"Please disable pop-ups, or hold down the control key to enable viewing of AAP information"

Search for Handouts and Resources:

American Academy of Pediatrics Logo

  • Activities to Help Your Child or Adolescent Manage Anxiety—Mental Health Toolkit

    A certain level of anxiety is typical in some circumstances, such as new situations (and high-stakes testing of adolescents), and naturally protects against real dangers. However, anxiety can sometimes keep young people from activities that are important to their development. It is important to help

    Read More
  • Alcohol and Your Child: What Parents Need to Know

    One of the most abused drugs in our society is alcohol. It's also a drug that many people start using at very young ages. Though it's illegal for people younger than 21 years to drink, many children are introduced to alcohol well before they reach that age. The earlier they begin using alcohol, the higher

    Read More
  • Bedwetting

    Bedwetting is not a serious medical condition, but it can be a challenging problem for children and parents. Read on to find out more from the American Academy of Pediatrics about bedwetting and what can be done about it.

    Read More
  • Behavioral Intervention Resources for Parents—ADHD Toolkit

    As a parent, you can learn to be more confident and consistent in your interactions with your child. This can help your child with a personal understanding of—and strategies for managing—his or her behaviors, at home and beyond. Here are some evidence-based parent training programs that have been

    Read More
  • Beyond Screen Time: A Parent’s Guide to Media Use

    While family is the most important influence in a child’s life, media in all its forms, including TV, computers, and other screens, are not far behind. Because media can influence how children think, feel, and behave, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages parents to help their children

    Read More
  • Bullying: It's Not OK

    CONNECTED KIDS: Bullying is when one child picks on another child again and again. Usually children who are being bullied are either weaker or smaller, are shy, and generally feel helpless. Bullying most commonly takes place at school, when adults are not watching, or through email or instant messages.

    Read More
  • Child Sexual Abuse

    Sexual abuse of children is more common than most people think. About 1 out of 5 girls and 1 out of 10 boys will be sexually abused during their childhood. Parents can take steps to help prevent and recognize sexual abuse in children.

    Read More
  • Cyberbullying: What Parents Need to Know

    Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics about cyberbullying and what parents can do to keep online socializing healthy for their children.

    Read More
  • Deciding to Wait

    No matter what you've heard, read, or seen, not everyone your age is having sex, including oral sex and intercourse. In fact, more than half of all teens choose to wait until they're older to have sex. If you have already had sex but are unsure if you should again, then wait before having sex again.

    Read More
  • Depression in Children and Adolescents: Treatment

    Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics about how depression is treated in children and adolescents.

    Read More
  • Depression in Children and Adolescents: Types and Signs

    Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics about depression and what to do if your child seems depressed.

    Read More
  • Discipline and Your Child

    As a parent, one of your jobs is to teach your child how to behave. While this can take time, try not to get frustrated when your child does not behave. Instead, learn effective ways to discipline your child. The following is guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to discipline your

    Read More
  • Divorce and Children

    Whether married, living together, or living apart, most parents hope to remain together when they have a child. Despite those intentions, parental separation and divorce affect nearly half of American families. For many children, separation and divorce can be as difficult as the death of a parent. Children

    Read More
  • Eating Disorders: Anorexia and Bulimia

    The 2 most well-known eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.Anorexia is self-starvation. Bulimia is a disorder in which a person eats large amounts of food (binges) and then tries to undo the effects of the binge in some way, usually by ridding the body of the food that was eaten.

    Read More
  • Gambling: Not a Safe Thrill

    Many Americans gamble for fun. However, for young people, gambling may become a serious addiction. The chances of a young gambler getting "hooked" are far greater than those of an adult.

    Read More
  • Guidelines for Special Time and Time In—Mental Health Toolkit

    “Special time” or “time in” is one-on-one time shared by a child or adolescent and a parent or caregiver. It demonstrates the parent’s or caregiver’s enjoyment of spending time together and offers a break from any tensions or caregiver demands, including those resulting from a child’s or

    Read More
  • Help Stop Teenage Suicide
    Read More
  • Helping Your Child Cope With Life

    Here is information from the American Academy of Pediatrics about how you can help your children be more resilient.

    Read More
  • Helping Your School-Age Child Cope With Death

    By school age, children understand that death is an irreversible event. Yet even though youngsters recognize that death is something more than going to sleep for a long time, they still may have many unanswered questions that they may not verbalize: Where did grandmother go when she died? What is she

    Read More
  • Know the Facts About HIV and AIDS

    HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). While there is no cure for HIV, early diagnosis and treatment are very effective at keeping people healthy. In addition, there are things you can do to prevent getting HIV. Read on to learn more

    Read More
  • Learning Disabilities: What Parents Need to Know

    Your child will learn many things in life—how to listen, speak, read, write, and do math. Some skills may be harder to learn than others. If your child is trying his best to learn certain skills but is not able to keep up with his peers, it’s important to find out why. Your child may have a learning

    Read More
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Teens: Information for Parents

    It is important for parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teens to remember that each child is unique and will have their own experiences and feelings. “Coming out” is a lifelong journey of understanding, acknowledging, and sharing one’s gender identity or sexual orientation

    Read More
  • Making Healthy Decisions About Sex

    Before you decide to have sex or if you are already having sex, you need to know how to stay healthy. Even if you think you know everything you need to know about sex, take a few minutes and read on. Your doctor wants to make sure you know the facts.

    Read More
  • Managing Anxiety: Tips for Families—Mental Health Toolkit

    Anxiety is another word for feeling worried or scared. If your child is feeling anxious, they may not be able to tell you. Your child may feel bad or sick without knowing why, or you may notice they seem restless or tired.

    Read More
  • Managing Depression or Sadness: Tips for Families—Mental Health Toolkit

    Children experience depression differently than adults. Your child may not be able to tell you they are feeling sad, and they may not even feel sad at all. Instead, you may notice your child seems irritable, frustrated, restless, discouraged, or tired. These are some other common signs of depression

    Read More