Recognizing Early Developmental Delays: What Parents Should Know
Recognizing the early signs of developmental delays can make a meaningful difference in a child’s growth and success. In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, this blog highlights key milestones to watch for, common early concerns, and where parents can turn for support. Read this month’s blog post by Caring Cove clinician, Dr. Leah Watson, to learn how early identification can open the door to helpful resources and set your child up to thrive.
The Importance of Self-Compassion
This February, self-love is in the air! Parenting and caregiving can feel like a lot, and it’s easy to become your own toughest critic. In a world of constant comparisons and pressure to “get it right,” self-compassion offers a more sustainable way forward. Read this month’s blog post written by Caring Cove clinician, Dr. Katie Cornet, to explore what self-compassion really means, why it matters for both you and your children, and how it can help you respond to hard moments with kindness instead of self-blame.
The Power of PRIDE
PRIDE skills, Praise, Reflect, Imitate, Describe and Enthusiasm, are powerful interaction strategies commonly used in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). While simple in practice, PRIDE skills have a meaningful and lasting impact on children’s emotional, behavioral, and social development. Read this blog post written by Caring Cove clinician Ashley Pires, LCSW, to learn more about PRIDE skills and how they can make a positive impact on you and your child!
A Note for the Caregivers
The holidays are busy, loud, and often overwhelming and somehow, you’re still showing up. Before we dive into holiday tips and behavior strategies, this blog pauses to acknowledge the work you’re already doing, the growth you may not even notice yet, and a few gentle reminders to support both you and your child during this season of joyful chaos.
Raising Grateful Kids
Parents often share that their children seem to take things for granted and overlook how much is done for them. It’s a common concern, and one that is typically developmentally normal. From a behavioral standpoint, gratitude can be thought of as a skill that grows over time. Research shows that when children practice gratitude, they tend to feel more positive emotions, build stronger relationships, and show greater resilience. Like any skill, gratitude develops when children see it modeled, receive reinforcement for expressing it, and practice it regularly in daily life.
Nurturing Mental Health in the Perinatal Period
Pregnancy and the first year after birth, the perinatal period, bring enormous changes. Your body, your relationships, your routines, and even your sense of self may all feel different. While some describe this stage as magical and joyful, the reality can be more complicated. It’s also a time when worry, exhaustion, and unexpected emotions can take center stage.
Understanding Big Emotions: Self-Regulation Through Fun Summer Activities
Summer is often expected to be a season of fun, freedom, and sunshine—but for many children, the break from school routines can bring just the opposite: dysregulation, restlessness, and big emotions. Without the daily structure they rely on during the school year, kids may struggle to regulate their emotions. And for caregivers? The pressure to create magical summer memories while juggling everyday responsibilities is difficult. The good news? Summer can also be a perfect time to help kids build their self-regulation skills—through playful, low-pressure moments woven into your day. Here are five simple, summer-friendly strategies to support your child’s emotional well-being (and your own) during the season.
Looking Ahead: Supporting Your Child with Selective Mutism This Summer
As summer approaches, many parents of children with Selective Mutism (SM) begin to wonder how to maintain progress without the familiar routines and structure of the school year. While this can be a challenge, summer also presents a unique opportunity: a chance to practice bravery across settings.
Managing Sports Anxiety in Kids
Spring has sprung and so has the Spring sports season! From soccer games to baseball, sports can provide your kids with a fun outlet to get outside and stay active. However, they can also become stressful for both the athletes participating and the caregivers supporting them. Here are some tips and tricks to help your child manage their Spring sports anxiety.