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July 8, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Children’s Summer Anxieties

For many children, summer is a relaxing time during which they can take a break from homework or getting up early in the morning – but the season can also bring its own stressors.

The Child Mind Institute has released some resources on some of the things that stress children during the summer, whether it’s summer camp, unpredictable schedules, or travel.

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Changes in routine can cause worry about the unknown, especially for children who struggle with mental health challenges such as ADHD or anxiety.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include a discussion on how to support children who might be feeling anxious about summer activities. They feature some suggestions for children who are nervous about camp, whether it’s apprehension about meeting new people or fear of being separated from their caregivers for longer than they’re used to.

The resources also include a piece in which experts weigh in on how to make travel easier for children with mental health challenges and how to support children who are easily upset by sensor surprises, such as hot sand or loud firecrackers.

Lastly, the resources include an article on how to manage boredom and use it to help children develop independence.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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July 7, 2026

Resources Provide Tips on Monitoring Children’s Summer Screen Time

While some might consider summer fun to be swimming, barbecuing, or taking part in an adventure outdoors, many children would prefer the extra time to play their favorite video game or spend time on TikTok.

In a new set of resources, the Child Mind Institute notes that loosening the rules for screen time might seem fair when school’s out – however, a lack of rules will not work.

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The institute’s strategies for summer screen time rules include information on how to offer children more freedom to play games or connect with friends online without encroaching on what they need to do to stay healthy during the summer months.

The beginning of the season is a good opportunity to assess a child’s tech use, identify the risks you want to avoid, and make a practical plan.

The resources also include an article on screens and neurodivergent children, including those with autism, ADHD, or a learning disorder. It focuses on how these children might be able to get an additional benefit from online engagement, but also be more vulnerable to addictive or unsafe behaviors.

One article addresses the issue of when children are ready for social media use, while another discusses how to create a structure for the summer that makes children feel comfortable. There are also pieces on how to get children to spend more time outdoors and how building chores into their lives helps to teach them responsibility and feel the value of contributing to the family.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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June 16, 2026

Resources Focus on How to Support LGBTQ+ Children’s Mental Health

June is Pride Month and one of the most important ways to support LGBTQ+ children in embracing their identities is to help them tend to their mental health and emotional well-being.

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While any children can experience bullying or rejection, the Child Mind Institute writes in a new series of resources, children in the queer community are particularly targeted. This puts them at higher risk for such mental health challenges as anxiety and depression.

The institute’s resources include advice on what to do when a child is questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity – or decides to come out.

The resources feature an article on ways to arm children with tools to combat bullying and another on how to keep the lines of communication open with teens, which can help them to feel safer talking about topics such as sex, gender, and romantic relationships.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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June 2, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Medicating Children with Tics or Tourette’s

Tics can upset children and disorders such as Tourette’s, ADHD, or OCD can interfere with their lives.

Medication can be a helpful part of treatment for such disorders, but clinicians who are prescribing should take into consideration that many children with one condition often have another, the Child Mind Institute notes.

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Clinicians will want to prioritize treating what is causing the child the most difficulty, the Child Mind Institute writes in a new set of resources – which is often not the tics, but the disorder.

The institute’s resources examine the two main types of medication that are effective in reducing tics as well as the pros and cons of each and the steps leading to an effective treatment plan.

The first recommended step in treatment is a specialized therapy known as comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT), rather than medication, which may be prescribed if therapy alone doesn’t alleviate tics.

If a child also has ADHD, it is important to ensure that their ADHD medication isn’t making the tics worse. Occasionally, when a second disorder causes a child a lot of stress, treating that can alleviate tics as well.

Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources on how to treat tics and disorders such as Tourette’s in children.

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May 25, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Shielding Children from Divorce’s Effects

A divorce that is fraught with tension and conflict can be very difficult for a child. When they get caught in the middle, the Child Mind Institute notes, they can become collateral damage.

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A new set of resources from the Child Mind Institute discusses how to shield children from the negative impacts of a divorce – such as prolonged disputes, breakdowns in conflict resolution, and hostility.

The resources discuss how to protect children’s mental health during a high-conflict divorce and how to tell children that you’re getting a divorce in an age-appropriate way. One article discusses why keeping your voice calm during conflict improves a child’s development, while another provides tips on how to navigate differing rules for children when co-parenting.

The institute has also provided a piece on ways to recognize when a child isn’t adjusting in a healthy way to a big change like a divorce, move, or new stepfamily – and how their struggles could lead to an adjustment disorder.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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Thriving Kids Podcast Episode Focuses on the Importance of Self-Care

Caregivers have a great responsibility when it comes to taking care of young children – but they must also take care of themselves.

The latest Thriving Kids podcast episode provides some tips and reminders about parenting and self-care – and how caregivers can’t pour from an empty cup.

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In the podcast, Dave Anderson, the Child Mind Institute’s senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education, is joined by Lauren Hughes, MD, IBCLC, a board-certified pediatrician who is known for her evidence-based approach to raising children.

