Thinking About Kids

Adolescence

Should You Track Your Teen? Insights on Parental Monitoring

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on March 30, 2025

We know that adolescents sharing information is even more important than parental monitoring in fostering well-being. Does parental monitoring still matter?

We know that adolescents sharing information is even more important than parental monitoring in fostering well-being. Does parental monitoring still matter?

Adolescence

The Lonely Teen: Would a Nutritional Metaphor Bring Insight?

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on March 9, 2025

We are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness and lack of connection. Would a nutritional metaphor help us think about this societal problem differently?

We are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness and lack of connection. Would a nutritional metaphor help us think about this societal problem differently?

Habit Formation

Fix Annoying Things, Close Drawers, Do Small Favors

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on January 1, 2025

A Personal Perspective: Dramatic changes have real appeal. Declutter the whole house! But making many small changes will have a much bigger impact over time.

A Personal Perspective: Dramatic changes have real appeal. Declutter the whole house! But making many small changes will have a much bigger impact over time.

Parenting

Home for the Holidays: Parenting College Students

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on December 30, 2024

When students return from college, parents need to adjust how they frame the guidelines that make it easy for adults to share a family home.

When students return from college, parents need to adjust how they frame the guidelines that make it easy for adults to share a family home.

Loneliness

Three Steps to Building Belonging: Childhood and Beyond

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on December 18, 2024

Although we crave connection, we create barriers to achieving it. These three steps can help us build belonging.

Although we crave connection, we create barriers to achieving it. These three steps can help us build belonging.

Anxiety

Inside Out 2: Anxiety and Cognitive Growth

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on October 26, 2024

The cognitive development that comes with puberty can both feed anxiety and help us overcome it.

The cognitive development that comes with puberty can both feed anxiety and help us overcome it.

Boredom

Are Bored Kids Happier?

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on September 15, 2024

Modern parents and childrearing institutions discourage boredom by structuring activities for children. Would it be better if we let them structure activities themselves?

Modern parents and childrearing institutions discourage boredom by structuring activities for children. Would it be better if we let them structure activities themselves?

Parenting

The Do's and Don'ts of Parenting Kids in College

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on August 15, 2024

Dropping kids off at college can be a mixture of excitement, pride, and terror. Make this a time of positive growth that builds their autonomy and confidence.

Dropping kids off at college can be a mixture of excitement, pride, and terror. Make this a time of positive growth that builds their autonomy and confidence.

Parenting

Rules, Autonomy, and Love: The 3 Parenting Basics

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on August 6, 2024

Forget crunchy parenting, curling dads, and tiger moms. Kids need rules, autonomy, and love. Kids also need to be seen for who they are.

Forget crunchy parenting, curling dads, and tiger moms. Kids need rules, autonomy, and love. Kids also need to be seen for who they are.

Sleep

My Baby Sleeps a Lot. Why Am I So Tired?

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on April 6, 2024

Infants and their parents have curiously mismatched sleep cycles. Although babies sleep twice as much as their parents, it is bundled into short snatches an hour or two at a time.

Infants and their parents have curiously mismatched sleep cycles. Although babies sleep twice as much as their parents, it is bundled into short snatches an hour or two at a time.

Child Development

Alphas, Millennials, and Boomers: The Science of Population

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on March 27, 2024

Millennials. Alphas. Boomers. We throw out these terms as shortcuts for psychological and cultural experiences. Population pyramids can help us see how cohort shapes us.

Millennials. Alphas. Boomers. We throw out these terms as shortcuts for psychological and cultural experiences. Population pyramids can help us see how cohort shapes us.

Personal Perspectives

Poll Workers, Polarization, and the Robbers Cave Experiment

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on March 21, 2024

A Personal Perspective: What makes it possible for committed Democrats and Republicans to work together for a long day? Perhaps the Robbers' Cave experiment gives us some clues.

A Personal Perspective: What makes it possible for committed Democrats and Republicans to work together for a long day? Perhaps the Robbers' Cave experiment gives us some clues.

Body Language

A Simple Technique for Calming Peers and Puppies

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on October 14, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Mirroring is a natural behavior. Using it consciously can make you a more effective supporter.

A Personal Perspective: Mirroring is a natural behavior. Using it consciously can make you a more effective supporter.

Therapy

The Joy of Dogs in Unexpected Places

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on June 30, 2023

We pass dogs on the street all the time, usually with barely a glance. What makes them special in a hospital, school, or workplace?

We pass dogs on the street all the time, usually with barely a glance. What makes them special in a hospital, school, or workplace?

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.

Teamwork

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.

Cognition

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.