner, an American child psychiatrist, first used the term, “infantile autism” in 1943 to describe children who, he believed, were happiest alone, living in a shell and “oblivious” to everything around them. Since then, much research and effort has been undertaken to help the many children and families affected by autism.

Due to medical advances, more and more children survive childhood cancer but recent studies show that, even after successful treatment, there are enduring physical, educational, social and emotional costs.

Through active, imaginative play children express their thoughts and feelings, adopt different roles and perspectives, and organize the world on their own terms.

Attachment theory is getting a lot of consideration today because it speaks to our deep fears that we are not paying enough attention to our infants and children. This article discusses this theory and its impact on the parent child relationship.

Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder, wherein children who are able to speak and speak freely at home, do not speak in other situations, such as birthday parties or at school. Read on to learn tips for teachers and parents dealing with selective mutism.

Trauma causes acute psychological distress which can lead to chronic states of fear and hypervigilance, or numbing and distractedness, interfering with all aspects of a person’s daily functioning. Individuals with developmental trauma are at greater risk for all manner of adverse events and when subjected to shock trauma, have particularly challenging outcomes.

It seems lying, in one form or another, is a very human phenomenon. Starting between two and three years of age, children begin to tell untruths and many continue to tell untruths throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Read more about lying in children and adolescents here.

Children with Specific Learning Disorder have marked weaknesses in their capacity to master skills in reading, writing, or math, and consequently have difficulty making progress within traditional academic curriculums. Learning Disorder is ‘specific’, rather than global, and the children who have it are often very talented in other realms, such as music or sports.

Despite society’s nostalgic notions about childhood being idyllic and innocent, all children experience distress, frustration, disappointment, and anger, on a regular basis. One in five children has a mental health problem which needs attention and which is likely to get worse, not better, over time.

Children with ADHD differ considerably in their presentation and functioning, depending on their intelligence, personality characteristics, talents, family and school supports, and life events. There is a significant genetic component in ADHD and parents with the condition are more likely to have children with ADHD.