We think that we can spot child abuse. We search for bruises on the skin of the kid in the back of the class.
We wonder about the child who resists going to the restroom. But can we spot emotional and mental abuse?
How about the child who doesn’t show any signs of flinching or anger, the child who smiles and laughs and goes through life putting others first and being se1f-reliant? Do we stop and wonder what experiences might have matured that child so young?
Sadness isn’t necessarily the first feeling we think of when a baby is born. However, even in the happiest, healthiest, most prepared for births, the ordeal of pregnancy, labor, and becoming a mom (for the first time or not), is a massive shift for anyone — often the biggest shift in someone’s life.
Our youth face plenty of distractions and ways to be inactive. With so much time spent in front of screens, it’s no wonder that, according to the Journal of Adolescent Health, only 27% of high school students in the United States meet the recommended levels of physical activity.
