Does Your Child Have Dyslexia?

Recognizing the signs and where to get the help children need.

More than 66,000 students in Miami-Dade County may be living with dyslexia – a learning disability caused by a neurological condition that affects their reading, writing and spelling. There is help out there, but less than one in three of those children and youth have been diagnosed with dyslexia, meaning that they are likely not aware of or getting the assistance needed that is available.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and parents and caregivers should take the time to learn about this learning disability that affects about 1 in 5 individuals across the country. By recognizing the signs of dyslexia and, more importantly, getting access to assistance to lessen its negative learning effects on their children, parents can avoid them unnecessarily struggling, becoming anxious and suffering through feelings ofdoubt that often come with the condition.

New Study Shines Light on Friendships for Our Kids

The Trust offers programs and initiatives to guide children and parents

So much of our childhoods were defined by the friends we made. The music we listened to, the movies we watched, the careers we aspired to and who we would go on to become as adults were greatly impacted by our best friends and group of friends. In the same way, the paths our children take toward their futures - the right ones or the wrong ones – are also heavily impacted by their friends.

There’s a lot at stake when it comes to our children’s friends. That’s what makes a recent report on how parents and caregivers can monitor and help their children when it comes to friends, especially important.

US Surgeon General: Parenting Stress is a Health Crisis

How The Children’s Trust supports parents in need

Being a parent or caretaker is one of the biggest joys human beings can experience in a lifetime. Watching a child grow, develop, overcome and thrive in this world fills us with a spirit and energy like no other. But it’s also hard work.

Even in the best of times, it can be exhausting, frustrating, infuriating and demoralizing. So, when times are tough all around, it can be downright overwhelming. With recent local, national and global problems seemingly surging, the situation has become critical. So says the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.

Rules of the Road: Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe

By Erin Albertini, MD/MPH Candidate With Julie Belkowitz, MD, MPH, Lyse Deus, Med, and Oneith Cadiz, MD, from Injury Free Miami

Getting a driver’s license is an exciting time in a teenager’s life and marks a new era of growth and independence. However, as they say in the Spiderman movies, “with great power comes great responsibility.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren.org, teen drivers have the highest rate of motor vehicle crashes in the United States, and drivers with less than 18 months of driving experience have four times the risk of a crash or near- crash. Teen driving-related deaths are on the rise, due to technology use, distracted driving, inexperience, speed, and use of alcohol or drugs.

Looking for an after-school program for your child? Check out the More After-School Choices page for hundreds of free and low-cost after-school programs

The Children’s Trust Parent Club offers FREE, countywide workshops on relevant topics about raising children that are successful, healthy, and happy.