Emotions & Behavior
Understanding and supporting your child's emotional wellbeing and behavioral development
Is it Just a Phase or a Serious Problem?
Help your child cope with life's ups and downs, from dealing with divorce to preparing for new siblings. Or find out how to understand your child's behavior, whether it's toddler tantrums or teenage depression.
This section provides practical guidance on recognizing emotional needs, managing challenging behaviors, and fostering healthy emotional development. Explore the topics below organized by Behavior and Emotions.
Behavior (41)
3 Ways to Help When Kids Feel Lonely
→About Teen Suicide
→ADHD and School
→ADHD in Kids & Teens
→ADHD Medicines
→Binge Eating Disorder
→Biting
→Breath-Holding Spells
→Compulsive Exercise
→Cutting and Self-Harm
→Delayed Speech or Language Development
→Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Teens
→Disciplining Your Child
→Helping Kids Cope With Cliques
→Helping Kids Deal With Bullies
→Helping Teens Who Self-Harm
→Helping Your Child Heal After Trauma
→How Can Social Connection Help Kids & Teens Feel Less Lonely?
→Is Head Banging Normal?
→Kids and Smoking
→Meal Support for Eating Disorders (Video)
→Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
→Parenting a Child With ADHD
→Parenting a Teen With ADHD
→Pica
→Sexting: What Parents Need to Know
→Soiling (Encopresis)
→Steroids
→Stuttering
→Talking to Your Kids About Alcohol
→Talking to Your Kids About Drugs
→Taming Tempers
→Teaching Kids Not to Bully
→Teaching Your Child Self-Control
→Teaching Your Child to Be a Good Sport
→Temper Tantrums
→Therapy for ADHD
→Toilet Training
→Understanding Cliques
→Understanding Your Child's Eating Disorder (Video)
→Your Child's Habits
→Emotions (46)
3 Ways to Help When Kids Feel Lonely
→6 Tips for Telling Your Child About a Military Deployment
→9 Ways to Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem
→Answering Questions About Sex
→Anxiety Disorders in Children
→Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in Kids and Teens
→Childhood Depression: What Parents Need to Know
→Childhood Fears and Worries
→Childhood Stress: How Parents Can Help
→Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play it Cool
→Cutting and Self-Harm
→Cyberbullying
→Depression in Teens: How Parents Can Help
→Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Teens
→Disasters: How Families Can Help
→Eating Disorders
→Healthy Habits for Media Use (Topic Center)
→Helping Kids Deal With Bullies
→Helping Kids When They Worry
→Helping Your Child During Treatment for Depression (Video)
→Helping Your Child Heal After Trauma
→Helping Your Child Manage Anxiety (Video)
→Helping Your Family Cope With Military Deployment
→How Can Social Connection Help Kids & Teens Feel Less Lonely?
→I'm Pregnant and in an Abusive Relationship. How Can I Get Out?
→Is it Normal to Feel Sad After Having a Baby?
→Is Your Child Depressed? (Video)
→Mental Health & Social Media Use: What Parents Can Do
→Postpartum Depression
→Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children
→Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling
→Relaxation Techniques for Kids With Serious Illness
→Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
→Separation Anxiety
→Sexual Orientation
→Sibling Rivalry
→Stress (Topic Center)
→Taking Care of Your Mental Health During Pregnancy
→Taking Your Child to a Therapist
→Teaching Kids About Their Bodies
→Telling Your Child a Family Member Has a Serious Illness
→Tips for Divorcing Parents
→Underage Drinking: What Can Parents Do?
→When a Loved One Dies: How to Help Your Child
→When a Pet Dies: Helping Kids Cope
→Your Child's Self-Esteem
→💡Quick Tips for Emotional Health
💬Open Communication
Create a safe space for your child to express their feelings without judgment.
👂Active Listening
Listen to understand your child's emotions, not just to respond or fix problems.
🎯Consistent Boundaries
Set clear, age-appropriate boundaries that help children feel secure and understand expectations.
❤️Emotional Validation
Acknowledge your child's feelings as valid, even when you need to guide their behavior.
More Resources
⚠️Important Note
The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about your child's emotional wellbeing or behavior, please consult with a qualified mental health professional, pediatrician, or child psychologist. If you believe your child is in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.