II t’s time to head back to school. While this can be an exciting time for children and parents, for some, it can be stressful. Stress serves a purpose in our lives. However, when stress is so persistent that you start to feel worry, dread, or fear, it turns into anxiety. We can start showing signs of anxiety in infancy. Babies may cry or hiccup excessively. Toddlers may bite, have tantrums, or be extra clingy. School aged children may experience stomach aches, sleeplessness, or irritability. And procrastinating, yelling, and poor appetite are some signs of parental anxiety. According to the CDC, 7.1% of children aged 3-17 years have diagnosed anxiety in 2018. That number jumps to 31.9% of children aged 13 - 18. And an estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience any anxiety disorder at some time in their lives (NIMH). The best way for parents to talk to kids about anxiety is to lead by example. As The Good Mom Coach™, I teach parents techniques they can use throughout the day such as de
Massage for Infants, Toddlers, and Teens (MITTS) is a program developed by the Village Academy for Families, LLC. Our goal is to help build healthy relationships through positive touch. If it takes a village to raise a child, that village needs to be equipped with the appropriate tools to do so. Massage services that include the needs of the whole family provide tools that help the individual receiving the massage and helps build and maintain healthy relationships.