Books and Articles — Parenting Advice and Support

Getting Ahead of Trouble, by Emily Anthes. Boston Globe, September 06, 2010.  “It's tricky to identify the warning signs of mental health problems - there's no blood test, for instance, that can signal coming distress. But experts are increasingly watchful for children and teens who are displaying subtle signs that their brains might be in trouble.&rdquo

Child Safety: Is there an app for that?, by Caroline Hughes. Cape Cod Times, September 05, 2010.  “With the recent surge in media reports of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and other online dangers, many parents are urging their kids to use caution when it comes to revealing personal details online.&rdquo

High School Incompletion Rates Highest in Teens With ADHD, by Caroline Cassels. Medscape Today, July 29, 2010.  “Teenagers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to drop out of high school or delay high school graduation than their counterparts with more "serious" mental health conditions, new national data suggest.&rdquo

Mom's hugs create less stressed offspring, by CTV Toronto. July 29, 2010.  “Can you spoil a baby with too many hugs? No way, new research says.&rdquo

Defining a Successful Parent, by Lisa Belkin. New York Times, July 19, 2010.  “Cultivating and informing and monitoring are what parents are supposed to do, no?&rdquo

Worried About a Moody Teen?, by Elizabeth Bernstein. Wall St. Journal, June 29, 2010.  “Everyone warns parents about the drama of the teen years—the self-righteous tears, slamming doors, inexplicable fashion choices, appalling romances. But what happens when typical teen angst starts to look like something much darker and more troubling? How can parents tell if a moody teenager is simply normal—or is spinning out of control? This may be one of the most difficult dilemmas parents will ever face.&rdquo

Study: Children of Lesbians May Do Better then Peers, by Alice Park. Time Magazine, June 07, 2010.  “Data on homosexual families are sparse, but they are important for establishing whether a child's environment in a home with same-sex parents would be any more or less nurturing than one with a heterosexual couple.&rdquo

The New Dad: Exploring Fatherhood within a Career Context, by Brad Harrington and Fred Van Deusen, et al. Boston College Center for Work and Family, June 01, 2010.

Teenagers Face Stigma of Mental Illness, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, May 27, 2010.  “A new study paints a disturbing portrait for youth diagnosed and taking medications for mood disorders.&rdquo

Having a Baby: Depression Affects New Fathers, Too, by Roni Rabin. The New York Times, May 24, 2010.  “One in 10 new fathers experience prenatal or postpartum depression, a condition long thought to affect only mothers, according to a new analysis of dozens of earlier studies.&rdquo

Depression in Young Children, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, May 20, 2010.  “While childhood depression is a well established diagnosis, research looking at depression in children younger than 6 years old is a relatively new field of study.&rdquo

Newborn infants learn while asleep; study may lead to later disability tests, by Cathy Keen. University of Florida News, May 17, 2010.  “Sleeping newborns are better learners than thought, says a University of Florida researcher about a study that is the first of its type. The study could lead to identifying those at risk for developmental disorders such as autism and dyslexia.&rdquo

Postpartum Depression: When Moms Feel Out of Control, by Elizabeth Landau. CNN, May 14, 2010.  “It's normal for new mothers to feel overwhelmed and tired, but sometimes those feelings can develop into something more serious. "Baby blues," which do not require medical attention, can include mood swings, sleep problems, irritability, crying, anxiety and sadness in the first couple of weeks after birth. Postpartum depression is more intense and intrusive: Women may lose interest in life, withdraw from family and friends, or think about harming themselves or their children.&rdquo

School shocked by a suicide drafts tough policy on bullies, by Peter Schworm. Boston Globe, April 28, 2010.  “South Hadley schools have drafted a new antibullying policy that requires all staff members to report “any bullying they see or learn about’’ and pledges to “promptly and reasonably’’ investigate any allegation of harassment.&rdquo

Little kids, big problems, by Linda Wertheimer. Boston Globe, April 25, 2010.  ““Just take a deep breath” was the advice one mother got from the pediatrician when she went in for help with her 3-year-old’s extreme tantrums.&rdquo

New College Addiction? Social Media, Facebooks, or Friends, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, April 23, 2010.  “A new study suggests American college students are "addicted" to the instant connections and information afforded by social media.&rdquo

