How Childhood Habits Shape Teen Mental Health
A new study published in JAMA Network Open highlights that early lifestyle habits can be powerful in shaping healthy adolescent mental health outcomes. Researchers followed children ages 6 to 9 for 8 years and tracked their eating habits, physical activity, and overall well-being (Haapala et al., 2025). Researchers found that children who consistently practiced healthy …
National Foster Care Month: How to Show Your Support This May (and Beyond)
National Foster Care Month can be a time to raise awareness about the children and families who are affected by foster care and highlight ways individuals can offer support. Throughout the month of May, many organizations recognize the vital role professionals, caregivers, and community members across the child welfare system play in supporting children, youth, …
Rethinking Parenting: How Stepping Back Could Help Kids Step Up
In today’s hectic world, parents may feel a need to immediately intervene and help their child with tasks the child may find challenging but could probably manage independently. Parents may step in to protect the child, facilitate the child’s achievements, or expedite the task. This behavior is called overparenting. Parents who use this approach are …
Secure Attachments and Co-Parenting
Relationships that parents establish between each other and with their children can have lasting effects throughout their children’s lives. A study conducted by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies found that there may be a connection between the quality of coparenting that exists between two parents and the level of strength found within …
Nourish to Flourish: Building Lifelong Healthy Eating Habits
As parents, we want the best for our children. However, when we think about healthy eating, and what that really means, we might feel overwhelmed because conflicting advice, picky eaters, busy schedules, and easy access to convenience foods are abundant. The good news? You and your family can develop and maintain healthy eating habits, and …
How to Talk to Your Child about Bullying
Talking to children about bullying can be difficult for parents and children alike. While children may want to discuss bullying with their parents, they may struggle to find the words to start the conversation. Some children might fear they will get “in trouble” for what they’ve done, seen, or experienced. Others may feel embarrassed or …
Supporting Your Child During Divorce
Making the decision to divorce is likely difficult, especially for parents who are concerned about the impact the process and subsequent changes will have on their children. While children of divorced parents may face a higher risk of emotional difficulties, academic struggles, and relationship challenges compared to those from intact families, when parents remain in …
Navigating AI as a Parent: How to Support Your Child’s Digital Well-being
Artificial intelligence (AI) is used ubiquitously today—from helping children complete their homework, to curating social media feeds, to suggesting what individuals should watch next on television. While AI can be a useful tool, have you ever wondered how it might influence your thoughts or feelings? More importantly, have you considered how being exposed to and …
