The Long-Term, Underappreciated Damage of Verbal Abuse

When out and about, you may have heard parents shouting at their children. In fact, few people make it all the way through parenthood without ever yelling. But a new systematic review finds that regular verbal abuse—including shouting, threatening, belittling, humiliating, and name-calling—has negative consequences for children that can last a lifetime. [Read more…]

New Guidance Promotes Treating Childhood Obesity

The American Academy of Pediatricians is recommending a new approach to childhood obesity that addresses the condition as a complex disease and recommends intense behavioral treatment.

Twenty-one of the nation’s top experts in childhood health developed new guidelines after reviewing the body of evidence on childhood obesity; this is the first time in 15 years the group has addressed the topic. [Read more…]

Why Your Teen Doesn’t Listen to You

“Can you please put your dishes in the sink?”

“Please put your dishes in the sink.”

“I’m not sure you heard me. Can you put these dishes in the sink?” [Read more…]

The Ideals and Realities of Family Dinner with Young Kids

Family dinner is a cultural norm that most families in the U.S. strive for; it’s a goal that has endured for decades. Just think of an episode of “Leave It to Beaver” with June and Ward Cleaver and their two sons sitting around a table set with fine China and a white tablecloth, discussing the day and eating a healthy meal. [Read more…]

Parenting Programs Can Help Prevent Child Abuse

Child abuse remains a serious problem: Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S annually. No one needs an academic study to understand that abuse and neglect take a terrible toll on young people, their families, and society. We now have clear evidence that child abuse has long-term effects on its victims’ mental and physical health throughout their lives. [Read more…]

Women Carry Most of the Mental Load of Running a Household

It’s well-documented that in the majority of U.S. families, women do more of the household chores compared to men, even when both spouses work full-time jobs. When you factor in that women working outside the home tend to work fewer hours compared to men working outside the home, women still take on a disproportionate share of household chores. This is amplified when kids come into the picture, and frequently leads to psychological distress for women. [Read more…]

The Pros and Cons of Social Media for Youth

More than 90 percent of teenagers in the U.S. have a smartphone. Access to this type of technology and social networking changes the playing field for young people who are simultaneously developing a sense of identity and new social relationships. [Read more…]

What We Know About Opioids and Child Mistreatment

Opioid use has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data show the use of fentanyl and methamphetamine climbed steeply in 2020 and drug overdose deaths jumped by 18% last year.

The opioid epidemic has serious consequences for millions of Americans. Opioid misuse increases the risk of illness from COVID-19 and leads to long-term consequences for mental and physical health. People who misuse illegal substances are more likely to experience job loss, interpersonal violence, and become involved in criminal activity. [Read more…]

Quarantine Side Effect: Nearsightedness in Kids

Most kids in the U.S. have spent more time on screens during the COVID-19 pandemic for a myriad for reasons: to complete schoolwork virtually, stay occupied while parents worked at home and maintain connections with friends and family members. [Read more…]

This Parenting Style Is Proven to Build Independence

As a parent, it can be useful to understand which parenting style comes naturally to you, as well as the pros and cons of each style. But there is one parenting style you may not have heard of, one that researchers have found supports psychological health, academic achievement, and positive attitudes toward school. [Read more…]

How To Mend A Family Rift

We often think of family bonds as unbreakable, no matter the circumstances. But, in fact, most American families experience an estrangement that leads to anger, sadness and heartache.

A new book – Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend Them — by Cornell sociologist Karl Pillemer takes a deep dive into why family rifts occur and how to heal them. [Read more…]

How to Get Kids to Change Their Behavior for the Better

When trying to convince someone to take action, our words matter – even more so when talking to a young person.

If you have ever parented a child or worked with youth, you have likely witnessed that lectures rarely lead to whole-hearted behavior change, even when the lecturer has the best intentions. So, what’s the best way to encourage behavior change in young people, especially when there is a serious health problem at hand? [Read more…]

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