News

April 13, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Executive Function Issues in Children

Executive functions are mental skills such as organization, problem-solving, and planning that we use daily.

However, some children struggle with them, which can result in their having trouble keeping track of their schoolwork or items (such as bags or jackets), remembering assignments, or following directions.

Learn More

In a series of new resources, the Child Mind Institute notes that it is important to investigate the root cause of why some children can become distracted or disorganized.

Executive function issues are most common in children with ADHD, the Child Mind Institute notes, but children without that diagnosis can have them as well.

The institute offers support for children who struggle with staying organized in school and those who need help with working memory – or, keeping track of the information they need to finish a project or solve problems.

The institute’s resources explore whether a child’s disorganized behavior could indicate other underlying issues, such as anxiety, depression, or a learning disorder.

Strategies for staying organized can’t address an undiagnosed learning disorder or help children who have experienced trauma. These children may appear forgetful or distracted, but may need different types of support, such as a neuropsychological examination.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

News

Thriving Kids Episode Focuses on Building Stronger Relationships with Children

To build a stronger relationship with a child, caregivers should slow down and reflect on their own history and motivations as a caregiver.

The latest Thriving Kids podcast episode suggests that doing so can often yield better results than giving in to the temptation of jumping straight into skills and communication strategies.

Learn More

In the latest Thriving Kids, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education at the Child Mind Institute, discussed the topic of building stronger bonds with children with Ruben Parra-Cardona, PhD, a family therapist and the Roger and Carol Nooe-endowed chair and professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee.

The discussion focuses on the ethics of raising another person, why encouragement can be harder to give than one might think, and how the process of learning to parent differently can also be a process of personal healing. Another topic is the balance of nurturing a child and holding them accountable.

Some of Thriving Kids’ tips for building a stronger relationship between caregivers and children include:

Be a good listener; often, children just want a caregiver who will give them undivided attention.
Make family time fun and make activities such as game nights, movies, or other activities routine.
Talk openly and honestly, but also set boundaries, so that children will feel safe and supported, all the while learning how to make responsible choices.
Respectfully agree to disagree. Acknowledge a child’s thoughts and feelings, even when you don’t agree. Showing respect for their opinions helps to build trust.

The Thriving Kids episode is available on the Child Mind Institute’s website.

News

April 7, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Difference Between Bipolar Disorder and BPD in Youths

Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD) can often be confused with each other. Both typically develop in adolescence, involve intense emotions and dramatic mood swings, and can lead to dangerous behavior.

Sometimes, teenagers might be misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder – which is more widely understood – when they might in fact be struggling with BPD.

Learn More

The Child Mind Institute has shared some resources about the key differences between BPD and bipolar disorder. For example, episodes of mania or depression last weeks or months with bipolar disorder and can arise without a clear trigger.

In BPD, emotional shifts are rapid and reactive, with moods lasting only minutes or hours and typically triggered by interpersonal stress, rejection, or disappointment.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources explain how to recognize the earliest signs of both disorders in teenagers and why it’s important to catch them as soon as possible. Treatment for the two disorders are very different, and the longer they go untreated or misdiagnosed, the more disruptive they can be to a person’s life.

The resources include:

News

March 24, 2026

Resources to Help Children with ADHD or Sleep Issues

Despite caregivers’ best efforts, most children do not get enough sleep, whether it’s because they are energized and do not want to go to sleep or they’re overwhelmed by homework.

But for children with ADHD, the Child Mind Institute notes, these struggles can be compounded with the fact that difficulty falling or staying asleep or waking up early are all common issues, and sleep problems can be a side effect of taking ADHD stimulant medication.

Learn More

The Child Mind Institute has shared resources regarding sleep issues for children with ADHD and what can be done to help them.

One article discusses how being able to wind down at night is a form of self-regulation and that children with ADHD have trouble stopping an activity they find stimulating – whether it’s reading or doing something online.

Another piece focuses on how caregivers can help children develop better routines to get to bed on time, such as providing support to help them set limits for themselves. If a child feels anxious about being able to fall asleep, the institute has provided tips on how to help them relax.

Occasionally, lack of sleep can cause children to have trouble focusing at school, according to one Child Mind Institute resource, and even lead to an ADHD misdiagnosis.

Below are the resources shared by the Child Mind Institute.

News

March 9, 2026

How to Prepare and Register Children for Summer Camp

With the ongoing snow and frigid temperatures, summer might still seem far away – but those looking to place children in summer camps should begin thinking about where to find spots for them.

Allegheny County Search Tool

Caregivers can find available spots for children at Allegheny County early learning, after school, summer camp, and virtual programs on Allegheny Child Care for Families’ website. The website – a collaboration between Trying Together and APOST – enables caregivers to explore programs based on location or children’s age and also includes virtual programs.

