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 …
Finding Credible Information
Originally posted May 15, 2023: https://thrive.psu.edu/blog/finding-credible-information/ Parents make multiple daily decisions that impact themselves and their family members. As a parent, you will likely want to use sound judgment and consider relevant and up-to-date information as you make positive and meaningful decisions for your family. However, the amount of information that is available through websites …
The Benefits of Positive Sleep Behaviors
Getting a suitable amount of sleep is an important part of everyone’s health. When you ensure your child is getting enough sleep, you are helping them to potentially better regulate their behaviors and emotions (Dadzie et al., 2024). Sleep-related behaviors, or actions and activities involved around sleep, can promote or inhibit sleep health (Meltzer et …
Why Parents Might Want to Consider an Extended “Dry January”
What is Dry January? Dry January is a public-health campaign that encourages individuals to abstain from consuming beer, wine, and spirits for the entire month of January. It began as a social initiative in the United Kingdom in 2012 and has gained global popularity with millions of individuals participating each year. The goals of initiating …
Helping Family Members Understand and Cope with a Parent’s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Challenges
What is Post-traumatic stress disorder? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a shocking, distressing, or dangerous event. Individuals who are diagnosed with PTSD suffer from symptoms that last for longer than 1 month after the event has occurred, and these symptoms disrupt aspects of their daily lives, such …
Monitoring Children’s Social-Media Use
For adults and children, interacting with some form of social media has become a daily part of life. Therefore, parents need to stay well informed in order to ensure online safety for their children as they use social media and technology. Understanding how technology works, implementing safety features, and staying informed about and even getting …
