Friday Five: Kids and Teens
Here’s What We’ve Been Reading To Support Your Family’s Mental Health
This Edition: The perils of pushing kids too hard, how Apple plans to help parents dial back phone use (no pun intended!), the parent/child mental health connection, and age-appropriate tips for screen use.
- As a therapist that specializes in gifted and high-achieving kids, this teen’s story sounds too familiar. The perils of pushing kids too hard and how parents can learn to help dial back the pressure. (Mindshift)
- Mental health concerns, like anxiety and depression, can impact a student’s ability to concentrate, form friendships and focus at school. Because of stigma, it can be a challenge to get teens to talk about their problems. Using storytelling and literature as a way to help kids understand and cope with their emotions can help. (kqed.org)
- A study by the nonprofit group Common Sense Media found that 78% of teens check their phones at least hourly and 50% report feeling “addicted” to their phones. How Apple Aims To Help Parents Crack Down On Kids’ iPhone Use (side note: Google is doing something similar for Android devices). (NPR)
- The parent/child mental health connection: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 12.8% of teens will experience at least one episode of major depression. Previous research has linked teen’s mental health to that of their parents. But new research suggests that there’s a flipside to that “parental effect.” When teens are treated for their depression, their parents’ mental health improves too. (NPR)
- Wondering when (and how) to limit your child’s tech use? This article from the New York Times has age-appropriate tips and resources for your kids from toddler to teen. (New York Times)
