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The 'Frozen' Obsession

2/24/2015

If you have a child under the age of 10, chances are that you have seen 'Frozen.' In fact, it is more than likely that you've seen it multiple times and know every single song by heart. It's even possible that you have been woken up by hearing your child sing 'Let It Go' at the top of his or her lungs very early in the morning (this may or may be a personal experience). I love the following article because it really helps us, as parents, understand, and therefore better tolerate, this obsession. I really like that the authors acknowledge the internal struggle of preschoolers, comparing it to Elsa's emotional struggle. This is also true for older children-reconciling your inner feelings with your outer behavior is hard no matter what one's age. I also feel that children identify with Anna as well. A girl who is torn in different directions and ultimately chooses the love of her sister over her own emotional needs (spoiler alert!). Sibling relationships are defined by closeness and conflict-this movie really resonates with children because it very accurately portrays that delicate balance.

So if you can stand it, watch 'Frozen' one more time and try to see it from your child's point of view. It may just be you who ends up belting out 'Let It Go' before you've had your coffee.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/06/why-little-girls-are-so-completely-obsessed-with-frozen/

Enjoy and post your comments here, tweet me @fpschDrSweeney or contact me directly at ssweeney@fpsch.com

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The Teenage Brain

2/9/2015

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It can be tempting for parents to treat their teenagers as mini-adults. After all, they tend to want to be treated as if they are adults. They certainly don't want to lots of rules and restrictions on their behavior. And teenagers are getting older so it seems to make sense to treat them as you would a 25 or 26 year old. Just with a few more restrictions. Right? Well, not quite. While it is important to prepare your adolescent for adulthood, it is equally important to recognize that adolescents are not yet adults. Their brains are quite different from their parents and it is developing at a rapid rate.

I think the main take-home message of this article is that the part of the brain that modulates planning, risk-taking, and emotion is not fully formed yet. That area of the brain will continue to develop until your child is in their mid-twenties. Keep in mind that this does not have anything to do with intelligence. Just because your adolescent is smart, does NOT mean that he or she is able to modulate his or her behavior. My favorite quote from this article is, "very smart adolescents will do very stupid things in a very impulsive way". This is absolutely (and unfortunately) accurate. So be patient with your teen and take the time to understand how to support his or her brain formation. Don't tell them how to do everything, allow them to struggle a bit, but scaffold for them and guide them so they don't fall completely flat on their face. Every teen is different so pay attention to what your teen needs, but recognize that you are not alone in your frustration. ALL adolescents go through this. However, if you see signs of a deeper problem, such as a mental health issue do NOT ignore it. This is not something that will just go away on its own and the earlier the intervention, the more successful the treatment is likely to be. Contact me or another mental health professional with these concerns.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jan/25/secrets-of-the-teenage-brain

Enjoy the article and comment here, tweet me @fpschDrSweeney, or contact me directly at ssweeney@fpsch.com. Happy Monday everyone!

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Empathy and Parenting

2/3/2015

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Some days parenting is just so hard. Wait no-scratch that-it's hard EVERY day! Sometimes it feels that you and your children are living in an alternate universe. This can be especially true for parents of toddlers who's brains have not yet developed enough to employ strategies like logic and linear thinking. They are not thinking about consequences or what their behavior might lead to. They are just thinking that they feel bad and need to let you know about it. Right now. In the middle of Target. At the top of their lungs. Yikes!

This article is helpful in getting parents to think about the tantrum or meltdown from their child's point of view. To understand where they are coming from and to build a bond with them in the midst of all that screaming. Check out the article and use some of the tips. Let me know in the comments which were helpful and which were useless. Hopefully these helped to shorten that tantrum or at least you as the parent feel less frazzled when it happens.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-nair/how-to-be-an-empathetic-parent-even-when-it-feels-hard_b_5608819.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

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The Positive of the Negative

2/3/2015

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So many of us are socialized to think that any emotion that is not happiness is bad. The following article counters that notion and provides concrete examples of why experiencing emotions other than happiness can actually be good for you! Check out the article than comment below, tweet me @fpschDrSweeney, or contact me directly ssweeney@fpsch.com. Enjoy!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/11/why-negative-emotions-good_n_6107708.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

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The 'Frozen' Obsession

The Teenage Brain

Empathy and Parenting

The Positive of the Negative

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