Articles by Steven Schlozman, MD and Gene Beresin

March 5, 2020

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Breaking News and Kids

During times of “breaking news” coverage we’re all drawn to our TVs, phones, and computers for information. But breaking news can include disturbing themes and content, including violence, natural disasters, abuse, and more. The big headlines today also seem to be more frequent, which can add to our stress levels. What can parents do to […]

February 26, 2020

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Is Your Teen an Emotional Sponge? – Shrinking It Down

Peers can be an excellent source of social support, and it’s great that more young people today talk to friends about their emotional challenges. But for every teen who shares, there’s another teen absorbing the info like an emotional sponge. And while it feels good to help a friend, it can also feel overwhelming – […]

February 12, 2020

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Nature Vs. Nurture, featuring Jordan Smoller, MD ScD – Shrinking It Down

Is it always nature vs. nurture, or do the two interact? Many parents worry that their own or a family member’s mental health disorder destine their children to struggle in the same way. But, while many psychiatric disorders do run in families to some extent, so do lots of things! Right down to food preferences […]

February 7, 2020

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

The Crying Toddler

There are lots of hard things about being a toddler. It’s hard being tiny.  It’s hard falling down all the time.  And, it’s hard when you’re a 3-year-old who knows what you want, but somehow no one else does. In fact, even if the adults in your life do figure out why you’re upset, they […]

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Being an Emotional Sponge: Supporting Young People Who Are Supporting Friends

Listen to Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Ellen Braaten talk more about supporting teens who are supporting friends on our podcast. Tune in below, or search for “Shrinking It Down” wherever you get your podcasts. Supporting friends who are struggling can be a valuable thing. Mental health problems among young people are on the rise. […]

January 29, 2020

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Extra Time on Tests: Does It Work? – Shrinking It Down

The answer is, it depends. When “extra time” on tests first began decades ago, the goal was to level the playing field for students with learning disabilities by allotting them the same amount of time that everyone else had. Today, it seems every parent thinks their kid could benefit from extra time on tests, and in […]

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

New Year’s Resolutions: How To Make Them Work

New Year’s resolutions…  Many of us have made them in the past, and I bet some folks have even followed through with them! But if we’re honest, most of us don’t follow through with the goals we set at the start of the year. One study found that less than half of those who made resolutions were still sticking them by June.   […]

January 15, 2020

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Kids Under Surveillance! – Shrinking It Down

Today’s kids and teens are increasingly under surveillance, including by their own schools and parents. In some ways this is nothing new. Adults have always monitored kids for risk. But in today’s digital age, there are so many more ways to watch our kids’ every move – social media, cell phones, e-mail, even school apps intended for learning.   […]

January 8, 2020

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

10 Self-Care Tips for Parents

Este artículo está disponible en español. As parents, our main job is to take care of our kids, including our young adult children. It’s hard to think of anything more important than our children’s well-being. We worry about their academic success, social life, and recreational achievements. We worry about their physical health, emotional adjustment, and overall […]

December 20, 2019

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

New Year 2020: We Can Manage This!

Tune in wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for “Shrinking It Down.” Did you know? According to a recent Clay Center survey, six out of 10 parents encourage their kids to adopt New Year’s resolutions. To bring in the new year (and decade!), we’re dedicating our last show of 2019 to strategies on guiding […]