Are Kids Overprescribed Medications?, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, April 21, 2010.  “A sure-to-be controversial new study suggests psychotropic medications are overused in children.&rdquo

Study: Spanking Kids Leads to More Aggressive Behavior, by Alice Park. Time, April 12, 2010.  “Researchers at Tulane University provide the strongest evidence yet against the use of spanking: of the nearly 2,500 youngsters in the study, those who were spanked more frequently at age 3 were more likely to be aggressive by age 5.&rdquo

Mental Health Experts Applaud Focus on Parity, by Sarah Kershaw. New York Times, March 30, 2010.  “The law makes it possible for millions to get the same coverage for illnesses like major depression or schizophrenia as they would for diabetes or cancer.&rdquo

Hello! Your Psychiatrist Will Skype You Now, by Julie Weingarden Dubin. Time, March 22, 2010.

What We Get When We Give, by Christine L. Carter. Psychology Today, February 18, 2010.

Mount Sinai finds prenatal exposure to certain chemicals affects childhood neurodevelopment, by Stephanie Engel and Amir Miodovnik, et al. EScience News, January 28, 2010.  “A new study led by Mount Sinai researchers in collaboration with scientists from Cornell University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has found higher prenatal exposure to phthalates -- manmade chemicals that interfere with hormonal messaging -- to be connected with disruptive and problem behaviors in children between the ages of 4 and 9 years.&rdquo

Play, Then Eat: Shift May Bring Gains at School, by Tara Parker-Pope. New York Times, January 25, 2010.  “A simple scheduling switch — moving recess before lunch — may improve children’s eating habits and behavior in school.&rdquo

More Than Academics at Morton Alternative, by Giovanna Brue. New York Times, January 23, 2010.  “A program combining intensive psychotherapy with conventional studies to help troubled teens finish school has reported promising results.&rdquo

If Your Kids Are Awake, They're Probably Online, by Tamar Lewin. New York Times, January 20, 2010.  “Researchers once thought the use of electronic devices could not go up. They were wrong.&rdquo

To Treat Bed-Wetting, Healthy Doses of Patience, by Perri Klass. New York Times, January 11, 2010.  “The causes for bed-wetting in children can be genetic, developmental and physiological, but the problem itself is quite treatable.&rdquo

Studying Young Minds, and How to Teach Them, by Benedict Carey. New York Times, December 20, 2009.  “New research on when young brains are best able to grasp fundamental concepts could reshape early education.&rdquo

Infant Sleep Position: Back to Sleep, by Megan A. Moreno. December 14, 2009.  “Sleep position is an important safety issue for infants younger than 1 year. This is because sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is associated with infants sleeping on their tummies. Sudden infant death syndrome is the leading cause of death for infants younger than 1 year. It most commonly occurs in babies between the ages of 2 and 4 months. Despite more than 15 years of the "back to sleep" educational campaign, some parents still are not provided with appropriate education about the safest sleep position for babies.&rdquo

Postpartum Depression Strikes Fathers, Too, by Richard Friedman, M.D. New York Times, December 08, 2009.  “The effects of postpartum depression in men can be every bit as disruptive as occurs with women.&rdquo

Developmental Psychologist Says Teenagers Are Different, by Claudia Dreifus. New York Times, November 30, 2009.  “A Temple University professor and leading expert in the United States on adolescents says they are different from adults, like in being responsible for criminal behavior.&rdquo

The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting, by Nancy Gibbs. Time Magazine, November 20, 2009.

Breeding Babies, by Randi Hutter Epstein. Psychology Today, November 06, 2009.

