Rooted in Community: How Neighborhoods and Schools Support and Nurture Children’s Emotional Growth

By: Benjamin Mayer

Fearful that you're not doing enough for your kids. Maybe you can actually shed these fears and worries by allowing them and yourself to experience the gift of community.

    This fear is something many parents experience, and it can be alleviated simply by informing them of the resources available. As a parent, it can be easy to feel as though all the weight is on your shoulders and that everything depends on your ability to provide for your children. Even if the financial burden isn’t overwhelming, the thought of having to do it all alone can feel monumental. This feeling can be especially strong if you’re a single mother without someone else to rely on in your home. However, I want to offer you hope—this does not have to be your reality., that support from neighborhood communities and school-based communities can positively impact children's emotional development and sense of belonging. My hope is to show you the true importance that community can play in your life, your child’s life, and the lives of those you welcome in. I want to show how it can actually be a benefit for your child’s development and success by allowing them to be in community and have other supportive factors besides yourself. This not only takes some of the weight off of you but allows them to flourish in a sense.

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What is true community? 

  

The truest sense of the word is seen in a writing from John Paul II. He calls community the "cell of society" (Pope John Paul II, 1987, para. 33). This meaning can resonate a lot with discussion because when we understand community as the cell of society as he mentions it can help us see its importance. So, to better understand true community let us look see what some have considered successful communities for the development of children.

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Which communities are successful?   

  There are two types of communities that have shown to be very good at promoting this growth for children. The first is neighborhood communities. These communities offer much because it is the place your children will spend a lot of time. The rest of their time will be spent at the second type of community we will look at which is school communities. To start we will first look at neighborhood communities and what they offer. An important key term for understanding this is 'Social Support' (Rhoad-Drogalis et al., 2020). This will help in gauging the amount of support this type of community offers. 

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Neighborhood Communities

Some important key factors related to neighborhood communities are:

• Leadership

• Physical access to services

• Walkability

• Public open space availability and quality

 These four factors, are helpful in seeking find communities that will help your children develop. The article also noted that it is especially important for those children who grow up in disadvantaged areas. That these communities are extremely important for overcoming the disadvantage they will face (Goldfeld et al., 2021).

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School Communities

The second important community is school. This is where your children will spend almost all of their time outside of home so it is important to understand the influence this community has and to help them feel able to buy into it. The environment that a school can create for your child is able to change them. A study done by the JAMA Network speaks about the importance of a program they have created, CPC, which is Child-Parent-Centers. It is a community engaging program to help build better support in communities. They speak about how one of their main goals for this project is to build an understanding of the importance of school community.(Morency et al.,2024) Things like extra-curricurlars and parent-student communal events all are key in helping the student to develop well and flourish as an individual. Next, we will explore what to do when your community and school are not very good. How then do you provide this support?

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What to do with Failing Communities?

This question is very important because unfortunately a lot of communities, especially ones in impoverished areas are not very good places for helping our children to grow in the way we desire. Similarly, these area typically have not the best educational centers. So what then are we to do? This is a great question and is very important. The third community which is key to your children's development is family. Family is a beautiful example of community and often the one we miss out on the most. When it comes to our families it is easy to feel as though we do not have a place to ask for help because of judgments that may be made or other things related to this. However, when it comes to reliance on family for the support and development of children family members are often the ones most likely and willing to lend a hand. It is also shown in a study that when it comes to the support of extended family it underscores them as a vital role in child development and child rearing. (Longo et al., 2024)

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Conclusion: 

When it comes to the raising of children and desiring the best for them. It is crucial not to try to carry all the weight alone. There is much evidence that it is extremely helpful to rely on all available communities. The neighborhood you live in is a great place to allow your children to develop by being integrated with many different outlooks and be able to understand themselves in new ways. It is also great to allow them to learn to love school. The school environment is a place where they will spend years of time and if we can teach them early on that school is a place for our success and flourishing this will be huge in helping them to develop well early on and become great people. Lastly, if you have any concerns for your neighborhood or your Childs school turn to your family. Everyone has family even if they are not related to you by blood we all have people we call our own. Include these people in your children's lives it will change not only your children but you and those you allow to help in a beautiful way. If you take anything away from this blog post, it is that you are not alone. You will always have someone or some organization ready to support you and your children. Have the courage to ask and the humility to recognize that you do in fact need help and cannot do it all alone. 

I am praying for all of you who are struggling and hope that you will be able to receive the assistance needed so that you and your children may see the beauty we all can receive from true community. 

