Insights From Our Child Psychologists

Child Psychology Resources for Calgary Parents.

Explore practical, evidence-informed articles from our Calgary child psychologists. Find guidance on childhood anxiety, ADHD, autism, emotional regulation, parenting, psychological assessments, and the everyday challenges of raising children and teens.

Anxiety, Big Emotions, Behaviour S Kelly Anxiety, Big Emotions, Behaviour S Kelly

When Mornings Become a Battle: Understanding School Refusal in Children

The morning stomachaches are real, and so is the standoff at the door. But most children who refuse school aren't choosing the easy way out, they're escaping a feeling they can't yet carry. Understanding the anxiety underneath the refusal, and why staying home quietly makes tomorrow harder, is where the cycle finally starts to loosen.

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Behaviour, Big Emotions S Kelly Behaviour, Big Emotions S Kelly

Aggression in Young Children: Hitting, Biting, and Big Feelings

It happens in a blink at the park: another child reaches for the same shovel, and yours shoves them down. At home it's the denied snack, the turned-off show, the instant physical reaction. Underneath the embarrassment is a colder question about what it says about your child, or you. But hitting and biting in young children is communication, not character, and what's really happening is far more hopeful. Here's how to help.

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Anxiety, Behaviour S Kelly Anxiety, Behaviour S Kelly

Selective Mutism: The Child Who Talks at Home but Not at School

At home she never stops talking. At school she hasn't said a single word in weeks. It looks like shyness, but shy children warm up, and this one hasn't at all. What you're seeing is selective mutism, an anxiety condition that locks a child's voice in certain settings, and it's far more understood and treatable than most parents are ever told. Here's what's really happening, and why waiting is the one thing that makes it worse.

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Behaviour S Kelly Behaviour S Kelly

Why Children Lie: Looking Beyond the Behaviour

A child who lies isn't always trying to avoid the truth. Sometimes they're trying to protect something much harder to explain. This article explores the emotional experience behind why children lie, how honesty develops over time, and why understanding what a child is trying to preserve can change the way parents respond.

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Behaviour S Kelly Behaviour S Kelly

Why Some Children Find Friendships Challenging (and How Parents Can Help)

Watching your child struggle with friendships can leave you wondering whether they're lonely, missing out, or simply finding connection harder than other children. This article explores why friendship is about far more than popularity, how a sense of belonging develops, and why understanding your child's unique social experience is the first step toward helping them build meaningful relationships.

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