Parent Tips for Preventing Child Sexual Abuse From the American Academy of Pediatrics A Dreamstime.com Photo Sexual abuse is a difficult subject for most people to discuss, and especially difficult for parents to discuss with their children. But as frightening as the topic may be, sexual abuse is a serious and, unfortunately, common [...]
Social Media, Internet and Youth: Tips for Parents As mental health professionals, we’ve come to view social media use as a modern developmental task in which all youth should become proficient. Most teens can be taught to use social media responsibly just like most learn to drive responsibly. As with driving, it takes education, supervised [...]
Autism Spectrum Disorder 101 What it Autism Spectrum Disorder? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors (www.autismspeaks.org). Did you know ... Autism now affects 1 in [...]
Helping Your Child Overcome Teasing and Bullying If your child is unfortunate enough to face chronic teasing or bullying there are some strategies taught by various programs to help them cope. The strategies below were taken from a program that we offer at Arkansas Families First, LLC called the PEERS Program. Dealing with Verbal Teasing [...]
Resources for Families Facing the Trauma of Tornadoes and their Aftermath From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network In light of the numerous tornadoes that have impacted the communities in Arkansas and surrounding states, our friends at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) have developed some helpful materials on this topic: Tornado Response Factsheets [...]
How is ADHD tested? Dreamstime.com There are essentially three ways to get your child assessed for ADHD. They'll be outline here in the order of complexity. For mild, uncomplicated cases, the first one will suffice, but for more severe or more complicated cases, the final two options will likely be more effective [...]
Attention Deficit Disorder Pic from Dreamstime.com ADHD or ADD "is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood, effecting 5-8% of children. It can profoundly effect the academic achievement, well-being, and social interactions of children. The primary symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, algthough not all children with ADHD display all [...]
ID 23675295 © Fasphotographic | Dreamstime.com Bullying is a serious problem for many children. Nearly one in three students experience bullying and some 40 percent of teachers observe bullying once a week or more, according to Chris Munsey’s recent report in the APA Monitor. It is not “just kids being kids,” it is actually associated [...]
Arkansas Families First is devoted to unlocking the full potential of children and families. Our mission is to utilize the latest research and the most skilled clinicians in the service of improving people’s lives. We strive to empower parents, and to integrate multiple disciplines in the building of strong families and healthy children.
What are the Treatments for ADHD in Children and Teens? ADHD in Children and Teens The effectiveness of treatment for ADHD in children and teens varies greatly depending on a number of factors, such as the severity of the symptoms. Other factors that contribute to treatment are largely environmental, such as the [...]
