November 4, 2025 Child Mind Institute Resources Aim to Focus NVLD’s Visual-Spatial Problems There are many misconceptions about nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD), from the fact that those with it might be highly verbal to the fact that the disorder is not in the DSM-5, the official guide to mental health disorders. Learn More The Child Mind Institute has released a series of resources from nonverbal learning disorder experts who have worked to sharpen the focus on the visual-spatial problems at the core of the disorder’s disparate symptoms. The experts have even proposed a new name: developmental visual-spatial disorder. In the series of resources, the institute explains the new definition and criteria for a developmental visual-spatial disorder diagnosis. There are also articles on how to help children with the disorder. Another resource focuses on why children with learning disabilities have social challenges, while another discusses how to boost their executive functioning skills. There is also a piece on the importance of keeping an eye on the emotional well-being of a child with the disorder. Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources: A New Take on Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) Quick Guide to Nonverbal Learning Disorder How Can We Help Kids with Nonverbal Learning Disorder Social Challenges of Kids with Learning Problems Helping Kids Who Struggle with Executive Functions Supporting the Emotional Needs of Kids with Learning Disabilities Occupational Therapists: What Do They Do?
October 14, 2025 Child Mind Institute Resources Aim to Help Adults Recognize Learning Disorders As the school year settles in, learning disorders often become more pronounced as students begin to settle into class routines. Some children may struggle with reading, while others might find it challenging to follow directions. Learn More The Child Mind Institute has released a new series of resources on how to recognize learning disorders in children. The resources include 32 one-page tip sheets for an overview of such learning disabilities as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and language disorder as well as how to support children with specific challenges. The institute wrote that while it’s important to provide academic support to children with difficulties, it’s just as important to support them emotionally because some children with learning disabilities might lack confidence. Practicing how to discuss a learning disorder, the institute notes, can help children to understand that it’s not something to be embarrassed about. As children get older, learning to talk about their challenges can help them to advocate for themselves. The Child Mind Institute’s resources include: Tips for Recognizing Learning Disorders in the Classroom Early Signs of Learning Challenges Supporting Kids with Learning Disorders How to Help Kids with a Learning Disorder Build Confidence How to Help Kids Talk About Learning Disabilities Learning Disabilities and Self-Advocacy “My Teacher Hates Me!”
September 29, 2025 Child Mind Institute Shares Resources on Hoarding and Messy Rooms Cleaning one’s room has become a rite of passage for many children, while staying on top of children to clean their rooms is a tradition among many caregivers. It’s a scenario that most involved do not enjoy. Learn More But while caregivers might believe that a child’s failing to clean their room after being asked multiple times to be a sign of defiance, a cluttered room could also result from hoarding. According to the Child Mind Institute, children who hoard get emotionally attached to objects – occasionally even ones that might seem like trash, such as used pizza boxes, clothing tags, or rocks. In these cases, the child might get upset if someone tries to clean it up. In a series of new resources, the Child Mind Institute dives into the topic of hoarding and how it differs from other concerns – such as the chaotic room of a child with ADHD or a teen who hides food. Hoarding is related to OCDE, but children who hoard don’t collect items to relieve anxiety. Instead, anxiety might come when they are forced to get rid of things. The Child Mind Institute writes that the treatment for hoarding is exposure therapy, where children who hoard handle the discomfort that comes from discarding items. Some children might resist getting treatment, while others might feel ashamed about hoarding. Among the Child Mind Institute’s resources is an article on how to handle embarrassment and support children as they take steps to be more flexible. Here are the Child Mind Institute’s resources on hoarding: Hoarding in Children Why Your Child with ADHD Has Such a Messy Room My 15-Year-Old Daughter Hides Food Around Her Room. Is She a Hoarder? What Does OCD Look Like in Children? What is the Best Treatment for OCD? How Can I Get My Daughter to Stop Hoarding? How to Help Kids Deal with Embarrassment
September 10, 2025 Child Mind Institute Offers Resources for Suicide Prevention Month To honor Suicide Prevention Month in September, the Child Mind Institute has released a list of resources for caregivers to combat the scourge. Learn More Suicidal feelings or attempts in children can leave adults feeling helpless and struggling to figure out the cause of distress. But there are services and treatments available for people of all ages who are experiencing suicidal behavior. Among the Child Mind Institute’s resources is a piece on cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP), which helps children and teens recognize and change the thoughts that drive suicidal behavior and learn tools to cope with painful feelings. There are also resources on how to create a safety plan so children know what to do if such thoughts emerge as well as guidance on how to notice signs that a child might be suicidal. Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) Reducing a Suicide Risk with Safety Plans Signs a Child Might Be Suicidal Teen Suicides: What Are the Warning Signs? What To Do If You’re Worried About Suicide What Are the Symptoms of Depression in Teenagers? Taking a Child to the Emergency Room