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About the Author

By, Benjamin Mayer

I am theology major at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. I currently serve as the Student Body President, and am very interested in Philosophy. I hope to one day achieve a masters in Philosophy and Theology. I desire to start a mission company serving the poor in some way and trying to minister to children from low-income families.

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References

Morency, M. M., Reynolds, A. J., Loveman-Brown, M., Kritzik, R., & Ou, S.-R. (2024). Structural Equality and Support Index in Early Childhood Education. JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2432050. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.32050

Goldfeld, S., Villanueva, K., Tanton, R., Katz, I., Brinkman, S., Giles-Corti, B., & Woolcock, G. (2021). Findings from the Kids in Communities Study (KiCS): A mixed methods study examining community-level influences on early childhood development. PloS One, 16(9), e0256431. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0256431

Rhoad-Drogalis, A., Dynia, J. M., Justice, L. M., Purtell, K. M., Logan, J. A. R., & Salsberry, P. J. (2020). Neighborhood influences on perceived social support and parenting behaviors. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 24(2), 250–258. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1007/s10995-019-02861-x                  

Longo, V., Saadati, N., & Karakus, M. (2024). Exploring the Role of Extended Family in Child Rearing Practices Across Different Cultures. Journal of Psychosociological Research in Family and Culture, 2(4), 4–12. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jprfc.2.4.2

John Paul II. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis. Encyclical Letter. Vatican Website, 30 Dec. 1987. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_30121987_sollicitudo-rei-socialis.html

Recognizing and treating childhood depression early can improve long-term emotional well-being and reduce the risk of chronic mental health issues.

Recognizing and treating childhood depression early can improve long-term emotional well-being and reduce the risk of chronic mental health issues. 

By Jake Chauvin

Jake Chauvin is a junior undergraduate student at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. He majored in theology and had a minor in psychology. He plans to get a master's and doctorate in clinical psychology and eventually start a practice of his own. 

An Image of a young boy showing a classic symptom of loneliness 

from Childhood depression on a bench while at the playground

Did you know that early childhood depression could possibly impair your child's mental health for the rest of their lives if not taken seriously? The purpose of this Blog is to bring attention to parents and caregivers the signs and symptoms of childhood depression, then explain the proper actions and interventions to take. 

    I will never forget the first time that my child psychologist told me that she was diagnosing me with childhood depression. I was nine years old, and my family was going through a tough custody battle, and I was right in the middle of it. It was a tough time that I felt I was going through alone. I felt lonely, scared, angry, and perpetually sad. I felt as if I had no one on my side because of all the fighting going on around me. It took me going to years of therapy in my developmental stages of life to get through the childhood depression, and gain control of my future happiness. I will do empirical research on the ins and outs of childhood depression to best inform all parents and caregivers of young children about the ability to recognize and understand what childhood depression is, and what should be done to prevent or stop it. 

What should we all know?

Childhood depression refers to a mental health disorder that causes perpetual sadness, a lack of interest in activities, affects relationships, and changes in behavior that interfere with daily functioning. While sadness can be a normal part of growing up, childhood depression involves deeper and longer-lasting emotional pain that can last forever if not adequately addressed at a young age.

•  Most kids face childhood depression between the ages of 3 and 15. 

•  Girls are most affected by childhood depression, especially after puberty.

•  Parents or caregivers do not discover most cases of childhood depression for at least 6-8 months.

This is all very important for the health and overall well-being of a child, and should be taken very seriously. Many parent do not recognize childhood depression because they do not know the difference between depression and normal sadness amongst their children. 

There are many causes to childhood depression. They can range from biological inherited traits to environmental or social factors. 

Seeing the Signs and Symptoms

There are many symptoms of childhood depression to be on the lookout for. Children are especially hard to diagnose because of their fluctuating moods. Rayapoullé et al. (2024) claim from their research that adults tend to have constant emotional states compared to children. For example, a depressed adult will act in a profoundly sad and depressive manner for consistently long periods of time. However, children can fluctuate their mood depending on the situation. This means that a child can be very sad, get distracted by something, and then go back to being sad just a minute later. This makes it very difficult to diagnose because it is so difficult for a parent to discern daily emotions from depression. After all, children do not maintain their mood and emotions like adults do. 

Childhood depressive symptoms represent a very large spectrum of social, behavioral, psychological, physiological, and cognitive responses to impairment. Burgin et al. (2022) decided to define and list most of the symptoms that can be displayed by childhood depression. 

Behavioral symptoms 

• Sadness

• Guilt

• Anger

• Irritability

• Hopelessness

• Severe mood swings.

