Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Mental Health Awareness Month is about moving from awareness to action this year. As leaders in youth behavioral health, we’re uniting in our shared commitment to taking action on youth mental health—not just one month a year—but 365 days a year.  This year's Mental Health Action Day theme, 'Dedicate One Hour to Connection,' und ..read more

When young children become overwhelmed or upset, sensory activities can help them calm down and regulate their emotions. These activities encourage kids to be present in the moment. Calm-down or sparkle bottles are both fun to make and easy to transport! This means they’re a kid-friendly tool you can use anywhere to help your child manage emotions and stress. This emotional activity for preschoolers helps foster healthy emotional awareness and regulation. Supplies You’ll Need An empty clear plastic bottle Clear or colored glue (can use glitter glue) Mix-ins: glitter, sequins, small toys ..read more

Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Meditation is an incredible tool for self-care and personal growth for children and families alike. This practice not only brings about a sense of calm and relaxation, but it also helps kids develop mindfulness. They learn to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, which can significantly help them when they ..read more

Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Did you know that your stress can affect the quality of your interactions with your child? It's true! Even if you don't say anything, your non-verbal cues can be contagious and trigger a stress response in your little one. But don’t panic — by initiating open conversations about emotions and stress, you can equip your child with inva ..read more

Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Standardized testing can create feelings of anxiety and stress in children and caregivers alike. The pressure to perform well on these tests can feel daunting and overwhelming. However, with effective strategies and support, children can manage their stress and go into these assessments with confidence. Here are three tips to help yo ..read more

Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Meditation is an incredible tool for self-care and personal growth for children and families alike. This practice not only brings about a sense of calm and relaxation, but it also helps kids develop mindfulness. They learn to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, which can significantly help them when they ..read more

Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Navigating the journey of parenting can sometimes feel like you’re traveling through uncharted territory. At Little Otter, we recognize that there’s no one-size-fits-all manual for parenting – no set of instructions that guarantees smooth sailing. That’s where our Parenting Specialists come in.  Little Otter’s Parenting Speciali ..read more

Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Parenting is a hard job, and with so much conflicting information available across the Internet, it can be difficult to decide what’s right for your child and family. Let us help! At Little Otter, we believe in evidence-based treatment and interventions — that means that our providers combine research and clinical expertise, along wi ..read more

Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Fear of the dark typically emerges around 2-2.5 years old, coinciding with the rapid development of a toddler's imagination. As fantasy and reality begin to blur during this period, children may experience their first fears of the dark. While fear of the dark is one of the most common fears in childhood, for some children, this fear ..read more

Navigating the world of child and family mental health can be challenging. Little Otter is committed to making it easier for you. Explore our free blog articles for expert insights, and if you're seeking tailored support for our family, click here to get started. Has your child been having trouble sleeping lately? Are they waking up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, fighting going to bed, or making several trips to your room in the night? They could be struggling with a common (yet frequently misunderstood) concern: pediatric insomnia. Unlike other sleep disorders, pedia ..read more