Texting, Surfing, Studying?, by Perri Klass. New York Times, November 02, 2009.  “In an age of multimedia and multitasking, we have a lot to learn.&rdquo

Alcohol Promotion on Facebook, by Sara Mart and Jacob Mergendoller, et al. Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice, November 01, 2009.  “This article explores the prevalence of alcohol-related content found in popular aspects of Facebook profiles. and offers recommendations for both Facebook and the alcohol industry to remove paid ads and other types of content promoting alcohol products and dangerous drinking behaviors in order to protect youth and young adults from the harmful effects of alcohol advertising.&rdquo

Parenting: Raising Happy Children, by Jim Taylor, Ph.D. Psychology Today, October 30, 2009.  “What does it take to raise happy children?&rdquo

For Some Parents, Shouting Is the New Spanking, by Hilary Stout. New York Times, October 21, 2009.  “Many in today’s generation of parents would never spank their children. But, incongruously and with regularity, this is a generation that yells.&rdquo

Depression Is a Dilemma for Women in Pregnancy, by Roni Caryn Rabin. New York Times, October 05, 2009.  “A study looked for harmful effects in the use of antidepressants by pregnant women.&rdquo

From Birth, Engage Your Child With Talk, by Jane Brody. New York Times, September 29, 2009.  “All too often, mothers and nannies are tuned in to their cellphones, BlackBerrys and iPods, not their young children.&rdquo

The Importance of Family Dinners V, by CASAColumbia. National Center on Additiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia, September 23, 2009.  “CASA report finds teens who have infrequent family dinners likelier to drink, smoke, use marijuana.&rdquo

The Truth About Teen Girls, by Belinda Luscombe. Time Magazine, September 11, 2009.

Back-to-School Transitions: Tips for Parents, by Ted Feinberg and Katherine C. Cowan. September 08, 2009.  “The transition from August to September can be difficult for both children and parents. Even children who are eager to return to class must adjust to the greater levels of activity, structure, and, for some, pressures associated with school life. ... Here are a few suggestions to help ease the transition and promote a successful school experience.&rdquo

Therapy in Preschools: Can It Have Lasting Benefits?, by Sue Shellenbarger. The Wall St. Journal, September 08, 2009.  “The idea of assigning mental-health workers to child-care centers and preschools is jarring. However, research is showing that the programs are benefiting entire classrooms of children.&rdquo

Parenting and Food: Eat Your Peas. Or Don’t. Whatever., by Frank Bruni. New York Times, August 29, 2009.  “How can parents coach children away from unhealthy eating without provoking insecurity and obsession?&rdquo

Ask the Needham Youth Commission: Cough medicine abuse and how to protect your teens, by Needham Youth Commission. Needham Times, June 30, 2009.

Staying Sane May Be Easier Than You Think, by John Cloud. Time Magazine, June 22, 2009.

The Daddy Brain, by Jeremy Adam Smith. Greater Good Magazine, June 15, 2009.

Do parents favor natural children over adopted ones?, by Nigel Barber. Psychology Today, June 01, 2009.

Texting May Be Taking a Toll, by Katie Hafner. New York Times, May 25, 2009.  “Nearly 80 messages a day, on average, take their toll in a range of ways.&rdquo

Mothers in Crisis Turn to Temporary 'Parents', by Erik Eckholm. New York Times, May 06, 2009.  “More states are seeking to avoid the stark choice between breaking up families and leaving children at risk.&rdquo

Managing Your Anxiety about H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu), by Katherine O'Neill and Ester Cole, et al. American Psychological Assosciation, April 28, 2009.

Delivering advice to parents on teen sex, by Bella English. Boston Globe, April 19, 2009.

For Mother and Child at Risk, Care That Includes a Psychologist, by Laurie Tarkan. The New York Times, February 15, 2009.  “A new effort by the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center seeks to protect young children from psychological damage that can be common in poor families.&rdquo

Top Ten Tips for New Parents, by WarmLines Parent/Teacher Resources. Parenting Education News, January 30, 2009.

Kids Aren't Getting Enough Vitamin D, by Kathleen Kingsbury. Time Magazine, October 13, 2008.

Accidents don't have to happen, by Michael Jellinek, M.D. The Newton Tab, October 07, 2008.

The Fatherhood Kit, by Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund. 2004.  “The Children's Trust Fund developed the Fatherhood Resource Guide as part of its Fatherhood Initiative, which works to advance activities that support fathers and their families and the family support professionals who work with them. It is the only listing of its kind in the state. The guide also includes tips for fathers to be better parents.&rdquo

When Children Have a Mental Illness, by Anne Belden. Parenthood.com, 2010.  “An estimated one in 10 children and adolescents in the United States suffers from a mental illness severe enough to significantly interfere with daily life.&rdquo