Targeted Parenting

Parenting

A TikTok Parenting Trend to Avoid

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on August 25, 2023

TikTok's #eggcrackchallenge seems like a joke. Understand how attunement, attachment, and the stress response work together by analyzing what this trend does to a child's brain.

TikTok's #eggcrackchallenge seems like a joke. Understand how attunement, attachment, and the stress response work together by analyzing what this trend does to a child's brain.

Parenting

Hate Parenting Scripts But Can't Look Away? Here's Why

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on August 1, 2023

Post-traumatic parents tend to focus on explicit parenting scripts, but these are not as helpful as they seem. Instead, learn implicit parenting scripts to improve attunement.

Post-traumatic parents tend to focus on explicit parenting scripts, but these are not as helpful as they seem. Instead, learn implicit parenting scripts to improve attunement.

Trauma

There's No Such Thing as Little-T Trauma

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on July 21, 2023

The game of "trauma poker" has no winners and doesn't help us heal. It's a form of self-gaslighting.

The game of "trauma poker" has no winners and doesn't help us heal. It's a form of self-gaslighting.

Trauma

The 4-Letter Words Undermining Parent Confidence

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on September 25, 2021

Two four-letter words and one four-letter acronym describe why so many parents struggle with confidence.

Two four-letter words and one four-letter acronym describe why so many parents struggle with confidence.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

It's Time to Embrace the Term "Psychodiversity"

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on September 6, 2021

The time has come to embrace divergence, not dysfunction, as a model for psychological functioning. A case for using the term "psychodiversity," as opposed to the pathology model.

The time has come to embrace divergence, not dysfunction, as a model for psychological functioning. A case for using the term "psychodiversity," as opposed to the pathology model.

Stress

"My Kid Is Stressed!" An Rx for Stress Without Side Effects

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on September 2, 2021

We've always known reading to kids is beneficial. New research demonstrates the mechanisms by which it lowers stress. This has some major implications for parenting all kids.

We've always known reading to kids is beneficial. New research demonstrates the mechanisms by which it lowers stress. This has some major implications for parenting all kids.

Trauma

Help! I Had a Panic Attack in Front of My Kids, Now What?

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on June 15, 2021

It can be difficult to talk to children about our own trauma, but we can't always avoid it. Here are some guidelines on how to do it.

It can be difficult to talk to children about our own trauma, but we can't always avoid it. Here are some guidelines on how to do it.

Fear

'My Kid Won't Go Back to School!': These 4 Letters Are Why

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on April 6, 2021

Is FOGO the newest childhood mental health crisis? If your child develops FOGO, or fear of going out, there are four simple steps to take to help overcome it.

Is FOGO the newest childhood mental health crisis? If your child develops FOGO, or fear of going out, there are four simple steps to take to help overcome it.

Deception

Honestly, Lying to Your Therapist Can Be a Good Thing

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on March 23, 2021

Think lying to a therapist is always a bad thing? Five reasons it isn't.

Think lying to a therapist is always a bad thing? Five reasons it isn't.

Parenting

Do Masks Impair Children's Social and Emotional Development?

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on January 19, 2021

Worried masks will interfere with your kid's social development? Pandemic parenting is stressful without this concern. New research shows masks don't mess with kid's face-reading.

Worried masks will interfere with your kid's social development? Pandemic parenting is stressful without this concern. New research shows masks don't mess with kid's face-reading.

Divorce

Book Review: The Parent's Guide to Birdnesting

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on December 31, 2020

Does the child-centered divorce truly exist? This comprehensive guide explains how to set up a Birdnesting agreement, a truly child-centered approach to divorce.

Does the child-centered divorce truly exist? This comprehensive guide explains how to set up a Birdnesting agreement, a truly child-centered approach to divorce.

Parenting

2-Letter Words You Need In Your Parenting Plan Right Now

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on December 28, 2020

Pandemic parenting at the end of 2020 is a recipe for burnout. Parenting is tough. Pandemic parenting—practically impossible. Here are some simple 2-letter words that can help.

Pandemic parenting at the end of 2020 is a recipe for burnout. Parenting is tough. Pandemic parenting—practically impossible. Here are some simple 2-letter words that can help.

Parenting

The 3-Letter Words Child Psychologists Love

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on October 11, 2020

Pandemic parenting can wear us all down. Here are some child psychologist-approved 3-letter words that can help your parenting, prevent parental burnout, and teach kids resilience.

Pandemic parenting can wear us all down. Here are some child psychologist-approved 3-letter words that can help your parenting, prevent parental burnout, and teach kids resilience.

OCD

The Four-Letter Word Child Psychologists Hate

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on September 29, 2020

Parenting a child who is in therapy? Does the "alphabet soup" of diagnoses seem scary? Here's the number one word to never, ever use with your child.

Parenting a child who is in therapy? Does the "alphabet soup" of diagnoses seem scary? Here's the number one word to never, ever use with your child.

Burnout

Two Surprising Ways High Empathy Can Be Bad for Parents

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on September 23, 2020

New research shows that high emotional intelligence could actually predict child abuse. Here's why, and what to do about it.

New research shows that high emotional intelligence could actually predict child abuse. Here's why, and what to do about it.

Burnout

Parental Burnout: What Makes It Different

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on July 9, 2020

Feeling down as a parent? You may not be clinically depressed—you may be experiencing parental burnout.

Feeling down as a parent? You may not be clinically depressed—you may be experiencing parental burnout.

Parenting

Will Covid End Soon? Don't Miss This Parenting Opportunity.

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on June 2, 2020

Journaling can help kids build resilience. Now is the perfect time to start.

Journaling can help kids build resilience. Now is the perfect time to start.

Play

This Play Tweak Can Supercharge Your Child's Development

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on May 26, 2020

Playground play provides more benefits than exercise. It can supercharge a child's emotional and psychological development in four surprising ways.

Playground play provides more benefits than exercise. It can supercharge a child's emotional and psychological development in four surprising ways.

Anxiety

Is Social Anxiety Really an Empathy-Based Superpower?

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on May 19, 2020

New research shows that socially anxious people have more empathic accuracy, but this does not translate into better social performance.

New research shows that socially anxious people have more empathic accuracy, but this does not translate into better social performance.

Personality

Book Review: 'Personality Isn't Permanent'

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on May 12, 2020

In an entertaining new book, Benjamin Hardy makes a good case for the transformational capacity of the human spirit.

In an entertaining new book, Benjamin Hardy makes a good case for the transformational capacity of the human spirit.