September 8, 2025 Resources for Caregivers Parenting Multiple Children with Mental Health Challenges Caregivers who take care of multiple children face the task of juggling many needs at once – and often at different maturity levels and schedules. But balancing the needs of multiple children can be even more challenging when more than one child struggles with mental health issues. Learn More The Child Mind Institute has compiled a list of resources to help caregivers meet these challenges, allowing them to take care of themselves while also giving each child the support they need. Among the resources are a list of common challenges faced by families when more than one child has a mental health issue as well as how to approach conflict between siblings with different needs. The resources include ways caregivers can prevent children from arguing and how to encourage connection. There is a discussion on how to navigate differing parenting styles while making sure children are properly supported. The Child Mind Institute also includes advice from siblings of children with mental health challenges on how caregivers can ensure that each child feels seen and heard. The resources also include guidance on how to avoid burnout. The Child Mind Institute’s resources on parenting multiple children with mental health challenges include: Parenting Multiple Kids with Mental Health Challenges How to Help Siblings Get Along Conflicts Over Parenting Styles Advice from Siblings of Kids with Mental Health Disorders Preventing Parent Burnout Supporting vs. Enabling
September 2, 2025 Back-to-School Resources for Children Who Are Struggling Starting back at school in the fall presents a number of challenges for young children – but especially those who are already struggling. The Child Mind Institute has provided a series of resources for children who might need a little extra help to achieve success. Learn More Children might experience anxiety as they start a new school year – especially if they are attending for the first time. But some students might need a little extra assistance as they navigate the challenges of school. Some students with selective mutism might speak comfortably at home but find it harder to interact at school. Other students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might need tools and strategies to stay organized, while others with sensory processing challenges may need help to stay comfortable and focused. Most children would benefit from a consistent schedule and homework routine, the Child Mind Institute noted. Here are some resources for back-to-school success for children who might be struggling: Selective Mutism and Starting Kindergarten Back-to-School Tips for Kids Who Are Struggling School Success Kit for Kids with ADHD School Success Kit for Kids with Sensory Processing Issues School Mornings Without the Stress Strategies to Make Homework Go More Smoothly
August 25, 2025 Child Mind Institute Provides Resources for Children Making School Transitions Children will head back to school in a few weeks, and some of them will do so for the first time. The Child Mind Institute has put together a list of resources for caregivers who have children who will make a big transition this fall by starting kindergarten, middle school, and high school. Learn More The transitions for students starting at these levels can involve new schools, new routines, and unfamiliar faces. As a result, both students and parents can be anxious about these transitions. The Child Mind Institute outlines the specific challenges of each transition and offers tips for how caregivers can help children navigate changes. For children starting kindergarten, the resources emphasize the importance of building independence such as using the bathroom solo or opening snacks. It also provides strategies that children can use to calm themselves down when they are nervous. For middle school, the Child Mind Institute’s resources discuss how to handle an increased workload as well as social and emotional challenges that come with puberty. And for high school, the resources provide assistance with how to help build time management and study skills as well as guidance on how to handle situations involving sex and substances. For all grades, the resources also emphasize the importance of getting enough sleep. The Child Mind Institute’s resources include: Starting Elementary School Starting Middle School Starting High School Back-to-School Anxiety How to Work Well with Your Child’s Teacher Back-to-School Dos and Dont’s
