Thinking About Kids

Loneliness

How Parents Can Help Kids Feel Less Lonely

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on May 1, 2023

Parents can help kids overcome their friendship skill gaps and form meaningful relationships.

Parents can help kids overcome their friendship skill gaps and form meaningful relationships.

Child Development

Effective Classroom Control: It Works In Families, Too

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on April 21, 2023

Watching teachers keep excited first graders calm and on task reminded me of how important it is to communicate clear expectations to children and to reward good behavior.

Watching teachers keep excited first graders calm and on task reminded me of how important it is to communicate clear expectations to children and to reward good behavior.

Artificial Intelligence

Could Psychology Make ChatGPT Irresistibly Persuasive?

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on April 1, 2023

ChatGPT told me how it could use psychology to write so convincingly that people would find it irresistible. But it repeatedly cited non-existent research.

ChatGPT told me how it could use psychology to write so convincingly that people would find it irresistible. But it repeatedly cited non-existent research.

Adolescence

Teenage Mental Health: This Time, the Crisis Isn't Hyped

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on March 27, 2023

The steep decline in adolescent mental health began in 2011. Unlike most hype about adolescents, this crisis is real, sobering, and should concern everyone.

The steep decline in adolescent mental health began in 2011. Unlike most hype about adolescents, this crisis is real, sobering, and should concern everyone.

Attachment

Psychology Has a Language Problem, and It Could Hurt Clients

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on March 22, 2023

When clinicians use technical language that wounds like everyday speech, they can misunderstand their clients and their clients can misunderstand them.

When clinicians use technical language that wounds like everyday speech, they can misunderstand their clients and their clients can misunderstand them.

Therapy

Don't Confuse Service, Therapy, and Emotional Support Dogs

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on January 23, 2023

Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs provide different services and get different accommodations.

Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs provide different services and get different accommodations.

Anxiety

Social Media: 'Everything You Do Is Wrong'

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on December 18, 2022

The more a social media headline defies common sense, raises our anxiety, and applies to us, the more likely we are to click it.

The more a social media headline defies common sense, raises our anxiety, and applies to us, the more likely we are to click it.

Sleep

Helping Teens Sleep Better

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on December 16, 2022

Adolescents grow as fast as toddlers and need more sleep than adults. Parents can help them make good decisions and get the 7-10 hours they need.

Adolescents grow as fast as toddlers and need more sleep than adults. Parents can help them make good decisions and get the 7-10 hours they need.

Parenting

How to Help Children Follow Rules

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on October 25, 2022

A century of research shows that parents who are warm, demanding, and non-coercive, and who enforce clear, legitimate rules raise happy, successful kids.

A century of research shows that parents who are warm, demanding, and non-coercive, and who enforce clear, legitimate rules raise happy, successful kids.

Career

Give Fs for Missing Grades Instead of Zeros

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on September 30, 2022

Giving students Fs for missing assignments instead of zeros makes it much easier for students to recover and do well.

Giving students Fs for missing assignments instead of zeros makes it much easier for students to recover and do well.

Parenting

Making Kids Happier: One Habit a Day

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on July 7, 2022

Good habits are the foundation of happiness. Start small. Reward success. Make it easy.

Good habits are the foundation of happiness. Start small. Reward success. Make it easy.

Child Development

Teaching Kids to Be Leisure Smart, Not Boredom Prone

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on July 2, 2022

Learning to make leisure time fun is a skill. Help your kids use boredom to spur relaxing and fun use of their time.

Learning to make leisure time fun is a skill. Help your kids use boredom to spur relaxing and fun use of their time.

Attachment

Why Your Dog Likes to Flirt with Other People

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on June 22, 2022

The Strange Situation protocol measures how toddlers use important others to regulate their emotions. It applies to puppies and kittens, too.

The Strange Situation protocol measures how toddlers use important others to regulate their emotions. It applies to puppies and kittens, too.

Stress

The Tigers and the Strawberry: When Despair Sharpens Joy

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on May 29, 2022

Sometimes imminent disaster makes beauty sharper. Cultivating mindful attention to moments of truth, beauty, and kindness can make stress easier to bear.

Sometimes imminent disaster makes beauty sharper. Cultivating mindful attention to moments of truth, beauty, and kindness can make stress easier to bear.

Parenting

Teaching Kids to Tidy Up

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on May 8, 2022

Teaching kids to tidy up for a few minutes each day can create lifelong skills, reduce stress, and build on itself so it gets easier to do over time.

Teaching kids to tidy up for a few minutes each day can create lifelong skills, reduce stress, and build on itself so it gets easier to do over time.

Child Development

Scary Things Are Happening: Help Your Children Cope

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on March 19, 2022

All of us—even children—are swimming in a sea of terrifying media images. Help your children cope with what seems like an endless stream of crises.

All of us—even children—are swimming in a sea of terrifying media images. Help your children cope with what seems like an endless stream of crises.

Self-Esteem

Growth Mindsets Foster Excellence Because We Don't Give Up

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on February 3, 2022

When the going gets tough, the tough get going—but only if they have a growth mindset! Those who focus on talent are more likely to quit in the face of obstacles.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going—but only if they have a growth mindset! Those who focus on talent are more likely to quit in the face of obstacles.

Child Development

Together Alone: Do Your Kids Have the Skills to Be Happy?

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on January 17, 2022

Bret Stephens suggests we are a culture that is "together alone." How can we help children develop the skills to be happy alone and play well with others?

Bret Stephens suggests we are a culture that is "together alone." How can we help children develop the skills to be happy alone and play well with others?

Parenting

2 Essentials for Parenting Through Chaos

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on January 11, 2022

Despite the almost unprecedented stress children and adolescents are experiencing now, they need what they have always needed: unconditional love and structure they can count on.

Despite the almost unprecedented stress children and adolescents are experiencing now, they need what they have always needed: unconditional love and structure they can count on.

Child Development

How Many Teens Face Police Discrimination?

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on June 29, 2021

More than 20% of Black and Latinx high school students reported that police hassled them because of their race in the last year.

More than 20% of Black and Latinx high school students reported that police hassled them because of their race in the last year.