Tough Topics

Articles In This Section

• Helping Kids Cope With Stress

  Stress from things like school and social situations can feel overwhelming for kids. But by teaching healthy coping strategies, you'll prepare your kids to manage stress.

• Disciplining Your Child

  It's important to be consistent about discipline. If you don't stick to the rules and consequences, kids aren't likely to either. Find out how to vary your approach to fit your family.

• Developing Your Child’s Self-Esteem

  Self-esteem is a child's armor against the challenges of the world. Here's how you can promote healthy self-esteem in your kids.

• Marriage Advice for Parents of Children With Special Needs

  When you're in sync with your spouse, you're better able to care for your child. Here are 10 ways to strengthen your relationship.

• “Am I Pretty?”: What Moms, Daughters Really Think About Looks

  KidsHealth asked thousands of mothers and daughters how they felt about their appearance. Their answers may surprise you.

• E-Cigarettes

  E-cigarettes are marketed as a safe alternative to smoking, but they're not - they still deliver nicotine into the body. Here are the facts on "vaping."

• Secondhand Smoke

  Experts now know that breathing in someone else's secondhand smoke is hazardous to our health. Find out what you can do about it.

• Kids & Teens Talk About Life (Video)

  In this video series, kids & teens talk about their experiences with bullying, stress, family life, managing health problems, staying fit, eating right — and what it means to be in love.

• Teens Talk About Stress (Video)

  Here, teens talk about what stresses them out and how they cope.

• Teens Talk About Bullying (Video)

  Hear from teens who've been bullied - and what they did about it.

• Disciplining Your Child With Special Needs

  Here's how to set boundaries and communicate your expectations in a nurturing, loving way.

• Support for Parents of Kids With Special Needs

  You might have more on your plate than most parents, but it doesn't mean you have to do it all alone. Here's how to ask for help and avoid caregiver burnout.

• Child Abuse

  Nearly a million children are abused each year in the United States alone. Learn how to spot the signs of child abuse.

• Biting

  There are ways to get to the bottom of your toddler's biting habit. These steps can help.

• 5 Ways to Bully-Proof Your Kid

  Take the target off your kid's back with these smart tips.

• Anxiety Disorders

  Anxiety is a normal part of growing up, and all kids experience it. But when it becomes extreme, it can interfere with a child's overall happiness.

• Date Rape

  Half of all people who are raped know their attacker. Increase your child's awareness of date rape and teach him or her how to stay safe.

• Transgender People

  People who are transgender feel like they're living inside a body that's all wrong for them. Here are the facts about what it means to be transgender.

• Sexting: What Parents Need to Know

  Sending or receiving a photo, video, or message that contains nudity, a sex act, or even talk of sex is know as "sexting." This type of sharing could haunt a teen for the rest of his or her life. Here's what parents need to know.

• Am I ‘Too Tough’ When I Discipline My Kids?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• How Can I Teach Kids to Be Smart About Strangers?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Rohypnol: What Parents Need to Know

  Rohypnol is an antianxiety medication. Because it can cause extreme drowsiness (or "blackouts"), the drug is often used in date rapes.

• Amphetamines: What Parents Need to Know

  Amphetamines (including prescription diet pills) are highly addictive stimulants that accelerate functions in the brain and body.

• Nicotine: What Parents Need to Know

  Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant. Those who start smoking before age 21 have the hardest time breaking the habit.

• Ketamine: What Parents Need to Know

  Ketamine hydrochloride is a quick-acting anesthetic that can cause intoxication, hallucinations, and even death when taken in dangerously high doses.

• Raising a Child With Autism: Paige and Iain’s Story

  When their son was diagnosed with autism at age 3, Paige and Iain were devastated. Since then, Lochlan has gotten the treatment and services he needs, and is learning about the world around him. Read their story.

• Methamphetamines: What Parents Need to Know

  Methamphetamines are dangerous stimulants that speed up a person's heart rate and bodily functions. When used in large doses, they can kill.

• Marijuana: What Parents Need to Know

  Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States.

• LSD: What Parents Need to Know

  LSD is a dangerous hallucinogenic drug that affects mood, judgment, and behavior.

• Inhalants: What Parents Need to Know

  Inhalants like glue are sniffed or huffed to give the user a high. Just doing it one time can be fatal.

• GHB: What Parents Need to Know

  GHB, gamma hydroxybutyrate, is a popular club and date rape drug that can be deadly.

• Heroin: What Parents Need to Know

  Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal narcotic that can cause death when taken in excess.

• Cocaine & Crack: What Parents Need to Know

  Cocaine and crack are illegal drugs that produce an intense high and can cause a stroke, heart attack, or even death.

• Ecstasy: What Parents Need to Know

  Ecstasy is a dangerous illegal drug that can cause hallucinations and even death.

• Depressants: What Parents Need to Know

  Depressants calm and relax nerves. But if used in the wrong way, they can be dangerous and even cause life-threatening problems.

• Drugs: What Parents Need to Know

  Knowing what drugs are out there, what they can do, and how they can affect someone is the first step in raising drug-free kids.

• Disciplining Your Toddler

  Reeling in your active little one can be tough. But setting limits now helps prevent bigger problems down the road.

• Caring for Siblings of Seriously Ill Children

  By being aware of what healthy siblings are going through and taking a few steps to make things a little easier for them, parents can help kids cope.

• Cyberbullying

  Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass or target another person. Here are some suggestions on what to do if online bullying has become part of your child's life.

• Talking to Your Daughter About Puberty

  Help your daughter prepare for the changes that puberty will bring before she takes her first steps toward adulthood.

