Happy Holidays!
While this can be a season of busyness, stress, and worry, we can intentionally slow down and practice gratitude and mindfulness. There are many benefits of practicing gratitude. I encourage you to read this article and learn about some of them.
How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain
I am thankful for you taking the time to read this post!
What are you thankful for this November? Thanksgiving is a special time to celebrate family and friends and pause to remember what is important in your life. Reflecting on people, experiences, opportunities, possessions, memories, and moments is a helpful practice that contributes to well-being. We do not have to wait until Thanksgiving, of course, to consider and express gratitude. I challenge you to spend time each day thinking about and even writing down a few things you felt grateful for that day. It may be simple like a smile from your child or a joke someone shared with you, or bigger like a promotion or making a sports team. Remembering the little things, the big things, seeing the positive side of challenges, and saying thank you can make a significant difference in your life and in the life of someone else.
One thing I am incredibly grateful for is the opportunity to read both for myself, and as a family during read-aloud time. Many of you know that I love reading and I will often provide book recommendations and use books in session as appropriate. I am super thankful that both of my children love to read as well, and I hope they always will. Books provide information, amazing stories, as well as a time of rest, reflection, shared time reading together, and restoration. Choosing high quality books can be a challenge, so utilize resources such as librarians, educators, friends, family, doctors, professional organizations, retail booksellers, book clubs, and co-workers. You may find that you enjoy reading multiple works from the same author, similar titles, or widely varied topics. I have personally enjoyed both fiction and nonfiction recently and have learned that listening to interesting podcasts has a cause-and-effect relationship with my buying and reading more books!
I hope you can enjoy time with the people you love doing the things you love and fully experience the joy of gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving!
As we have been focusing on healthy technology use for the past few months, I am sharing some additional information to help guide decision making. This month’s issue addresses some pros and cons of technology use in children.
It is helpful for parents to be aware of the benefits and disadvantages of the technology available to their children. There are certainly positive aspects of advances in technology. Kids can learn new languages, connect with friends and family who live far away, maintain access to school resources and teachers when they have questions or difficulty, and can even learn a new skill like cooking, or playing an instrument. Children can also run into some challenging situations like online bullying, exposure to age-inappropriate images and videos, and screen addiction.
Here is some information discussing the pros and cons of technology use with kids:
In continuation of last month’s theme of healthy technology use, I am sharing some additional information focusing on social media.
This article discusses some of the concerns about social media use and teens: https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2022/social-media-children-teens?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=apa-research&utm_content=youth-social-media
Social media can be very damaging to a child or teen’s well-being. Anxiety about checking likes/comments/post engagement, spreading of rumors, bullying, inappropriate content, ads, sharing of photos and conversations with unintended persons, etc. are hurtful and harmful. Ask a teenager how they feel about having social media and see their perspective on how it impacts their life. Please also remember, parental supervision of all online activity is necessary. Help your child to develop good habits with online activity. Review online safety information, remind them everything is treated as public and permanent, and consider delaying access to social media for as long as possible. Your child will really appreciate this down the road!
I hope you find this information useful.
As families are preparing for the start of a new school year and peer pressure about getting a cell phone and playing video games may intensify, it is important to remember the importance of balancing technology use.
Here are some other helpful considerations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Healthy Digital Media Use & First Phone Readiness
And some suggestions regarding the benefits of letting your mind wander without using your phone:
Instead of Pulling Out Your Phone, Let Your Mind Wander https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/instead_of_pulling_out_your_phone_let_your_mind_wander#.YwZVRmcOEtk.twitter
Happy Summertime!
There are some important and helpful updates with accessing emergency services that I want to share with you.
You may have heard that there is a new simple phone number (988) to use to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Here is a resource about this change: https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/
Here is the new information. Please save it for your records and share widely:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
24-hour hotline: 988
There are additional resources available for individuals in crisis:
Response Crisis Hotline
24-hour hotline: 631-751-7500
https://www.responsecrisiscenter.org/
Long Island Against Domestic Violence
24-hour hotline: 631-666-8833
Please do use these free resources and share them with your friends and family. You will be making a positive difference in your life or the life of someone else (and may be saving a life)!
Ten years ago this month, I opened my private practice. Ten years!! In reflecting on this milestone, I am humbled by the opportunity to walk alongside children, adolescents, adults, and families in their struggles, successes, and life experiences.
For those of you who have trusted me to support you in your life, thank you. I honor and respect this responsibility.
During these 10 years, I have had 4 different office locations, traveled to client’s homes, and transitioned to a fully online practice. My goal has been to connect with someone where they are- geographically, emotionally, and financially, and help them get to where they want to be. Each change during these past 10 years has reflected this value.
Personally, these 10 years have brought amazing change too. My husband and I purchased our first home and I became a mother to two wonderful, happy, and wild boys.
What has changed in the last 10 years for you? I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring!
Many families have been struggling with managing screen time in their homes. It is important to consider several factors regarding the use of technology in your home. I have shared some resources below to help make decisions.
Your Child’s First Phone: Are They Ready? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Kids & Tech: Tips for Parents in the Digital Age (American Academy of Pediatrics)
How can I help my child avoid eye and back strain from being on the computer? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
My colleague and local psychologist, Dr. Anzalone, featured in the ABC special "Protect Our Children: Mental and Physical Stress" talking about the impact of screen time on kids and teens (last segment):
Glow Kids Tech Addiction Research
Resources from: InfoaboutKids.org Developed by APA Divisions
