On Babies

Stress

Parental Stress at an All-Time High

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on October 18, 2024

Caregivers are currently experiencing a high level of stress. This stress can adversely affect foundational brain architecture for babies and toddlers and impact their well-being.

Caregivers are currently experiencing a high level of stress. This stress can adversely affect foundational brain architecture for babies and toddlers and impact their well-being.

Parenting

Adult Coregulation Leads to Child Self-Regulation

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on July 15, 2024

Because young children’s brains are still developing, they need the adult caregivers in their lives to help them regulate their emotions while they learn to self-regulate.

Because young children’s brains are still developing, they need the adult caregivers in their lives to help them regulate their emotions while they learn to self-regulate.

Parenting

Gentle Parenting Doesn't Mean Permissive Parenting

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on May 6, 2024

Gentle parenting is not permissive. It is an authoritative style—a balanced approach that is both firm and kind and makes space for healthy, age-appropriate emotional expression.

Gentle parenting is not permissive. It is an authoritative style—a balanced approach that is both firm and kind and makes space for healthy, age-appropriate emotional expression.

Mindfulness

Leaning Into Mindfulness

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on February 7, 2024

Caregivers, teachers, and young children can benefit from mindfulness practices that help them feel calmer, kinder, and more focused and grateful.

Caregivers, teachers, and young children can benefit from mindfulness practices that help them feel calmer, kinder, and more focused and grateful.

Caregiving

Navigating Family Gatherings With Young Children

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on November 20, 2023

Caregivers of young children may benefit from strategies to mitigate the stress of interactions in intergenerational settings.

Caregivers of young children may benefit from strategies to mitigate the stress of interactions in intergenerational settings.

Bias

Understanding and Reducing Preschool Expulsion

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on October 13, 2023

Expulsion from early-childhood settings has an adverse effect on children and families. Teachers can reduce bias that leads to inequity through reflective practice.

Expulsion from early-childhood settings has an adverse effect on children and families. Teachers can reduce bias that leads to inequity through reflective practice.

Parenting

Challenging Toddler Behavior

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on September 11, 2023

Caregivers of toddlers are better able to meet the needs of young children when they understand developmentally appropriate behavior and how to support social-emotional growth.

Caregivers of toddlers are better able to meet the needs of young children when they understand developmentally appropriate behavior and how to support social-emotional growth.

Parenting

When Children Are Picky Eaters

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on July 10, 2023

Picky eating is common in young children yet can cause concern for caregivers. Practitioners can suggest strategies and offer support.

Picky eating is common in young children yet can cause concern for caregivers. Practitioners can suggest strategies and offer support.

Parenting

Balancing Safety and Healthy Risk-Taking for Young Children

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on June 22, 2023

Babies and toddlers gain confidence and skills when they take age-appropriate risks, but they need support and guidance to do so safely.

Babies and toddlers gain confidence and skills when they take age-appropriate risks, but they need support and guidance to do so safely.

Caregiving

Improving Baby and Toddler Mental Health

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on May 18, 2023

Improve the well-being of babies and their families by understanding the signs of poor mental health, applying a two-gen approach, and considering community-based initiatives.

Improve the well-being of babies and their families by understanding the signs of poor mental health, applying a two-gen approach, and considering community-based initiatives.

Child Development

Setting Reasonable Expectations for Young Children

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on April 17, 2023

Caregivers can be more effective and supportive guides when they know what to expect from their child’s developmental unfolding.

Caregivers can be more effective and supportive guides when they know what to expect from their child’s developmental unfolding.

Sleep

Understanding Infant and Toddler Sleep

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on March 15, 2023

Most babies need to learn skills before they can sleep well on their own, let alone through the night. Normalizing sleep struggles can help caregivers feel less helpless.

Most babies need to learn skills before they can sleep well on their own, let alone through the night. Normalizing sleep struggles can help caregivers feel less helpless.

Caregiving

Why Babies Need Your Undivided Attention

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on February 15, 2023

Babies and toddlers are in a developmental stage of rapid brain growth. Caregiver responsiveness is key for healthy brain architecture, yet technology can interfere.

Babies and toddlers are in a developmental stage of rapid brain growth. Caregiver responsiveness is key for healthy brain architecture, yet technology can interfere.

Punishment

Positive Parenting: Discipline vs. Punishment

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on January 12, 2023

When caregivers understand the differences between discipline and punishment, they can better guide children with positive approaches toward learning and lasting behavior change.

When caregivers understand the differences between discipline and punishment, they can better guide children with positive approaches toward learning and lasting behavior change.

Caregiving

Understanding Temperament and Caregiver-Child Mismatches

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on December 15, 2022

Caregivers have an advantage when they understand temperament, its effect on children’s behavior, and how to navigate a temperamental match, or mismatch, with their child.

Caregivers have an advantage when they understand temperament, its effect on children’s behavior, and how to navigate a temperamental match, or mismatch, with their child.

Parenting

Supporting Adoptive, Foster, and Kinship Families

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on November 19, 2022

Caregivers who parent extended family members, adopted children, or children in out-of-home placements need positive parenting tools and a trauma-informed lens to be effective.

Caregivers who parent extended family members, adopted children, or children in out-of-home placements need positive parenting tools and a trauma-informed lens to be effective.

Internet Addiction

The "Post-Pandemic" Screen Time Dilemma

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on September 24, 2022

The pandemic decreased the availability of high-quality child care and changed how families work, potentially increasing the time young children engage with screens.

The pandemic decreased the availability of high-quality child care and changed how families work, potentially increasing the time young children engage with screens.

Autism

How to Support Families of Young Children with Autism

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on July 18, 2022

The road to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identification is long and stressful. Here's how to support caregivers in getting support to their children as early as possible.

The road to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identification is long and stressful. Here's how to support caregivers in getting support to their children as early as possible.

Stress

Supporting Families Facing Continuing Mass Gun Violence

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on June 15, 2022

The increase in mass shootings nationwide adds anxiety and stress for caregivers of young children. Practitioners can provide stress mitigation and ongoing support.

The increase in mass shootings nationwide adds anxiety and stress for caregivers of young children. Practitioners can provide stress mitigation and ongoing support.

Anxiety

Understanding Anxiety in Young Children

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on May 12, 2022

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of anxiety in young children can help practitioners provide supportive strategies to caregivers.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of anxiety in young children can help practitioners provide supportive strategies to caregivers.