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When it comes to mental health, there is no ONE right approach or treatment. Every story is different; every child is different. Helping a child or teen work through their mental health issues extends outside of the home. Teachers and counselors are an essential part of this journey. The following is a Q & A with Dr. Dan Daly, current Director of Youth Care Emeritus and former Executive Vice President and Director of Youth Care at Boys Town. This article originally appeared …

Teachers / Counselors, Have you ever asked a child how his or her day was and heard the standard response of “good,” but deep down it seems like something is just a little bit off? In my experience as a school counselor, I find that more and more children are dealing with sadness, but it I also find that children can be masters at hiding these feelings. They may feel embarrassed about the feelings, or may not even be aware of what the feelings are – they just might feel different. Her …

Excerpts taken from full article originally featured on boystown.org/parenting.We’ve all heard “Mom, I have this permission slip for a field trip. It’s due today.” If I’m being honest, I hear it several times a year! My daughters struggle to stay organized once they leave school for the day. They’re so excited to come home and watch Netflix or play with the neighbor kids, that they forget I’m supposed to sign them up to go to the zoo.From their teacher’s perspective, it has to be frustr …

What if you came across a picture book that captures autism in a way children can truly understand? A story that breaks down common behaviors on the spectrum using kid‑friendly, accessible language? One blogger — a mother of two, including a child diagnosed with autism — discovered that Uniquely Wired: A Story About Autism and Its Gifts does exactly that. Her experience with the book reveals how powerfully it helps children grasp what autism looks like, feels like, and means for the …

“Shoe!”...“Book!” My daughter’s first, simple words perfectly capture our family’s vices and values. From the time she could barely sit still long enough to listen to three pages of beginner board books, a request for reading together has rarely been denied. She never cared about how well we read, or if we did voices or not. The experience was really about taking the time to engage with her. Reading Builds Connection Reading together with her as a toddler and …