Thinking About Kids

Parents, kids, and the way we live together

Nancy Darling Ph.D.

Take a Real Zoom Body Break

People use the phrase 'body break' the way they used to say 'powder my nose' for going to the bathroom. Take a real body break from your next Zoom call with these short exercises.

Stoicism Can Make You a Better and Happier Parent

My mom is a natural Stoic. She always put her best effort into parenting, but knew in the end, it was all on us. There lies wisdom.

Is Your New Habit Not Sticking?

If you're having trouble sticking to a new habit, think about why. Do you really want it? Do you know how to do it? Do you believe you can do it?

Family Drama From Online Schooling? Try This Five-Minute Plan

Online learning is hard for kids, for families, and for parents. Try this short exercise to help figure out some strategies that will make things better.

Condoms, Masks, and Christmas

Many people who mask in public feel uncomfortable masking with family, even those they haven't seen for a while. Might research on condoms tell us why?

Sitting With the Dead

The separation of loved ones is one of the cruelest twists in the current pandemic.

Puppy Training 101: Be Responsive!

At any dog park, you'll see it: Owner throws ball. Dog chases, sits, and chews. Owner sighs, plays tag and tug, and throws. Good things happening for dogs!

Make Zoom Socializing More Fun

Socializing on Zoom with family on friends? Feel bored and awkward? These tips can make them work better.

Puppy Walks and Parenting

Walking a puppy is like authoritative parenting. It should balance the needs of the puppy, the needs of neighbors, and the needs of those doing the walking.

Parenting in a Global Pandemic: A View From Kenya

For families in some Kenyan urban settlements, children may not have access to adequate nutrition as the parents are unable to go out to work for their daily wage and survival.

Parenting in a Global Pandemic: A View from Tanzania

The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide crisis. This series of posts will bring perspectives from three parenting researchers from Tanzania, Kenya, and the United States.

Why Are Puppies So Cute?

Puppies can teach us a lot about psychology. Here's why we're drawn to "babyness"—the evoking qualities that make puppies so darn cute.

Campus Closed? Structuring Your Day Will Foster Success

Creating routines that incorporate wellness and socializing into your life can ease the stress of finding yourself suddenly home from college.

Children & COVID-19: What Parents Should Know

News of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can be scary for kids. They trust you. Use this as an opportunity to teach them about basic hygiene and reliable media sources.

How Can I Get My Teenager to Talk to Me? 4 Tips

If you want your teen to talk to you, you need to take the time to build a relationship with them—just like you would with anyone else.

What's Working? A 5-Minute Exercise for a Better Life

Spend five minutes thinking systematically about what's going well, what's not, what you should do more of, and what you should do less of.

Parenting Style: Balancing Demandingness and Support

Parents who are warm and strict have children who do well in school and with peers, who stay out of trouble, and who show the highest well-being.

Pain and Emotion: The Role of the Amygdala

Some of the most puzzling aspects of chronic pain—how you can be laughing one minute and prostrate in agony the next—can be explained by the role of the amygdala.

How the Desktop Metaphor Helped Windows Take Over the World

Metaphors help tie together complex tasks so they're easier to remember.

Is Pain All In Your Head?

The most belittling things a doctor can say to a person in pain is that it's “all in their head.” But so is everything we think, feel, or experience. Part 1 of a series.

Phantom Limb: The Science of Impossible Sensation Part 2

The root of phantom limb pain. And treatments from the traditional to the cutting edge.

Phantom Limbs: The Science of Impossible Sensation Part 1

Almost all amputees experience some kind of phantom limb. What exactly is it? Who discovered it? And what are its strange effects?

Most Gamers Are Adults. Why Do We Worry When Kids Play?

We worry a lot about kids playing video games, but most gamers are adults. Are we worrying too much about them? Or not enough about ourselves?

Clutter: The Mess of the Last 10 Percent

Well begun is half done, but it's also the most enjoyable part of a project. The last 10 percent is where the work is—and if it doesn't get finished, you wind up with clutter.

Why Does the Little Drummer Boy Challenge Stress Me?

The artificial stress I feel from the Little Drummer Boy Challenge is a parable about all the stress I can take in from the artificial standards of others on social media.

Attachment: The Foundation of Human Relationships

Infants' attachment to their caregivers is one of the first—and also one of the most important—milestones in child development. How did we begin to study it?

a toy and real knife

Where Toddlers Play With Knives: Parenting World Views

Children learn a lot when allowed to explore unfettered. It also puts them at risk. Where is the balance?

Worried Gaming Is Ruining Teen Social Life? Don't.

Why do we worry that teens are TOO social when they text, but not social enough when they play online games? New research suggests that gaming can be good for kids, as well as fun.

Feeling Like a Burden Puts LGBTQ+ Youth At Risk

Despite increased social acceptance, LGBTQ+ youth are still at risk for depression and suicide. One reason is that they can feel like a burden to others.

Buy a Hamper and Use It: Advice for New Graduates

A few simple habits can make your life a lot more pleasant.

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