The podcast’s topics of discussion include developmental milestones (when to worry and when not to), sleep training, breastfeeding, and why supporting one’s own mental health matters just as much as supporting a child’s.

Other tips provided regarding parenting and self-care:

Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate – it can be a quiet walk, a few minutes of meditation, a bath after the children are in bed, or other small moments.
You don’t have to pretend to be OK when you’re not; if you’re struggling, tell someone and let them know how they can help, whether it’s covering a school pickup, watching children for an hour, or just checking in on you.
Find your people – connecting with other parents can help ease the isolation that comes with raising young children.
Your well-being and your child’s well-being are connected. Children look to their parents for cues on how to handle stress. By asking for help and taking care of yourself, you teach children to do the same.
Help is out there: Parenting is hard, especially when you’re not sleeping, getting enough support, or dealing with mental health challenges. Asking for help is a sign of strength – not failure.

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May 11, 2026

Orlando Bloom Featured on Thriving Kids Podcast on ADHD and Learning Disabilities

The latest Thriving Kids podcast explores how caregivers might view the future for children struggling with a learning disorder or ADHD. It includes the insight of a well-known actor who once struggled with such a situation.

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Dave Anderson, a senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education for the Child Mind Institute, joins actor Orlando Bloom on this week’s podcast to discuss the topic.

On the podcast, Bloom discusses growing up with dyslexia, including the challenges he faced paying attention and concentrating in school. He also talks about how he developed workarounds before many of today’s evidence-based supports existed.

The podcast discussion also focuses on how movement, mindfulness, good nutrition, and sleep can help children and adults manage attention and learning challenges.

To accompany the podcast, the Child Mind Institute provided several tips on how to support children with ADHD or learning disorders:

Get them moving – Research shows that even 30 minutes of physical activity a day can help children with ADHD focus better, whether it’s a run before school or a game of tag during recess.
Find their area of excellence – Every child has something they are good at and finding an activity that gives them a sense of mastery can improve their confidence and self-esteem.
Cover the basics first – Emphasize sleep, nutrition, and movement. If children aren’t sleeping well, getting regular exercise, or eating properly, it’s harder for them to focus and regulate emotions at school.
Try mindfulness – Mindfulness practices can help children become less reactive and more focused; even a few minutes a day of paying attention to breathing helps to build a skill they can use for the rest of their lives.
Help them understand their diagnosis – Children do better when they know that a learning difference isn’t a reflection of their intelligence. Help them to understand how their brain works and give them language to talk about their strengths and challenges.

To learn more, listen to the Thriving Kids podcast.

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Child Mind Institute Resources Combat Feelings of Self-Hatred in Children

A child might occasionally say “I hate myself” when they have made a mistake or are struggling with or embarrassed by something. Caregivers might often write this off as an overreaction, but sometimes children actually mean it.

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The Child Mind Institute has shared some resources on how to combat patterns described by experts as self-hatred or self-loathing. This is a belief by children that they are flawed and fundamentally unworthy of love.

The feeling is not merely a response to something specific they did or a particular failure, but rather something they believe they are.

According to the Child Mind Institute, highly sensitive children can come to loathe themselves, believing that they are unlovable. Self-hatred is not a diagnosis, but instead a painful experience that can put children at high risk for suicide.

The institute’s resources examine how reassuring a child that they are valued and loved may not help them believe it and the kinds of treatment that can help them build a more positive view of themselves.

The resources also cover ways to help children who may not have developed full-blown self-hatred, but are easily upset by criticism or susceptible to negative-thinking traps. There are also resources that cover strategies for helping children to build self-confidence to enable them to rebound in a healthy way when they experience failure.

The resources include:

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April 21, 2026

Child Mind Institute Provides Resources for Children with Autism and ADHD

Recently, the term auDHD has been coined to describe people who have both autism and ADHD, a combination that is common, according to The Child Mind Institute.

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While auDHD is not an official diagnosis, it is meant to draw attention to the effect of having both disorders because some symptoms overlap in challenging ways.

Both ADHD and autism can result in children having trouble paying attention to things they don’t find interesting, struggling in social situations, and being prone to emotional outbursts. Occasionally, having both disorders can compound the issues, while at other times children might feel as if they are being pulled in two different directions.

The Child Mind Institute has provided resources for caregivers of children who have both disorders. One article on auDHD explores the experiences of children with dual diagnoses and how treatment is affected by them. Another explains what a careful evaluation for autism should look like and how noticing ADHD first can delay an autism diagnosis.

The institute examines the challenges that can arise for autistic children during puberty in one article, while another focuses on the case for making a separate diagnosis for profound autism. There are also resources on how children who are not hyperactive might still have ADHD and on neurodiversity, which discusses how children with autism, ADHD, or auDHD each have strengths as well as challenges.

Below are The Child Mind Institute’s resources.