How to Teach Chores Without Redoing Every Task for Your Child
Teach kids to do chores with fewer reminders: set a clear finish line, model one task, step back, and correct only what is unsafe or unfinished.
Give your child antidepressants: Should or not?
Currently, some parents give their children antidepressants when they show signs of psychological illness. Antidepressants are often very effective at helping children improve their mood. However, parents should be careful when giving their children antidepressants because it has many side effects.
Antidepressants can be a reasonable choice for parents when their children are anxious and sad for a long time. However, giving your child antidepressants can do more harm than good, so be careful.
Side effects of antidepressants
One of the most conspicuous and serious side effects of drugs in people under 25 years of age is the cause or trigger of suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior. Although this side effect is less common in children and adolescents, it is also very dangerous, so the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has printed a warning on the antidepressant pack.
The benefits of the drug outweigh the side effects because it is very effective at improving mood and reducing anxiety. However, you should also give your child a moderate dose and only use it when the child has severe depressive symptoms.
Expression that the child has thoughts of suicide
Suicidal symptoms in children can be very conspicuous. Watch for the following signs when your child starts taking an antidepressant or changes the dose:
Children are clearly sadder
Children panic
Children talk about suicide
Children become more anxious or anxious than before
Children are anxious and excitable
Children fight at school or with friends and siblings
Children isolate themselves
Children hurt themselves
Children often fidgety walking and muttering
Children become violent, aggressive or mean.
You need to consult a doctor immediately if you notice the above signs in your child.
What to do when a child is depressed?
Before your child starts taking antidepressants, it's a good idea to have your child have a physical exam to eliminate any physical problems that can cause depression or anxiety. If your child does not have any physical illness, you should see a doctor specializing in child psychology. The doctor will examine important information such as the child's family history, behavior and the reasons for the child's self-harm. After examining the above problems, your doctor will work out the most appropriate treatment for your child and decide if your child should take antidepressants or not.
Antidepressants safe for children
The US Food and Drug Administration has certified the following two drugs as safe for children:
Prozac (fluoxetin) : for children 8 years and older
Lexapro (escitalopram): for children 12 years and older
Medicines such as Zoloft (sertraline), Luvox (fluvoxamine) and Anafranil (clomipramine) have also been shown to be safe to treat obsessive-compulsive disorders in children.
Your doctor will probably prescribe some drugs that are not on the above list if your child is an adult and if they are safe and effective. Read the instructions that come with the medication very carefully to understand the side effects and risks of taking it.
Note when starting to give your child antidepressants
If your doctor prescribes an antidepressant, your child will take the lightest dose and increase the dose gradually if it doesn't work. Suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviors are most common during the first few months of medication administration or when the dose is changed. Pay close attention to your baby during this time.
Overall, antidepressants are quite safe and effective for children and teenagers, but you still need to be careful when giving your child antidepressants. You should also combine psychotherapy to help your child quickly overcome the illness and live a happy and happy life.
Why a Toilet-Trained Child May Start Having Accidents Again
Learn why toilet-trained children may start having pee or poop accidents again, what patterns to track, how to respond calmly, and when to call the pediatrician.
Why Does a Child Ask the Same Reassurance Question Repeatedly?
A child may repeat a reassurance question to process information, seek connection, or manage worry. Learn how to respond and when persistent anxiety needs support.
Screen-Time Boundaries Without Constant Battles: A Beginner’s Guide for Parents
Learn how to set screen-time boundaries with predictable routines, warnings, calm follow-through, and better transitions—without turning every device handoff into a fight.
How to Teach a Child to Lose a Game Without Shame or Anger
Teach children to handle losing without shame or explosive anger by validating feelings, setting behavior limits, modeling recovery, and practicing at the right difficulty.
When a Child Behaves Well at School but Melts Down at Home: What Parents Can Do
A calm, practical plan for after-school meltdowns: reduce overload, keep limits clear, track patterns, coordinate with school, and know when to seek help.
When a Child Says “Nobody Likes Me”: How Parents Can Respond
Learn how to respond when a child feels unwanted, ask supportive questions, recognize bullying or ongoing distress, and know when to seek extra help.
How Can Siblings Share a Room When Their Sleep Schedules Differ?
Learn how to set up a shared bedroom for siblings with different bedtimes, from planning around age-based sleep needs to creating separate sleep spaces and quiet routines.
What Helps a Child Return to School After a Long Absence?
Compare full-day, gradual, and temporary at-home return plans, plus health checks and school supports that can help a child reenter safely.
When Should a Child Handle a Friendship Problem—and When Should Adults Step In?
Learn when a child can try to solve a friendship problem, when adults should step in, and how to tell whether support is helping or needs to change.