Physiological symptoms 

• Insomnia; 

• Weight loss, weight gain, or failure to gain 

• Poor appetite or overeating; 

• Headaches 

• Stomach pain or nausea

• Fatigue

Social Symptoms

• Social withdrawal 

• Avoidance

• Fighting

Behavior Symptoms

• Tantrums

• Poor hygiene

• Poor academic performance

• Aggression

• Self-harm

• Suicide attempts

Cognitive Symptoms 

• Worry

• Poor attention 

• Suicidal thoughts

• Low self-esteem

• Low self-worth

• Thoughts about death

These are not all of the possible symptoms that can be seen from childhood depression, but they cover the majority. Understandably, adults can miss depression amongst their children, because some of the symptoms are experienced by all children, not just depressed children.

Parental Interventions To Prevent Long-Term Effects

There are not as many interventions available to provide fruitful healing for a child who is struggling with such a sensitive mental disorder. The best way to prevent or approach childhood depression is to get professional help. Many licensed professionals solely focus their practice on children’s mental health. Bakhtiari et al. (2025) performed a study on the ways to approach children struggling with depression. One of the approaches they studied was called Life Skills Training (LST). This training is 12 weekly 90-minute sessions to provide the essential skills required to succeed and live a flourishing life. The child and a professional will work through many different exercises and projects to guide the child to live a happy, stress-free life. Some topics that are addressed are coping with stress, interpersonal communication, emotional management, critical thinking, decision making, etc. LST is a great program to help kids struggling with depression because it allows them to relax, engage, and enjoy working with a professional.

As can be seen, there are many symptoms and signs of childhood depression. One of the most helpful interventions and treatments for a child struggling is one-on-one therapy with a licensed professional. A somewhat newer approach to child psychology has turned out to be quite effective: Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT). The psychologist will use games and stories to build a connection and friendship with the child to get them to open up. A study conducted by Burgin et al. (2022) was a meta-analysis of 53 CCPT play therapy studies that found that all the children who participated in CCPT demonstrated statistically significant improvement in behavioral and emotional standards, compared to those in non-CCPT. Some children will have low self-esteem, and it is invaluable to have a professional psychologist play games with them to help them feel empowered enough to open up and get the help they need.

The final prevention/therapy that I will cover in this blog post is Family Therapy. A study was conducted by Kho et al. (2024), which states that interventions and therapy that included family members reported an increase of 70% in child engagement in the treatment. This form of therapy is aimed at promoting familial security and organization, not only for the child but for the whole family. Oftentimes, parents will go watch their children struggle and not know what to do. Whenever families go through family therapy, all the participants learn ways to help each other grow and get the help that they need to flourish. This is the necessary action for anyone who is seeking therapy. Ezra et al. did research on the family dynamics as well and found that not only is the whole family going to therapy poweful for the child, but the father tends to get a lot of help and support from the practice as well. 

Why is This Important Information 

All the information listed thus far is critical for parents to know and understand. Childhood depression, if left untreated, can lead to chronic mental health issues. It is so important for parents and caregivers to know what childhood depression looks like, just in case they encounter it in their children. Hopefully, the readers can see the signs and symptoms and understand the proper approaches and interventions to help their children flourish and live happy lives.

Conclusion

Childhood depression is a big deal. Children need to be seen and feel seen. Parents and caretakers should have the knowledge and ability to understand the problem and the most prudent way to take care of it. It is not always a "Sad Spell" or "Just a phase", there can be some serious repercussions for a child's overall well-being if their parent is not knowledgeable or educated in children's mental health. 

Why should the reader care?

The reader should care because this topic can be seen in their children. They should know the risks of this mental disorder and should understand how sensitive it is for the children. If Childhood depression is not addressed properly at a young age, it can lead to chronic mental health problems like bipolar disorder, general anxiety, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, risks for suicide, substance abuse, overaggression, etc. This is a very serious problem in the world today that is overlooked because it is “normal” for kids to be moody and upset. 

Hopefully this post was able to enlighten anyone willing to read and hopefully equip them with the knowledge and understanding to catch depression amongst their children before further damage possibly comes.. 

Thanks for reading! I enjoyed making this post on Blogger. It was very interesting doing so much specific research on this topic, and hopefully it will help someone gain a better understanding of childhood depression. 

References

Bakhtiari, M., Habibi Asgarabad, M., Dehghani, F., Alhosseini, K. A., & Semple, R. J. (2025). 

