Parenting Concerns

The Trauma of Teenage Breakups

When you’re 17 years old, breaking up with someone really, really hurts.

Yeah, that’s a cliché. So much so that almost every adult can think of a favorite popular culture reference to this particular kind of pain. My personal favorite occurs at the heartbreaking beginning of Nick Hornby’s novel, High Fidelity.

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

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 and professions.

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 won’t always comply.

5 Ways To Avoid Becoming A Helicopter Parent As You Send Your Child Off To College

Emily, a college freshman, strolls from her dorm to her biology class and en route, she calls her mother so that she doesn’t appear aimless and lonely as she passes by her peers. She barely notices that almost all them are also on their cell phones.

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

Mental health problems among young people are on the rise. Recent studies show that depression, anxiety, suicide and loneliness are escalating, and that Generation Z is struggling now more than ever before.

The good news is that more young people are openly talking about emotional and behavioral challenges.

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.

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.

A Clay Center Top 10 – Blog Year in Review

Looking forward in 2020, we couldn’t help but look back at our most popular blog posts during 2019. Like everyone, we want to thrive in the year ahead. Learning what’s been of most interest and use to the parents and caregivers we serve helps us to decide on what new original content will best support families, nationwide and beyond.

10 Self-Care Tips for Parents

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 happiness.

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.