• If Your Child Is Raped

  Someone who has been raped needs care, comfort, and a way to heal. Learn how to help if your child has been sexually assaulted.

• Becoming a Stepparent

  Stepparenting can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. Learn how to cultivate a healthy relationship with your stepkids.

• Financial Woes? How to Talk to Kids When Money Is Tight

  Saying "no" to your kids can be hard. Here are some age-appropriate ways to discuss financial matters when times are tough, while still finding ways to have fun.

• How Do I Handle the Transition When My Husband Returns From Active Duty?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• How Do I Help My Kids Deal With My Husband’s Deployment?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• My Son Is Being Deployed; How Do I Help My Other Kids Cope?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Telling a Child About Deployment

  I'm being deployed. How do I tell my child?

• When a Parent is Deployed

  When a parent is deployed, there are ways to help kids cope and foster the resiliency they need to endure during the separation.

• Encouraging a Healthy Body Image

  A healthy and positive body image means liking your body, appreciating it, and feeling grateful for its qualities and capabilities. Parents can help kids develop a healthy body image.

• Helping Kids Cope With Cliques

  With cliques prevalent in middle and high school, most kids encounter them at some point. Here's how parents can help kids maintain confidence and self-respect while negotiating cliques.

• Raising Confident Kids

  It takes confidence to be a kid. And while each child is a little different, parents can follow some general guidelines to build kids' confidence.

• Helping Kids Handle Worry

  All kids to worry at times, and some may worry more than others. But parents can help kids manage worry and tackle everyday problems with ease. Find out how.

• Sexual Orientation

  During the teen years, sexual feelings are awakened in new ways because of the hormonal and physical changes of puberty. It takes time for many kids to understand who they are and who they're becoming. Part of that understanding includes a person's sexual feelings and attractions.

• When a Pet Dies

  For most kids, pets are more than just animals – they're members of the family. So it can be heartbreaking to lose one. Here's how to help kids cope.

• Taming Tempers

  Controlling outbursts can be difficult for kids - and helping them learn to do so is a tough job for the parents who love them. But just about every child can improve with the right coaching.

• Connecting With Your Preteen

  As your preteen becomes more independent, staying connected may seem like more of a challenge. But it's as important as ever – here are some tips.

• Making the Holidays Less Materialistic

  It can be hard to look beyond all of the product-driven hoopla surrounding the holidays. Here are five ways to curb materialism and reinforce the real reason for the season.

• Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse

  Chugging cough medicine for an instant high isn't a new practice for teens, who have raided the medicine cabinet for a quick, cheap, and legal high for decades. Unfortunately, this dangerous, potentially deadly practice still goes on.

• Preventing Abductions

  It's important to teach your kids to be cautious without filling them with fear or anxiety. Here are ways to lessen the chances that your child will be abducted.

• When Your Teen Is Having a Baby

  If your daughter is pregnant and planning to have the baby, many changes await your family. How can you support her through the challenges to come?

• Talking to Your Child About Menstruation

  Kids reaching puberty should already know what's going to happen to their bodies. Here are some tips for talking to your daughter about menstruation.

• Talking to Your Child About Drugs

  Just as you inoculate your kids against illnesses like measles, you can help "immunize" them against drug use by giving them the facts now.

• My Child Is Stealing

  Your child does homework on time, helps you clear the table, and even helps with housework. So can it be true that this same child is stealing? Before you react, know a little about why kids steal and where to get help.

• Tips for Divorcing Parents

  No guide can guarantee a way to steer kids unscathed through a divorce. Every situation - and every family - is different. But these commonsense guidelines might make the adjustment a bit easier.

• Kids and Smoking

  The health risks of tobacco are well known, yet every year many young people take up smoking. Here's how to help your kids avoid tobacco use - or quit, if they've already started.

• Talking to Your Child About Puberty

  Talking to kids about puberty is an important job for parents, especially because kids often hear about sex and relationships from unreliable sources. Here are some tips.

• Preparing Your Child for a Move

  Disruptive as moving can be for parents, the experience can be even more traumatic for kids. Here's how to make moving less stressful for the whole family.

• School Violence and the News

  As terrible and frightening as incidents of school violence are, they are rare. But it's natural for kids to worry. How can you help them deal with these fears?

• How to Talk to Your Child About the News

  News from the TV, radio, and the Internet is often educational. But when stories are about violence or other disturbing topics, parents can find it hard to explain to kids. Here are some guidelines.

• Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling

  The arrival of a new baby can cause lots of changes. But parents can prepare kids for an addition to the family.

• Helping Your Child Through a Divorce

  By minimizing the stress a divorce creates, being patient as everyone adjusts to the new situation, and responding openly and honestly to your kids' concerns, you can help them through this difficult time.

• Kids and Alcohol

  As much as parents may not like to think about it, the truth is that many kids and teens try alcohol before it is legal for them to drink it. Here's what you need to know.

• Questions and Answers About Sex

  Answering kids' questions about sex is a responsibility many parents dread. But by answering these questions honestly, parents can help foster healthy feelings about sex.

• Helping Your Child Deal With Death

  It can be difficult to know how to help kids cope with a death, particularly as you work through your own grief. Here are a few important things to consider.

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  Kids and teens who live through a traumatic event can develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Healing is possible with the help of professional counseling and support from loved ones.

• Teaching Your Child Tolerance

  Teaching tolerance is important - the differences that come from living in a melting pot enrich our culture, bringing new ideas and energy. And people who are open to differences have more opportunities in education, business, and so many other ways.