Effectiveness and satisfaction of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children on anxiety, depression, and internet addiction in adolescents: Study protocol for a randomized control trial. PLoS ONE, 20(4), 1–21. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0317824 

Burgin, E. E., & Ray, D. C. (2022). Child-Centered Play Therapy and Childhood Depression: An 

Effectiveness Study in Schools. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 31(1), 293–307. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1007/s10826-021-02198-6 

Ezra, P., Goble, P., Trahan, M. H., & Clegg, J. (2025). The Moderating Effects of Religiosity on  

Depression and Paternal Involvement During Early Childhood. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 34(2), 476–489. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1007/s10826-024-02984-y 

Kho, K. L., Lewis, A. J., & Almeida, R. A. (2024). An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for 

Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations. Children, 11(12), 1552. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.3390/children11121552 

McMaster, G. (2024). Your child may be sadder than you think. Retrieved from 

https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2024/06/your-child-may-be-sadder-than-you-think.html 

Rayapoullé, A., de Chassey, M., Benoit, L., Hassler, C., & Falissard, B. (2024). 

Constructing childhood depression: a qualitative study with international experts in child psychiatry. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(6), 1847–1862. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1007/s00787-023-02270-0 

 

Raising Readers: Understanding and Supporting Kids with Dyslexia 

By Alayna Lemoine

Introduction

Can a parent's love and encouragement transform the way a child with dyslexia sees themselves? Research says yes -- and that simple, heartfelt support can leave a lifelong mark of confidence and hope. Dyslexia is not related to intelligence; many people with dyslexia have average or above average IQs, and some are exceptionally gifted in areas like problem solving, creativity, or spatial reasoning. Many individuals with dyslexia excel in fields like engineering, art entrepreneurship, and design, where visual thinking and big-picture skills are strengths. Dyslexia is characterized by problems with accurate or fluent word recognition, poor decoding, and poor spelling abilities. Kids do not just grow out of dyslexia; just because a child can read it does not mean they do not have dyslexia, and kids with dyslexia are not just lazy or not trying hard enough. Children with dyslexia use parts of the right hemisphere of their brain while reading and children without trouble use the left hemisphere. Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting both the function and structure of the brain and there is evidence that supports it is genetically inherited. It is crucial that children receive early help, so they do not begin to avoid reading all together. Schools are and should be aware of this learning disability; all kids learn differently, regardless of having a learning disorder, and intervention and emotional support is needed from families to help children thrive. 

Direct Effects of Dyslexia 

When most people think of dyslexia, they often focus on reading struggles like letter reversals, slow decoding, or trouble with spelling. Research shows that the impact of dyslexia extends beyond academics. Dyslexia can significantly affect a child’s personality, emotional health, and overall quality of life (Huang et al., 2020). Children with dyslexia are more likely to experience higher levels of anxiety and emotional instability. Also, they tend to be more introverted and less organized than their peers. When it comes to behavior, these children struggle with attention issues, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Many of these children face challenges in social situations, including difficulty making or keeping friends. These emotional and behavioral difficulties affect how children see themselves and interact with the world around them. Children with dyslexia report a noticeably lower quality of life (Huang et al., 2020). They have more emotional distress, less satisfaction at school, and fewer positive social experiences. This means that parents supporting these children need to do more than just help with reading. They need to nurture their emotional well-being, provide social support, and make sure that they feel valued and understood.

The Impact of Parenting Styles 

Parenting styles are a significant factor in whether a child with dyslexia does well or struggles in their academic settings. When a child does not have the support of their parents when it comes to their schoolwork, they are more likely to begin to become frustrated, have low self-esteem, and develop a growing dislike for all things academic. Supportive parenting can be the difference between a child feeling defeated by their learning differences or feeling confident enough to overcome them. Children with dyslexia often have a lower self-concept when it comes to school, social skills, and how they see themselves overall. The way that parents interact with their children plays a significant role in this. Kids who felt warmth and support from their parents tend to have a better self-image, and kids with strict or rejecting parents felt worse about themselves (Huang et al., 2021). Helping kids with dyslexia is not just about reading or schoolwork but is also about the support they receive. Supportive and caring parenting can make a difference in the confidence and happiness children feel.

One of the most powerful influences on a child’s emotional well-being, especially for children who face challenges like developmental dyslexia, is parenting. Parenting style and loneliness can impact the mental health of children, both with and without dyslexia (Zhang et al., 2024). Children with dyslexia not only reported higher levels of depression but also had less supportive parenting compared to their peers. Both children with and without dyslexia feel lonelier or who were raised with less warmth and more harshness and show signs of depression. For children with dyslexia, parenting style alone is significant when it comes to depression. Having a warm, supportive parent benefited the children, helping them with the toll of academic and social struggles.

