Social Media/Technology Use

Articles:

Books:

  • The Cyber Effect: An Expert in Cyberpsychology Explains How Technology Is Shaping Our Children, Our Behavior, and Our Values--and What We Can Do About It by Mary Aiken
Bullying/Cyber Bullying

FAQ: What is Bullying? 

Articles:

Needle Phobia
Anxiety

FAQ: What are anxiety disorders? 

Articles:

Books:

  • Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents  by Eli R Lebowitz
  • Chansky, T. E. (2004). Freeing your child from anxiety: Powerful, practical solutions to overcome your child’s fears, worries, and phobias. Broadway Books.

Coping Strategies:

  • 3-3-3 Strategy for Anxiety
    • If your child is  getting caught up in anxious thoughts, you can try using the 3-3-3 technique.
    • Here’s how to do it:
      • Look around: Identify three things you can see. Take a moment to really observe these objects, noting their details, colors, and shapes. “This process helps to shift your focus from internal anxiety to your external environment,” says McInnis.
      • Listen closely: Find three sounds you can hear. These could be as loud as a blaring siren or as subtle as the hum of an air conditioner. 
      • Move your body: Move three parts of your body. It could be as simple as rolling your shoulders, wiggling your toes, or turning your head. Pay attention to the sensations caused by each movement.
  • 5-4-3-2-1 Strategy for Anxiety
    • A simple and effective grounding exercise help individuals stay present and focused. This method is particularly useful during moments of high stress or panic, providing a structured way to observe and describe the environment. It can be done anywhere.
      • 5: Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you. It could be a pen, a spot on the ceiling, anything in your surroundings.
      • 4: Acknowledge FOUR things you can touch around you. It could be your hair, a pillow, or the ground under your feet. 
      • 3: Acknowledge THREE things you hear. This could be any external sound. If you can hear your belly rumbling that counts! Focus on things you can hear outside of your body.
      • 2: Acknowledge TWO things you can smell. Maybe you are in your office and smell pencil, or maybe you are in your bedroom and smell a pillow. If you need to take a brief walk to find a scent you could smell soap in your bathroom, or nature outside.
      • 1: Acknowledge ONE thing you can taste. What does the inside of your mouth taste like—gum, coffee, or the sandwich from lunch?
Autism

*If your child has been newly diagnosed with Autism please see our attached handout for information on where to start and the different support services available. 

FAQ: What is autism spectrum disorder? 

Resources:

  • Autism Speaks first 100 Day Kit
  • Autism Resource Central
    • Connect with your local center by visiting mass.gov or if living in the Central-West Region, that encompasses Worcester and its surrounding communities visit: www.autismresourcecentral.org 
    • Offers a Autism 101 workshops for newly diagnosed patients and families. 508-835-4278
  • Autism Speaks
    • Provides advocacy, services, supports, research and innovation, and advances in care for autistic individuals and their families.
    • www.autismspeaks.org
  • Insurance Resource Center for Autism and Behavioral Health
  • Department of Disability Services
    • DDS provides supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder to enhance opportunities to become fully engaged members of their community.
    • www.mass.gov/orgs/department-ofdevelopmental-services
  • Massachusetts Parental Stress Hotline
    • Free, confidential, 24/7 help that offers support, empathy, encouragement, information and referrals. www.parentshelpingparents.org (800) 632-8188
School Avoidance/Refusal/Back To School

Articles:

Podcasts:

ADHD

FAQ: What is attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder?  

Articles:

 Books:

  • Late, Lost, and Unprepared: A Parents' Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning by Joyce Coper-Kahn, and Laurie Dietzel
  • Taking Charge of ADHD by Russell Barkley
  • Smart but Scattered Teens by Richard Guare, Colin Guare, and Peg Dawson

Podcasts:

Parenting

Podcasts:

Tantrums:

Books:

  • 1-2-3 Magic by Dr Phelan
  • How To Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
  • How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 (The How To Talk Series) by Joanna Faber &  Julie King
  • The Explosive Child by Ross Greene
  • Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids by Hunter Clarke-Fields MSAE , Carla Naumburg PhD 
  • Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
  • The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind Daniel J. Siegel M.D. Tina Payne Bryson 

Support:

  • Massachusetts Parental Stress Hotline
    • Free, confidential, 24/7 help that offers support, empathy, encouragement, information and referrals. www.parentshelpingparents.org  (800) 632-8188
Depression

FAQ: What is depression? 

Articles:

Children & Parents: Toilet Training

Children

  • A Potty for Me, by Karen Katz
  • Everybody Poops, by Taro Gomi
  • I’ve Finished, by Victoria Roberts
  • It Hurts When I Poop, by Howard Bennett
  • Once Upon a Potty, by Alona Frankel
  • Potty Time with Elmo, Phoenix International Publications
  • Potty, by Leslie Patricelli
  • The New Potty, by Mercer Mayer
  • The Potty Book for Boys, by Alyssa Capucilli
  • The Potty Book for Girls, by Alyssa Capucilli

Parents

  • Tiolet Training Tips & Tricks (PDF download)
  • No Cry Potty Training Solution, by Elizabeth Pantrey
  • Potty Training Answer Book, by Karen Deerwester
  • Potty Wise, by Grey Ezzo
  • Stress Free Potty Training, by Sara Au and Peter Stanvinoha
  • The Everything Guide to Potty Training, by Kim Bookout
  • Toilet Training, by Vicki Lansk
Grief and Loss