Exploring Parenting Challenges by Age: Preschool- & School-Aged Children
March 16, 2025
Do you have a preschool- or school-aged child (3 to 9 years of age)? If so, you’re probably beginning to encounter challenges that you didn’t experience during their infant and toddler years. Below are some of the obstacles that parents commonly face with children this age, as well as tips for how to address them:

- Separation anxiety – It’s common for children to experience separation anxiety when they begin attending preschool, especially if it’s the first time they’ve been away from their parents for an extended period of time. To help ease their fears, you should talk to them about what to expect at preschool and, if possible, visit the school before their first day. Many parents also find it helpful to schedule playdates with their child’s new classmates in the weeks leading up to the new school year so that they’ll already have friends on the first day.
- Organization issues – Many school-aged children have a hard time focusing and keeping themselves organized, which can make it difficult for them to manage chores and homework assignments on their own. You may want to consider posting visual reminders of their responsibilities—for example, a chore chart or an afternoon/evening schedule that sets aside time for homework—so that you don’t have to keep reminding them on your own.
- Growing independence – Once children enter school, they tend to crave freedom and want to make more decisions on their own. By giving them choices in smaller matters—for instance, what to wear each day—you can avoid arguments about bigger decisions.
Get Help With Managing Your Child’s Behavior
Do you struggle with effectively parenting a preschool- or school-aged child? If you’re facing any of the challenges described above, you could benefit from speaking to a therapist who can offer parenting tips tailored to your specific situation. Contact us to schedule an appointment at a date and time that’s convenient for you.

June 8, 2025
The brain has three main executive functions: working memory (which helps you remember what you’re doing at the present moment), cognitive flexibility (which helps you shift your thinking from one topic to another), and inhibition control (which helps you focus and stop yourself from saying and doing certain things). Executive dysfunction disrupts these functions, making it difficult for someone to manage their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. What Causes Executive Dysfunction? Researchers are still working to determine exactly what causes executive dysfunction, but studies suggest that it can result from various conditions, including: Addiction Alzheimer’s disease Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Autism spectrum disorder Brain tumors Cerebral hypoxia Exposure to certain toxins Dementia Depression Epilepsy Head injuries Huntington’s disease Infections Multiple sclerosis (MS) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Schizophrenia Strokes Treatment for executive dysfunction will usually depend on the condition that caused it. What Are the Symptoms of Executive Dysfunction? Executive dysfunction can produce different symptoms in different people. If you have executive dysfunction, you may: Be easily distracted Find it hard to focus on one thing Daydream when you need to pay attention Focus too much on one thing Lack impulse control Have a hard time explaining your thought processes Struggle to motivate yourself to start difficult or boring tasks Have trouble planning or completing tasks Get easily interrupted partway through tasks Find it difficult to move from one task to another Learn More About Executive Dysfunction If you think you might be experiencing executive dysfunction, we encourage you to reach out and schedule an appointment. Our experienced therapists understand the impact that executive dysfunction can have on a person’s life, and we would love the opportunity to help you overcome the challenges you’re currently facing. Contact us today to get started.










