Social Media and Self Image

In today’s culture, children and teens have access to their own smartphones and social media accounts earlier than ever. Smartphones and social media allow us to have a constant stream of images and advertisements at our fingertips. If you’ve had conversations with your children about how many hours per day they are allowed screen time then you know that once they have access to these platforms- viewing content becomes a consistent component of their daily lives. What are the implications on children’s self-image when having access to this type of content every day?

6 Awesome Mental Health Apps

Whether you’re currently struggling with a mental health issue, or you just want to build upon your skills, everyone’s looking for ways to improve their mental health. You might think of joining a yoga class, signing up for a meditation group, or participating in another activity that brings you peace. However, you may not always have the time to do these activities consistently. This is where apps can be super helpful. Within the palm of your hand, you can have a variety of tools to boost your mental health, whether you have an hour on a weekend or 5 minutes at the end of a busy work day. Here are some apps that can help you on your mental health journey…

Social Media Self-Care

Social media has become a significant part of our daily lives, as we check apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok on a daily basis. While there are many positive aspects of social media, there are drawbacks to these platforms as well. Social media can affect our mental health; when we compare ourselves to others and see how much happier other people appear to be, it can make us feel depressed or anxious, among other feelings. That’s where self-care comes in to combat the negative effects of social media. If the content on your news feeds is negatively impacting your mental health, here are a few tips to practice social media self-care…

Is Your Child "Addicted" To Screens?

Is your child glued to their screens? Research shows that kids’ and teens’ developing brains are constantly building neural connections while pruning away at neural pathways that are less commonly used. Essentially, the more your child does something, the more likely that habit will stick. Screen time can impact this process by replacing valuable offline experiences, which would otherwise allow them to stretch their emotional and mental capacity. Plus, technology may interfere with everything from your child’s sleep cycle to their ability to think creatively. Help your child find balance between online and offline time so that they can engage in essential brain development. Here are a few ways to give your child’s brain a BREAK from screen time…

Supporting Kids with Online Learning: When to Step In and When to Step Back

Have you been getting more involved in your kids’ online learning? Many parents are stepping in this school year to support their children with online learning so that they don’t fall behind academically. But have you ever considered the impact of your added involvement on your children’s executive functioning skills? Executive functioning skills are the set of skills that your child doesn’t get graded for; however, they do play a key role in learning and earning high marks. Strong executive functioning skills allow kids to organize, prioritize, and complete tasks effectively. With remote learning, strive to find a balance between stepping in to help and stepping back to let your kid figure things out on their own and develop vital executive functioning skills. Here are some strategies to help you and your children this school year...

Teaching Kids to be Smart about Social Media

As parents, it’s normal to feel a little uneasy about our kids using social media for the first time. We’re well aware of the negative consequences of social media use, and we want to make sure that our children use it safely. Whether we like it or not, social media isn’t going anywhere. Apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter have become platforms for socialization and exploration. Luckily, there are positive aspects to responsible social media usage as well. Let’s explore how social media can be beneficial and how to guide your child into appropriate social media usage…

Tips to Help Unplug on Vacation

Looking for a chance to de-stress and take a break from your digital life? Why not unplug while you unwind on vacation? Phones, tablets, and laptops tend to stress us out with endless work emails, constant notifications, and comparisons to people’s “perfect” lives on social media. Vacation is your opportunity to relax and enjoy new experiences, so it makes sense to unplug while you’re away. When you disconnect, you’re able to avoid digital distractions and focus on the experience. You’re able to be fully present in the moment, to take it all in, and enjoy your trip. Whether you want to take a phone-free vacation or simply limit your phone usage, here are some tips to make the most of your vacation...

How to Manage Social Media Anxiety

Are Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter making your teen feel anxious or depressed? Your son or daughter is not alone. Recent studies and surveys reveal that social media is one contributing factor towards rising mental health issues among teens. Teens who use social media for hours each day tend to feel more anxious, more insecure, and more alone. There is not a “one size fits all” approach to parenting a teenager with social media related anxiety. Just like teens use social media in various ways for different purposes, there are numerous ways for parents to support their children. Here are some helpful strategies to consider:

The Importance of Mobile Manners

It goes without saying—manners are very important. Every day, we try to instill proper manners into our children, so that they will be polite to others. Yet kids and teens often think that because they are writing from behind a screen, they have the power to say things that they would never say in person. They may be ruder or meaner online, simply because they are not talking to someone else face-to-face. It’s crucial to remind your children that having a phone or tablet is not an excuse to forget about manners. Here are some great ways to enforce mobile manners…

3 Tips to Help Get Your Child to Sleep

Does your child struggle with falling asleep? Maybe you put your child to bed and 20-30 minutes later, he or she is still awake and telling you that he or she can't sleep. It’s understandably frustrating for parents, particularly after a long day, because your child's bedtime may be your first real opportunity to unwind. If you find yourself experiencing issues with bedtime, here are some tips to help your preschooler get settled in for a good night's sleep...

Taking an "Unplugged" Vacation

When you go on vacation, do you still remain connected to work? If you’re spending just as much time taking calls and answering emails as you are relaxing on the beach, consider taking an “unplugged” vacation. An unplugged vacation is a growing trend in which people avoid cell phone use entirely in order to reap the benefits of being disconnected. Whether you want to take a phone-free vacation or limit your phone usage, here are some tips to make the most of your vacation...

Social Media: Friend or Foe?

Today, you literally have the world at your fingertips. At any moment you can go on social media and see what your favorite celebrities are doing, what your co-workers are eating, and where your friends are traveling. Often it’s exciting and fun to take a peek into the lives of others. It can also create a sense of confusion and loneliness within you, particularly if you aren't living the 'exciting' life that you see on social media. Here are some tips to be more mindful when using social media…

4 Tips for Monitoring your Teen’s Online Life

Today, teens are constantly on their phones. They text friends, post to Snapchat, like each other’s Instagram posts, and scroll through their Facebook feeds. It’s like their phones are attached to them—they simply cannot disconnect! It’s hard for parents to keep up with their app profiles and online activity when there are so many apps that they use to connect to their peers and friends. Parents want to make sure their teens are safe online, but it’s difficult to stay updated with the latest online trends. Here are some tips to help you monitor your teen’s digital life.

3 Apps to Boost Your Mindfulness and Your Health

When your life is busy and there are too many things to do in one day, it can be difficult to find time for improving your mindfulness and your health. In this time of technology, there is a new way to supplement the support of your therapist or doctor: apps! Consider downloading these apps to help you achieve your health goals.

4 Simple Steps to Manage Technology Use in Your Home

Overwhelmed by trying to control technology usage in your family? Instead of implementing rules, it may be beneficial to establish “best practice” boundaries around technology use.

Read on for some simple tips to help you manage technology in your home…

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