Preschool & Toddler Behavior

If you have a toddler or preschooler, chances are you have witnessed some very big feelings come out of a very small person. Maybe your child falls apart because you cut their sandwich the wrong way. Maybe leaving the playground feels like a full-blown crisis. Maybe they scream, hit, throw something, or become completely inconsolable over something that seems small to you. Or maybe you find yourself wondering why your child seems to have a harder time with emotions than other

If your toddler has started hitting, you're probably asking yourself one question: "Is this normal?" Maybe your child hits when they're frustrated. Maybe they lash out at a sibling, another child at daycare, or even you. You may have tried redirecting, explaining, taking breaks, or reading parenting books, yet the behavior continues. Many parents worry that hitting means something is wrong or that they're doing something wrong. Most of the time, neither is true. Hitting is on

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is, "Is this behavior normal?" It is an understandable question. Children grow and change so quickly that it can be difficult to know whether a behavior is simply part of development or a sign that additional support may be helpful. The answer is rarely straightforward. Child development is complex. Two children of the same age can have very different personalities, emotional responses, and coping skills while both developi

When we hear someone say they have anxiety, we might picture a worrier or someone who likes things done a certain way. When we hear a child described as anxious, we might imagine them as clingy, quiet, or hesitant to try new things. The truth is, anxiety can be all of those things, and often so much more. Childhood anxiety is one of the most common and most misunderstood mental health experiences children face today. It does not always look like fear. It does not always look

If you are searching for a therapist for your toddler, you are likely tired. Maybe you are hearing from daycare about hitting or biting. Maybe bedtime feels like a nightly battle. Maybe tantrums are lasting longer than you expected, or feel more intense than what other parents describe. Or maybe you just have a quiet feeling that something is not sitting right. One of the most common questions I hear from parents is: “How do I know if I’m overreacting… or if my toddler really

If you have a child in the preschool age range, you are likely to experience a lot of difficult-to-manage behaviors from time to time. I frequently have conversations with many parents, caregivers, child care providers, and preschool teachers in Louisville who reach out asking, “Is this normal?” when their toddler’s tantrums feel bigger, louder, or more frequent than expected. I almost always have the same answer: “What is ‘normal’?” The truth is, “normal” in early childhood