Stress is a fact of modern adult life. The energy needed to maintain a career, home, family, and social life can be difficult to gather some days. When your personal reserves are running low, your relationships suffer. In addition to a number of serious physical symptoms, stress contributes to anxiety, anger, irritability, and depression. When [...]
According to a recent study of 688 university students, over a third of participants reported feelings of fatigue, loss of sleep quality, and increases in anxiety and depression from overuse of smartphones. Younger people whose brains are still developing are at even more risk of negative effects from screen addiction. What signs should parents look [...]
4 Ways to Manage You and Your Child’s Emotions During the Fall Frenzy Autumn is a time of transition. Just as students are getting comfortable with the new school year, Daylight Savings Time disrupts our schedules. Unpredictable weather patterns, special events, and a steady stream of visitors further upset our plans. The constant changes stress [...]
10 Tips on Good Parenting Parenting involves a certain amount of discretion. There is no one standard rule for all children. Different children may need different levels of attention, expressions of love, and toughness. Suppose I was standing in a coconut garden and you asked me, “How much water per plant?” I would say, “At [...]
It’s no secret that American adults are overworked. US workers clock in a whopping 47 hours per week at their jobs, more than any other country in the world. Grown-ups aren’t the only ones putting in overtime. A recent survey found that 41 percent of respondents between the ages of 9 and 13 felt overworked. In [...]
Social isolation is a serious trend affecting today’s world. While high-speed internet connections give us the illusion of having more friends and acquaintances, statistical facts say otherwise. According to a recent poll, 72% of Americans experienced persistent feelings of loneliness. Loneliness is a precursor to clinical depression and can have adverse effects on physical and [...]
Before having children, future parents often imagine their offspring will be more cooperative and relatable than those they see around them. Children are, after all, made by combining pieces of each parents’ personality, physical traits, and mental aptitudes. How could you not get along with a miniature version of yourself? The truth is that, while [...]
Are you a Helicopter Parent? – Some Convincing Reasons Not to Overprotect Your Kid When our kids hurt, we feel it, too. Parents go out of their way to protect young ones from all forms of mental, physical, and emotional harm. But is this always the best choice? Emotional regulation is an essential life skill. [...]
Mindful Interventions: Do the interventions work? By Anthony Cupo Mindfulness has been gaining greater support and interest from researchers, clinicians, and educators. However, the effects of mindfulness practice among children are still understudied. Mindfulness derives from Buddhist practice and is described in the psychological literature as an intentional and non-judgmental awareness of the present moment [...]
The holiday season is everyone’s favorite time of year. All of the lights, food and festivities tantalize our senses and invoke feelings of playful merriment despite the cold weather. As adults, we know that celebrations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are about appreciating and enjoying the comforts of home and family. Young children, however, often don’t learn [...]
How to Master Parenting in 7 Simple Steps It’s often lamented that children don’t come with instruction manuals. Parenting is tough and we all try our absolute best. A reactive style of parenting, however, may actually be working against our best intentions. Even though there isn’t an official booklet to explain how to raise a [...]
Yelling, hitting, and fighting between siblings is a natural part of growing up. According to the Mayo Clinic, occasional bickering and name-calling prove that a child is learning to speak up for themselves. Excess confrontations or physical violence, however, can affect the whole family. Constant fighting causes emotional rifts that erode relationships. Anger and resentment spread [...]
