Blog Posts

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 [email protected]

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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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. Enjoy!

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

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Adolescent Brains: Drugs, Booze, Addiction & Impulsivity

1/29/2015

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I admit it-the title of this blog post is more sensational than most. It's meant to be! The following article/interview is great. A professor from my alma mater-University of Pennsylvania-talks to NPR about the adolescent brain. I don't want to say too much here because you should really just read, or listen to, the interview. It's incredibly informative and may surprise you quite a bit! Feel free to comment here, tweet me @fpschDrSweeney, or contact me directly [email protected] with your thoughts. Read, listen, enjoy, and discuss with the teens in your life!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/28/381622350/why-teens-are-impulsive-addiction-prone-and-should-protect-their-brains

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Curiosity and Learning

1/28/2015

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Fairly recently, I got a book for my 4-year-old son about Albert Einstein. It's a great book-geared towards younger kids. Throughout the book, the theme of curiosity comes up again and again. Obviously, it helps to be a genius and curious (as Einstein certainly was), but for all of us-curiosity and interest in our environments has significant benefits. The following article talks about what these benefits are and how curiosity actually impacts our brain functioning. The great thing about curiosity (the best thing I think) is that you can't outgrow it. You can train yourself to be curious throughout your life, reaping its benefits forever. Check out the article and then let me know what you think. Comment below, tweet me @fpschDrSweeney, or contact me directly. Enjoy!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/10/24/357811146/curiosity-it-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-helps-us-learn?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=2051

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Parent-Teacher Conferences

1/28/2015

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The second quarter just ended in DC, so I imagine that it just ended in many parts of the country. Therefore, a lot of parents are going to be meeting with their child's teacher and talking about how the first half of the school year went and what to expect for the second half of the year. The following article has great tips for how to get the most out of your 10 minutes with your child's teacher. You should prepare for this meeting just like any other. You will have limited time and you will want to make the most of it. So check it out and let me know what you think. Comment here, tweet me @fpschDrSweeney or contact me directly [email protected]. Enjoy!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/09/18/349337543/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-10-minutes-with-teacher?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140918

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The Importance of Sleep

12/29/2014

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Sleep is so incredibly important. No one really understands sleep and how it works, exactly, but it is well established that it is important. Check out this post from the Department of Health and Human Services about sleep's importance and then be sure to get your 8-hours (and for your kids 10+ hours) of sleep tonight!

http://www.hhs.gov/blog/2014/12/29/why-sleep-important.html?utm_campaign=122914_hhs_blog_sleep&utm_medium=email&utm_source=hhs_blog_updates&utm_content=122914_hhs_blog_sleep_titlelink

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Stress and your DNA

12/5/2014

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If you've read some of my previous blogposts, you know that stress is not a new topic for me. I have talked about the importance of limiting stress. This is necessary for everyone-children, parents, young adults, adults. This article talks about one of the reasons that regulating your stress levels and those of your children is so important. If you are a nerd like me, you will appreciate this article and the scientific explanation for why stress is so damaging. It is not just about feeling overwhelmed and having the emotional center of your brain take over, leaving the logical part of your brain unable to function. There is evidence that stress actually alters your DNA-and not in a good way. What I like best about this article is that it offers potential solutions. Chronic stress does not have to be a part of one's life-child or adult. There are ways to deal with it. If you find that you are trying to manage your stress and need some help, consider contacting a psychologist. They can offer many concrete solutions and feedback along the way. Do not suffer through overwhelming stress. There is help available-you just have to access it.

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/10/chronic-stress.aspx

Enjoy!

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Nonverbal Communication

12/4/2014

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The messages that we communicate to others are so much more than what comes out of our mouths. Our bodies, faces, stances-they all teach the person that you are with something about what is inside your head. Communication is not often something that is explicitly taught, but it should be. We should all learn about how our nonverbal messages might be interpreted-regardless of our intent.

When you read the following article, think about how it applies in your life and the lives of others around you-including children. How do you communicate nonverbally with others? Does your child have an understanding of his or her nonverbal communication? The gestures discussed in this article are very subtle and don't always feel that they are within our control. But we can and should be aware of what these and other nonverbal cues are telling others. Enjoy!

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201409/5-secret-messages-your-body-language-sends?utm_source=FacebookPost&utm_medium=FBPost&utm_campaign=FBPost

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The 'Frozen' Obsession

The Teenage Brain

Empathy and Parenting

The Positive of the Negative

Adolescent Brains: Drugs, Booze, Addiction & Impulsivity

Curiosity and Learning

Parent-Teacher Conferences

The Importance of Sleep

Stress and your DNA

Nonverbal Communication

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