    

Effect of Dyslexia on The Family

Raising a child with a learning disability is often described by parents as an emotional rollercoaster. Parents frequently experience intense emotions when finding out that their child has dyslexia, most often shock, guilt, and even fear for the future(Fernández-Alcántara et al., 2017). A dyslexia diagnosis can be overwhelming at first, but as families learn to navigate their child’s learning skills, this navigation can lead to growth as a family. The challenges of dyslexia can create issues in family life. Some parents find strength within their families, while others struggle with tension and social isolation. Societal stigma and lack of understanding from others often leaves parents feeling unsupported and judged. Despite the hurdles that dyslexia brings many families develop resilience. Parents learn many coping strategies, such as connecting with support groups, seeking professional advice, or turning to their faith. Having a strong support system in place makes this time easier. Better access to educational resources, trained professionals, and inclusive environments could make a meaningful difference in the child’s and the family’s quality of life (Fernández-Alcántara et al., 2017).

A Helpful Strategy  

You have likely seen how frustrating reading can be for your child with dyslexia. New research offers helpful insights into breaking down words into phonological syllables, sound-based chunks of language that might help children with dyslexia understand written words more effectively. A common difficulty that most children with dyslexia have is looking at a whole word and then being able to recognize what it says. One helpful trick includes the use of phonological syllables to break down the words into smaller, more manageable parts. Although Children with dyslexia are slower and less accurate than their peers, they still have the ability to use phonological syllables to segment and interpret words more effectively (Maïonchi-Pino et al., 2024). Their difficulty is not in understanding the sounds of words but in accessing them when reading. Children with dyslexia benefit from hearing the syllables of the words. It would be helpful as a parent to teach children to break down the words into syllables, especially less familiar ones, to help them build stronger reading skills. Exploring words aloud together, clapping out syllables, or using rhymes can make reading less daunting.

Conclusion 

Having a child with a learning disability, such as dyslexia, requires understanding and compassion towards both their academics and their emotional needs. Many families face different challenges that come with their child’s dyslexia, so they must provide them with both resources and guidance along their journey. Parenting plays a big part in supporting a child’s learning and their self-esteem and emotional well-being. While dyslexia is a factor in reading and academics, it does not have to define a child’s confidence or sense of self-worth. It is the Everyday choices that parents make, like being kind, encouraging, and understanding, that can make a huge difference in their children. Interventions, both educational and psychological, that fit a child’s needs can create better learning outcomes and quality of life. Having supportive environments both at home and in school can empower children with dyslexia to thrive and make them aware of their academic and emotional potential.

References

Fernández-Alcántara, M., Correa-Delgado, C., Muñoz, Á., Salvatierra, M. T., Fuentes-Hélices, T., & Laynez-Rubio, C. (2017). Parenting a Child with a Learning Disability: A Qualitative Approach. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 64(5), 526–543. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1080/1034912X.2017.1296938

Huang, A., Sun, M., Zhang, X., Lin, Y., Lin, X., Wu, K., & Huang, Y. (2021). Self-Concept in Primary School Student with Dyslexia: The Relationship to Parental Rearing Styles. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18). https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.3390/ijerph18189718

Huang, Y., He, M., Li, A., Lin, Y., Zhang, X., & Wu, K. (2020). Personality, Behavior Characteristics, and Life Quality Impact of Children with Dyslexia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4). https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.3390/ijerph17041415

Khueankaew, N. (n.d.). Download boy laying on wood floor writing in notebook for free. Vecteezy.                       https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/2087775-boy-laying-on-wood-floor-writing-in-notebook  

Maïonchi-Pino, N., Runge, É., & Chabanal, D. (2024). Phonological syllables allow children with developmental dyslexia to access words. Annals of Dyslexia, 74(2), 244–270. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1007/s11881-024-00302-1

Zhang, S., Liu, J., Duan, X., Liu, D., Feng, D., Gao, X., & Zhang, M. (2024). Are Parenting Style and Loneliness Associated with Depression in Children with or without Developmental Dyslexia? Journal of Child & Family Studies, 33(5), 1671–1681. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1007/s10826-023-02693-y

About the author: My name is Alayna Lemoine, I am a nursing major at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, planning to become an RN BSN. I enjoy reading, spending time on a beach in the sun and having many laughs with friends and family. I have struggled with dyslexia all of my life and have been through many of the struggles that children everywhere can relate to. I wanted to write on this topic to show that dyslexia is manageable with the support of parents and built-up confidence.