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THIRD STEP: Include your daughter in the team. What does your daughter say about her sadness and her distance? Sometimes questioning a child while you are playing a game or drawing a picture together is better than asking her directly. However, even more important than finding out what she feels about it, is finding out what she thinks you and your family can do to fix it. What is her vision of the solution?

FOURTH STEP: If steps 1, 2 and 3 don't work, find a good child and family counselor. Childhood is challenging enough without depression and parenting is challenging enough without a sad child!

Alison Birnbaum is a Licensed Certified Social Worker who is a parenting expert in the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. She has a private practice in New Canaan, CT.

Parenting is tough. You want to do what's right for your child but you don't always know what that is. Need some advice? Ask the expert.
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