Summer can feel overwhelming to working parents, often taking a toll on their mental health. When kids are out of school, parents virtually have to double as domestic CEOs to manage jobs, camps, and vacations. To help prevent burnout, parents can shift their mindset away from unrealistic expectations and from…
Different stages of development are associated with common childhood fears and child anxieties, like fear of darkness, fear of strangers, or separation anxiety. Kids might feel afraid of dogs or bees, social situations, natural disasters, gun violence, and more. You can help children with rational and irrational fears by validating…
A recent study showed a connection between monthly cash gifts to low-income mothers and enhanced cognitive development in their infants. Financial well-being can contribute to healthy development in children by alleviating parental stress and the cognitive effects of toxic stress. Children who experience toxic stress are at increased risk for…
Because children grieve differently from adults, they can benefit from bereavement support tailored to their specific needs. Grief camps for kids help children process grief and loss through group and one-on-one counseling, yes, but also through play and art. You can observe the power of children’s grief camps in the…
Nosy pets and inquisitive children can sometimes take a toll on one’s sex life. You can prevent kids from interrupting your fun by locking the bedroom door, preparing an age-appropriate explanation in case of incursion, or just making your and your SO’s private time part of the family routine. Pets…
While moving can be a positive experience for a family, moving with kids often has some negative implications for the children involved. Moving has the most profound impact on kids over the age of 5, as it’s particularly difficult for them to leave behind friends and adjust in a new…
The human-animal bond is so deep-rooted and self-evident that most scientists neglected to study it for decades. We now know that the loving relationships between domesticated animals and humans are bidirectional, bestowing health benefits on both man and beast. Though only some pets are officially called emotional support animals (ESAs),…
A division of the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia has conducted extensive research into the “past life memories” of children. These spontaneous child “reincarnation” stories usually have elements in common, like the violent death of the previous personality and intense emotions. Some critics use psychological explanations like…
Dads are commonly portrayed in pop culture as oblivious, absent-minded, and detached—in other words, they’re often shown as being incapable of parenting. The laughs are real, but the societal implications are as well. Our favorite shows and media often critique and remark on our social norms and issues. When it…
When my parents decided to divorce, I was 19 years old and a sophomore in college. Fortunately, because I was 19, I was able to cope (mostly). I was able to understand and adjust accordingly. I also had distractions aplenty, being that I was away at college. My kid brother,…
Kids and teens are more susceptible to mental health problems because their brains are still developing. It’s important that they’re shown continuous love and support as they change physically, mentally, and emotionally. When parents divorce, this balance of love and support can get thrown off and negatively impact the kids….
New research shows that if parents want to successfully reduce their children’s screen-time, they should cut back on their own screen-time. Kids are spending more and more time playing on iPads and sitting in front of the TV, which feeds an increase in obesity among children. The researchers sought to…