by LISN Kids | available on iOS & Android

What to Do If Your Child Doesn't Want to Play with Other Kids

When Your Child Prefers to Be Alone—And You're Worried You're watching your child at the park. Other kids are running around, laughing, forming teams for a game of tag. But your child sits under a tree, poking at the dirt with a stick, not making

How Social Bonds Shape a Child’s Self-Esteem: Everything Is Connected

What We Often Overlook About Kids and Confidence If you're a parent of a child between the ages of 6 and 12, chances are you've worried about your child's self-confidence at some point. Maybe they’ve come home from school in tears because of

How to Strengthen Positive Sibling Communication Between Ages 6 and 12

Why connection between siblings matters more than you think If you’re parenting more than one child, you’ve probably witnessed both loving hugs and dramatic standoffs—all before breakfast. It’s easy to feel stretched thin trying to support your children when they argue, especially if one is struggling

5 Strategies to Strengthen Your Child’s Social Skills Between Ages 6 and 12

Understanding the Real Struggles Behind Social Skills If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're watching your child retreat into the corner of the playground, opt out of group activities, or maybe struggle to make or keep friends. As a parent, it can

Playing Together: A Powerful Way to Help Kids Build Lasting Friendships

Why Play Is More Than Just Fun If your child struggles with school-related stress, learning difficulties, or finding close friends, it’s easy to focus only on academics or structured support. But there’s one powerful, often overlooked way to help children aged 6 to 12 thrive socially and emotionally:

The Powerful Role of Childhood Friendships in Your Child’s Growth

Why Friendships Matter More Than You Think If your child is struggling with homework, feeling stressed about school, or facing learning challenges, your instinct might be to double down on academic support. And that’s important. But sometimes, what your child needs isn’t just a better study routine or

How to Support Your Child If They're Struggling to Fit In at School

When your child doesn't feel like they belong It’s one of the hardest things as a parent—to see your child come home from school with slumped shoulders, quiet sighs, or avoidance when you ask, “How was your day?” If your child is struggling to fit in

Simple Ways to Strengthen Social Bonds in Children Aged 3 to 12

Understanding Why Social Bonds Matter for Children If you're wondering how to help your child feel more confident with peers, you're not alone. Many parents quietly worry when their child doesn’t easily make friends or avoids group settings. Social connections are not just about playing

My Child Is Shy: How to Gently Support Their Social Growth

Understanding the Nature of Shyness If you’re parenting a shy child between the ages of 6 and 12, it’s likely you’ve witnessed your son or daughter standing on the margins—watching other children play, hesitating before joining a group, or whispering when spoken to by new faces.

Why Social Connections Are Essential to Your Child’s Development

Why friendships matter more than we think As a parent, you probably spend a lot of time thinking about your child’s academic performance, how they’re managing with homework, and whether they’re coping with the pressures of school. But away from worksheets and grades, there’s something even

How to Help Your Child Make Friends Between Ages 3 and 12

Understanding Why Making Friends Can Be So Hard As a parent, watching your child struggle to make friends can tug at your heart in the quietest and most painful ways. You notice how they hang back on the playground, how they speak only when spoken to at parties, or how

How to Help a 4-Year-Old Who Is Scared of Everything

Understanding Fear at Age 4: A Normal Part of Development If your 4-year-old seems afraid of everything—dogs, loud noises, strangers, the dark—you’re not alone. At this age, it’s perfectly normal for children to go through periods of intense fear. Their world is expanding, their imaginations are

How to Ease Morning Anxiety in Children Before School: Practical Tools for Parents

Understanding Why Mornings Can Be Difficult For many parents, mornings can feel like emotional minefields. You're racing to get everyone ready, your child is dragging their feet, maybe even fighting back tears or melting down before they’ve even put on a sock. If you have a child

The Calming Power of Storytelling for Supporting an Anxious Child

Why Storytelling Can Be More Than Just a Bedtime Ritual If you're parenting an anxious child, there may be moments you feel like you're walking on eggshells. Homework turns into a battlefield, small fears become daily obstacles, and no matter how much love and patience you

How to Create a Calm Space at Home to Soothe a Stressed Child

Why a Calm Space Matters for Stressed Children If your child is between the ages of 6 and 12 and you've noticed an increase in stress, meltdowns, or resistance when it comes to schoolwork, you're far from alone. These years are filled with emotional growth, academic

How to Support an Anxious Child During Homework and Tests

Understanding the Anxiety Behind Homework and Tests It can be heartbreaking to watch your child dissolve into tears at the sight of a spelling quiz or slam their workbook shut out of frustration. If you’re a parent of a child aged 6 to 12 who tends to panic or

Using Stories as a Therapeutic Tool for Anxious Children Ages 6–12

Why Stories Speak to Anxious Children If your child struggles with anxiety, especially around schoolwork, friendships, or just navigating daily life, you've probably tried everything from breathing exercises to bedtime routines. And while there's no one-size-fits-all solution, one often overlooked yet powerful approach is storytelling. Stories

How to Build Confidence in an Anxious Child (Ages 6–12)

Helping Your Child Step Out from Behind the Curtain of Anxiety When your child is struggling with anxiety, it can feel like they’re moving through life with a fog over their light. They may hesitate to speak up in class, dread raising their hand, or spiral into self-doubt after

How to Find Calm Moments Each Day for a Stressed Child

Understanding the Need for Calm If you're raising a child between the ages of 6 and 12 who regularly comes home exhausted, overwhelmed, or teary-eyed from school, you're not alone. Many parents watch their children grapple with academic pressure, social expectations, and internal worries—and wish

Why Validating Your Anxious Child’s Emotions Makes All the Difference

Understanding the Power of Emotional Validation If you're the parent of a child who often feels anxious—maybe about school, homework, friendships, or bedtime—you already know how heavy that worry can feel. Not just for them, but for you too. You want to soothe them, to fix

How to Help Your Constantly Worried 9-Year-Old Relax and Feel Safe

When Worry Becomes a Daily Struggle You're watching your child tiptoe through the day like they're carrying a heavy backpack full of invisible bricks. Your 9-year-old might ask the same “what if” questions over and over. They worry about school, about friends, about getting answers wrong.

Understanding the Link Between Imagination and Anxiety in Children

When a Child’s Mind is Both a Garden and a Storm If you're here, it probably means you’ve seen something in your child that worries you. Maybe it’s the way they spiral into fear at bedtime, the sudden stomachache before going to school, or just

How to Handle Bedtime Separation Anxiety in Children Aged 6–12

Understanding Bedtime Separation Anxiety If bedtime has become a dreaded routine filled with tears, last-minute requests for water, or pleas for 'just five more minutes,' you're not alone. Many parents of children between the ages of 6 and 12 face bedtime battles rooted in something deeper

Creating Meaningful Family Moments to Ease Your Child’s Anxiety

When Quiet Moments Speak the Loudest In the rush of daily responsibilities—school deadlines, work tasks, meals, and bedtime—it's easy for silence to fill the spaces where connection once lived. If your child is between 6 and 12 years old and struggling with anxiety, especially when it’

How to Teach Deep Breathing to Kids to Help Them Calm Down Naturally

Understanding Your Child’s Big Emotions If you’re a parent of a child between 6 and 12, chances are you’ve witnessed those moments when emotions bubble over—tears about math homework, dread before a group project, or anger at an unexpected schedule change. These reactions can leave you