Childhood Development – There is so much to know

As family law attorneys, we get a lot of questions from parents who are in disputes regarding their children’s development, school readiness, general milestones and sometimes even sexual behaviors. Not surprisingly, what one parent finds completely normal, the other parent often feels is a developmental delay or an indication of trauma. It is important for parents to have options to help them try to navigate this particular mine field of issues.

Pediatricians, counselors and more experienced parents are great resources, but are they available at 2AM when you are wondering if your five-year old’s bedwetting is normal? Probably not. In those circumstances, the internet often comes to the rescue but with so many sites to choose from, it can be hard to discern the valuable ones from the others.

HealthyChildren.org is a website run by the American Academy of Pediatrics which offers a great, user friendly, platform with information organized by topic and by age group. From questions about Kindergarten readiness and evaluating an infant’s rash to tips on teaching money management to teenagers or having difficult conversations as kids grow, it has a wealth of information at your fingertips. If you are searching for a resource for yourselves, or to recommend to clients in conflict, this site is worth checking out.