Hyperactivity is typically thought of as one part of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can be diagnosed in children as early as age 4 years. However, because most preschoolers can be active and inattentive and have difficulty staying engaged at times, only medical and/or mental health

Young people today can face strong peer pressure to try drugs, including a group of substances called inhalants. Inhalant abuse is particularly a problem with younger teens, but even children as young as 5 or 6 years may try inhalants.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). While there is no cure for HIV, early diagnosis and treatment are very effective at keeping people healthy. In addition, there are things you can do to prevent getting HIV. Read on to learn more

Your child will learn many things in life—how to listen, speak, read, write, and do math. Some skills may be harder to learn than others. If your child is trying his best to learn certain skills but is not able to keep up with his peers, it’s important to find out why. Your child may have a learning

It is important for parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teens to remember that each child is unique and will have their own experiences and feelings. “Coming out” is a lifelong journey of understanding, acknowledging, and sharing one’s gender identity or sexual orientation

Before you decide to have sex or if you are already having sex, you need to know how to stay healthy. Even if you think you know everything you need to know about sex, take a few minutes and read on. Your doctor wants to make sure you know the facts.

Anxiety is another word for feeling worried or scared. If your child is feeling anxious, they may not be able to tell you. Your child may feel bad or sick without knowing why, or you may notice they seem restless or tired.

Children experience depression differently than adults. Your child may not be able to tell you they are feeling sad, and they may not even feel sad at all. Instead, you may notice your child seems irritable, frustrated, restless, discouraged, or tired. These are some other common signs of depression

It’s normal for children of any age to get angry or break a rule once in a while. But if your child’s behaviors are causing problems at home, at school, or with friends, they may need extra support.

Inattention and impulsivity are normal for young children. But by the time they’re in school, most children can pay attention for a longer time and can think and plan before they act. If your school-aged child behaves more like what you would expect from a younger child, this behavior may be a sign

As a parent, you are your child’s first and best protection against drug use. The following is information from the American Academy of Pediatrics about marijuana and how to help your child say “No” to drug use. (Child refers to child or teen in this publication.)

Please check one answer for each question. If the question does not apply to your family (ie, you do not own a computer or mobile device), leave that section blank.

Your child is sick or hurt and the first thought on your mind is, “How can I make my child better?” That's natural. No parent wants his or her child to suffer. So how do you decide what medicines to give or treatments to try?

Many children have sleep or nap problems at some time. Depending on the situations in which they live, their child care, and/or situations they experience, sleeping or napping problems may last a while or be resolved quickly. The most common cause of nap inconsistencies is being overtired and overstimulated.

Children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) perform repetitive patterns of compulsive behaviors in response to a strict internal rule or because they believe it will serve a purpose, such as protecting them. Compulsions decrease children’s distress level, or children believe that compulsions

A physical altercation is generally a confrontation, tussle, or display of physical aggression that may or may not result in injury. Physical altercations are distinguished from verbal altercations by the use of physical force or contact. Physical altercations may also be referred to as bullying or fighting.

Children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are most easily identified if caregivers and child care and early education professionals are aware that they have experienced a significant trauma in their past, including a motor vehicle crash, significant medical procedure, house fire, natural disaster,

Research has shown that children are influenced by what they see and hear, especially at very young ages. To help parents make informed choices about what their children see and hear, many entertainment companies use ratings systems. Ratings give parents more information about the content of television

Pediatricians are often the first responders for children and families suffering emotional and psychological reactions to terrorism and other disasters. As such, pediatricians have a unique opportunity to help parents and other caregivers communicate

Tantrums are common in young children, with as many as 70% of children between the ages of 18 and 24 months having tantrums and 75% of children aged 3 to 5 years displaying tantrum behaviors. It is not unusual for a child between 18 and 60 months of age to have a tantrum per day, lasting between 90 seconds

Selective mutism is identified when a child who is able to speak at home does not speak in public settings, especially child care or school. While some children are shy in new settings, the shyness generally decreases as they become accustomed to the new setting. Children with selective mutism will remain

Self-stimulating behaviors may appear as banging the head, rocking, thumb-sucking, teeth grinding (bruxism), nail-biting, masturbating, or pulling and twisting the hair.

Separation anxiety is the distress that children show when being separated from their primary caregivers. It appears around 7 to 9 months of age in most children and can persist over time for children who tend to be shyer or less adaptable to new routines. In typical development, children can easily

Almost 80% of children grow up with at least one brother or sister. Brothers and sisters teach each other how to get along with others. Even if they do not always get along with each other, siblings play very positive roles in each other's lives.

Single-parent families are more and more common in today's society. While raising children alone isn't easy, children in single-parent homes can grow up just as happy as children in 2-parent homes. Read on to find out how single parents can better cope with the special challenges of raising children

Approximately 25% of children younger than 5 years experience some type of sleep problem.

Sleep problems are very common during the first few years of life. Problems may include waking up during the night, not wanting to go to sleep, nightmares, sleepwalking, and bedwetting. If frantic upset persists with no apparent cause, call your child's doctor.

Children differ in how much sleep they need, how long it takes them to fall asleep, and how easily they wake up. If you are concerned about your child’s sleep habits, talk with your child’s doctor. Your child’s doctor may ask you to keep a sleep diary to help track your child’s sleep habits.

Chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, and dissolvable tobacco in the shape of sticks, pellets, and strips are all types of tobacco products that are not smoked but used in other ways. All types of smokeless tobacco contain nicotine and chemicals known to cause cancer (carcinogens).

Even though stress makes us feel uncomfortable, it's not always a bad thing. Sometimes stress can really help us deal with tough situations. A lot of stress changes our bodies quickly and helps us react to an emergency. A little stress keeps us alert and helps us work harder.

The use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs is one of the biggest temptations facing young people today. As a parent, you are your child's best protection against drug use. You can start by telling your children that you expect them not to use drugs and become informed yourself about drug use. This

Children are exposed to sexual messages every day—on TV, on the Internet, in movies, in magazines, and in music. Sex in the media is so common that you might think that teens today already know all they need to about sex. They may even claim to know it all, so sex is something you just don't talk about.