Abuse, neglect, infertility or depression doesn’t care about who you vote for. These challenges can affect anybody, anywhere. LFCS offers critical services like pregnancy testing and support, parenting education, counseling for children and families, adoption services, foster care, and child development programs. These services aren’t just important; they are essential in helping children grow up safe, supported, and empowered.

By choosing to support LFCS, you’re casting your vote for a brighter future where every child has the tools, love, and care they need to succeed. Your gift is a direct endorsement of hope and healing for families who rely on LFCS to overcome the hardships they face.

The post LFCS Rallies Around Kids During This Election Season first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

Research has shown the significant impact that domestic violence has on children who witness it. According to Children of Domestic Violence, children who witness domestic violence are six times more likely to commit suicide, 50 times for likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and 74 times more likely to commit violent crimes against others. Although this kind of trauma can affect children in different ways, they may experience anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, nightmares, difficulty concentrating, physical health problems, and behavioral problems. Additionally, children may develop low self-esteem and unhealthy relationship patterns. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, males exposed to domestic violence as children are more likely to engage in domestic violence as adults, and females exposed are more likely to become victims.

If you are a child or teen experiencing domestic violence in the home, you need to tell someone. Remember that it is not your fault and you are not responsible for your parents’ actions. If you are an adult who is experiencing domestic violence, think about the profound impact that it is having on both your children and yourself and seek help. There are many wonderful resources available to you, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

The post How Domestic Violence Impacts Children first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect one in eight children. However, there are many different types of anxiety disorders and children are affected in different ways. Common childhood anxiety disorders include: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Separation Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Specific Phobias. You can find out more about each one of these disorders and how it affects children at www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children/childhood-anxiety-disorders.

With proper support and treatment, children can learn to better manage their anxiety and lead healthy and successful lives. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medication have both been shown to be helpful with children with anxiety disorders. Early identification and treatment can help prevent future difficulties for your child and give them needed tools to reach their full academic and social potential. For more information, please visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America or the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

The post Anxiety in Children first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

1) Try to determine the reason behind the behavior
Every behavior is about trying to get some need met. It may be that they’re hungry, tired or need some socialization. Young children often aren’t able to recognize their need in order to get it met in a constructive way. It’s our job to try and find out the need so we can teach them better ways to get those needs met in the future.

2) You can’t do time-out if you haven’t done time-in
Silly, yes, but also true. Kids are like ATM’s. If you want to make a withdrawal (discipline), you have to make sure you’re making enough deposits (quality time and praise).

3) Explain, explain, explain! You’re dealing with developing brains
The human brain isn’t finished developing until about age 25! That means our little ones have a long way to go. Not only do they need clear explanations of rules, consequences and the right thing to do, but they need those things repeated to them often. They may remember the rule, but thinking through the consequences is probably not something their brain has gotten to yet.

4) Consistency!!!
If it’s a rule today it should be a rule tomorrow. Kids need consistency in their lives. Not only does this help them to know what’s expected of them but it also helps them to have a sense of security. When things are constantly changing it can be a scary world.

5) Every feeling is acceptable and should be honored, but not every behavior is
You may want to teach them to stop a certain behavior but that doesn’t mean that your child’s feelings aren’t valid. We all need to know that it’s okay to have our feelings. Sadness, anger, frustration, joy. This can be as simple as saying “you may not have a cookie right now because we’re going to eat dinner. I see that makes you sad and it’s okay to feel sad, but we have to eat dinner before we have cookies.”

6) PRAISE!
Notice good behavior and make a big deal out of it! We do it when they’re learning to walk and talk but somehow as they get older we tend to do less and less of it. Kids need it just like babies do. It encourages them to keep trying. The day is filled with opportunities for praise. When they put their dishes in the sink, make their bed, brush their teeth on their own, share a toy, etc. Make it a challenge to yourself to find the good they do and the good in them and when you see it point it out!

The post Six Tips for Parents first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

• Model appropriate anger management skills. This can be challenging at times, but if you tend to lose your cool, it is likely that your children will grow up doing this, as well. Remind them that feeling angry sometimes is normal.
• Validate your child’s feelings and help them feel comfortable talking about what is upsetting them. Help them expand their feelings vocabulary beyond “happy” and “mad.”
• Teach problem-solving skills. Walk them through this process at first, then try to step back. Reflect with them afterwards about the choices they made and how these worked out for them.
• Introduce your children to calm-down skills, or self-soothing. Teach them how to relax and appropriately take deep breaths, count to ten, take a break, use visual imagery, etc. These skills take lots of practice in order to become habits.
• Aid your child in recognizing the triggers of his or her anger. Develop of a plan to prevent these from happening or handle these appropriately when they do occur.
• Use consequences and rewards as needed, depending on age. Remind your child of what consequence will be given if they have an inappropriate anger outburst, and help them keep this from happening.

Want more information on this topic? Check out Anger Management for Children or Helping Children Deal with Anger on PsychCentral or Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching Your Child to Cope with Anger from the Huffington Post.

The post Addressing Anger in Children first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.