Blog

September 2021 Monthly updates on the latest content, events, and more from the Center on the Developing Child The coronavirus pandemic has changed daily life in many ways, but the importance of providing support to children and families has remained constant. Over the past 18 months, teachers and students have adapted to social distancing and remote learning, and now, many are heading back to in-person learning environments. We have compiled a list of resources that can help educators and...

Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News, August 12, 2021 Studies find that parental involvement in a child’s education can lead to more learning, higher test scores, graduation rates, and more opportunities to pursue higher education. Susan Sheridan, PhD, from the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools, studied the effects of the program TAPP, or Teachers and Parents as Partners. The study found that students whose parents...

JustBirth Space is free, virtual support in the palm of your hand. The platform offers responsive and compassionate perinatal support through text and video chat, as well as virtual support groups and classes for moms, pregnant people and families all free of charge. JustBirth Space’s team of Connectors includes community-based doulas, lactation consultants, childbirth educators and postpartum experts–all providing warm, welcoming, and responsive support that is inclusive and safe for all...

By Emily F. Popek, New York Times, March 28, 2018 As parents, we want our children to be emotionally resilient — able to handle life’s ups and downs. But parents’ ability to foster resilience in our children hinges a great deal on our own emotional resilience. “A parent’s resilience serves as a template for a child to see how to deal with challenges, how to understand their own emotions,” said Dr. Dan Siegel, author of “The Yes Brain,” which focuses on cultivating children’s resilience. Yet...

Responding to Fears Between 3 and 5 years, children are fascinated by the world of pretend and imagination, and may believe in all kinds of fantasies. That also means they get scared of things that may sound silly to grownups. Even though monsters aren't real, the fear is real for the child, and they can't distinguish between fantasy and reality. Keep reading for tips you can offer to parents on how they can understand and respond to their child's fears: Acknowledge the fear - If parents...

By Conal Hanna, the Guardian, September 13, 2021 The dawning realisation of my limitations as a parent came in the aftermath of a(nother) pre-swimming meltdown. My son was approaching four at the time but still swam like a baby. That might sound harsh but I mean it literally – he was still in the “parent and bub” class splashing alongside six-month-olds. What’s more, his stubborn resistance to the class was growing by the week. We had tried seemingly everything. Lots of cuddles, reassurance,...

By Jessica Grose, The New York Times, Sept. 15, 2021 Every decision for not-yet-vaccinated kids feels like an unsolvable equation. There was a brief, shining moment in early summer when the decisions around Covid and my family felt manageable. My husband and I were vaccinated and had returned to some of our favorite indoor activities, like stand-up comedy shows and the gym. Our kids were at a mostly outdoor day camp with procedures we trusted, and the local case rate was low. But as July...

By Jennifer Silverstein, LCSW, jennisilverstein.com, Blog 2021. “Every time I rescue a bee, it matters. If I didn’t rescue it, the hive may not have enough bees, and then there’d be less honey, and less flowers, and less fruit, and when people go shopping there would not be enough for them to eat.” – Dani, 7 years old I have spent 7 years teaching her about the interdependence of all life, and our place in the web of living beings. Yet upon hearing her articulate the values I so carefully...

In less than a week, parents and caregivers for children impacted by early childhood trauma will be learning and supported at the Standing Strong Virtual Conference - Sept 13-15, 2021, hosted by the Attachment & Trauma Network, Inc. (ATN) . This 3-day event is focused on helping those caring for children with developmental trauma, complex PTSD and attachment challenges learn advocacy strategies and focus on their own care/burnout needs now that their children are back in school. Speakers...

By Guest Author, 9/7/21, positiveexperience.org/blog Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics released the fifth snapshot in the Family Snapshots: Life during the Pandemic series. In past blogs , we discussed the results of the survey that the HOPE team, in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics , Prevent Child Abuse America , and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) , conducted using the national online platform YouGov.com . This survey asked a national...

By Claudia M. Gold MD, September 7, 2021 Among the most common sources of suffering for new parents – sleep deprivation- may lead to a desperate search for certainty. Lack of sleep can strain relationships between parents, siblings, and grandparents. It may aggravate or even precipitate depression. Once parents find their way to my pediatrics practice where I specialize in infant-parent mental health, they have typically tried all sorts of methods and prepackaged sets of instructions. They...

By Sara Darnell, Children's Book Association, July 20, 2021 Psychologists everywhere have noticed an uptick in children experiencing anxiety, stress, confusion, and other issues that have come as a result of 2020. We should note that these are completely normal things for children to experience, but what is the best way to work through these feelings? Many psychologists have turned to children's books to teach young readers how to deal with their emotions. [ Please click here to see the list .]