August 12, 2025 Child Mind Institute Provides Resources to Prepare Students for College The Child Mind Institute has shared a list of resources for caregivers whose children are preparing to leave for college. Learn More Getting ready for college involves more than just buying the necessary clothing or dorm-room bedding, the Child Mind Institute writes. Students need to be prepared to get to class on time, get enough sleep, balance academics with social life, and learn to handle inevitable challenges on their own when they arise. The institute has put together a College Readiness Kit that identifies challenges that college students face, especially if they are spending their first year away from home. It also offers strategies for managing these challenges. The toolkit is designed for students to use before they leave for college. It covers everything from how to manage money in college as well as how to troubleshoot challenges such as difficulty getting along with a roommate or failing a midterm. It offers parents guidelines for playing a supporting role, such as how to help a student who is nervous about leaving home or how to support children with ADHD or a learning disorder. Here are the Child Mind Institute’s resources: How Do You Manage Your Money in College? You’re Having a Conflict with Your Roommate: What Should You Do? How to Support a Child Who is Nervous About Leaving Home What Parents of Students with ADHD or Learning Disorders Need to Know Before Their Kids Go to College Medication Management in College Procrastination and College Students Preparing for College Emotionally, Not Just Academically
August 4, 2025 Child Mind Institute Shares Resources on Nonverbal or Minimally Verbal Children The Child Mind Institute has released a series of resources on the complexities of diagnosis regarding nonverbal and minimally verbal children. Learn More Caregivers are likely concerned when a child doesn’t speak or uses fewer words than is typical for their age and might wonder if a child will start speaking on their own – or if they require support. Delayed speech, the Child Mind Institute writes, can be a sign of autism, spectrum disorder, intellectual developmental disorder, or speech sound disorder. Visiting a diagnostician might be in order to determine what’s going on. The Child Mind Institute’s resources discuss the complexities of diagnosis, such as how to assess nonverbal or minimally verbal children. It can be challenging – but not impossible – for a clinician to assess them accurately if the child can’t speak to respond to questions. Among the resources are tips on what to look for in a diagnosis as well as what an evaluation for autism should include. There is also advice on why certain symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis and how to work with a clinician to get the correct one. Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources on the subject: Assessing Nonverbal and Minimally Verbal Children How to Find a Children’s Mental Health Professional What Should You Look for in a Diagnosis? What Should an Evaluation for Autism Look Like? The Most Common Misdiagnoses in Children Challenges in Diagnosing Psychiatric Problems in Very Young Children
July 28, 2025 Thriving Kids Newsletter Discusses How to Promote Good Behavior in Children The Child Mind Institute recently kicked off its Thriving Kids newsletter with the topic of how to promote good behavior in children. The article noted that while managing a child’s behavior can be exhausting, there are simple strategies that can be employed to make a big difference. Learn More Thriving Kids noted that taking time out of each day to do something with a child that they enjoy can contribute to a healthy caregiver-child relationship and promotes good behavior. Children appreciate getting attention, which can include everything from asking about their day on the drive home from school or taking part in an activity together. Setting clear expectations about the type of behavior that is expected helps to guide both the caregiver and child when undesirable behavior occurs. Expectations should be realistic and discussed with the child. When a child exhibits good behavior, it should be acknowledged and rewarded. This increases the chance that the child will repeat good behavior in the future. On the other hand, parents should initiate consequences for unwanted behavior immediately after it happens. Consequences should be brief and consistent. Lastly, caregivers should take a moment to reset. It is normal to become frustrated or upset with a child’s behavior. It can be helpful to take a breath, and caregivers can share with a child that they are taking a moment to let go of frustration before having a discussion about the behavior. 8 Tips for Promoting Good Behavior Thriving Kids also provided eight tips for promoting good behavior in children. These include: Taking care of the relationship – connecting with a child is important to build a relationship based on trust and respect; try to spend time daily fully engaged with the child in an activity they enjoy. Set clear and realistic expectations – go over expectations for how a child is expected to behave in certain situations and review them when a child needs to demonstrate that behavior. Catch them being good – Use specific praise when a child behaves appropriately, which will increase the likelihood that they’ll repeat the good behavior in the future. Be thoughtful about consequences – try to make consequences immediate, brief, and consistent; try to return to “normal” as quickly as possible once the consequence is completed. Avoid harsh discipline – consequences don’t need to upset children to work; it’s more important that consequences are consistently applied when unwanted behavior occurs. Take a moment – if you notice yourself getting frustrated or upset with a child’s behavior, take a moment to calm down before responding. Be a detective – rather than focusing on the behavior itself, dig deeper to try to figure out what might be behind it; the reason is not always simple or obvious, so look for patterns. Talk when they’re calm – don’t try to reason with children during a meltdown; wait until things calm down to have a discussion, during which you listen to one another and share feelings. To learn more, read Thriving Kids’ article on how to promote good behavior in children.