Providers regularly update information regarding available spots and whether they are accepting new families. As summer camp signup season approaches, providers should remember to update their profiles on the website. Caregivers can also create an account to save a list of their favorite child care providers.

How to Prepare Your Child for Summer Camp

While going away to summer camp can be exciting and provide a sense of independence for some children and young adults, it can also create anxiety for others.

The Child Mind Institute put together a list of resources regarding summer camp anxiety to help caregivers in easing children’s minds for when they will spend the night away from home.

In one article, the institute lists a variety of ways that caregivers can help children to overcome pre-camp anxiety – including letting them feel a sense of ownership over the experience, not trivializing their concerns or offering glib reassurances, reflecting on your own formative experiences away from home and sharing positive aspects, and not lingering at the bus stop or drop-off point.

In an article from New York Presbyterian on a similar topic, suggestions to help children get the most out of their summer camp experience include not promising to pick up a child as soon as they get homesick, doing a dry run by visiting the camp ahead of time, sending along a favorite stuffed animal, or suggesting they talk to a camp counselor about any challenges they have.

Allegheny County Summer Camp Options

In February, Kidsburgh released its annual list of local summer camps for children of all ages and interests. This year, among the 75 camps listed were:

August Wilson African American Cultural Center’s Hip Hop Camp
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Pittsburgh Musical Theater Conservatory
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium
Shady Side Academy
Jewish Community Center
National Aviary
Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History
Pittsburgh Public Theater Summer Camps

In the Kidsburgh article, each summer camp listing is accompanied by information on the program and registration.

Programs listed in Allegheny Child Care for Families’ database include the Homewood-Brushton YMCA, Venture Outdoors, Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, and the Sarah Heinz House Association, among others.

Summer Camp Options in Other Counties

There are a variety of options for summer camps in other nearby western Pennsylvania counties. These include:

Armstrong County

Beaver County

Butler County

Fayette County

Greene County

Indiana County

Lawrence County

Washington County

Westmoreland County

News

March 3, 2026

Child Mind Institute Releases Survey, Resources for Black Families Seeking Mental Health Care

The decision to place a child on medication to treat a mental health or learning disorder can be a difficult one.

The Child Mind Institute has put together a list of resources to address the possibility that Black parents in particular might be skeptical because of the history of misuse of psychiatric medication on Black patients.

Learn More

In a recent Child Mind Institute survey of Black families and young adults seeking mental health care, about half of the participants said they believed that mental health professionals are too quick to prescribe medication.

The survey identified key barriers of the participants’ experiences in seeking care. It also found that Black adolescent boys are less likely to seek care from mental health professionals than their female counterparts.

The institute’s resources address concerns about medication and how caregivers and clinicians can work together to get the best treatment for a child. They also explore why Black children with autism tend to be diagnosed late and Black teens with mood disorders are often misdiagnosed as well as how these challenges can be overcome.

The resources highlight the importance of having more Black and culturally competent mental health professionals available for Black children.

Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources:

News

February 16, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Keeping Children Motivated in School

It’s not unusual for children to go through periods when they feel unmotivated in schools, especially during the cold winter months or when the next long break feels like a long time away.

The Child Mind Institute has put together a list of resources for helping children to remain motivated in school.

Learn More

There are a variety of factors that could prevent children from being motivated in school – including everything from ADHD to anxiety or a learning disability. However, children without a diagnosis can also struggle to remain consistent.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources cover what might be behind a child’s behavior, from boredom and frustration to social issues, and how to offer the right support.

Struggling with a particular skill can be especially hard for children who are gifted in other areas. If a child appears to be losing steam in one area, acknowledge their efforts in a different area to help boost their confidence.

Below is the list of the Child Mind Institute’s resources.

News

February 11, 2026

Thriving Kids Episode Covers How to Help Children Manage Stress

Children face a number of situations that can be stressful, from school pressure and social dynamics to the big emotions they might have difficulty controlling.

It’s natural that caregivers would want to help children to make their stress go away. However, it’s important for caregivers to teach children how to manage, rather than avoid, stress.

Learn More

In the latest episode of the Thriving Kids podcast, Dave Anderson, the Child Mind Institute’s senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education, joins Dylan Gee, PhD, a professor of psychology at Yale University, to discuss why learning to manage stres is an important emotional skill for children.

The conversation also touches on why avoiding stress can make it worse over time and how children can learn to tolerate discomfort and recover from difficult moments. They also talk about what caregivers can do to support the process as well as how their staying calm and regulated can help a child feel safer, more supported, and better able to cope.

Additionally, the Thriving Kids podcast provided some tips on how to support a child when they’re feeling stressed:

Validate their emotions and let them know it’s normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes; using words like “frustrated,” “worried,” or “scared” can help them to identify and express their feelings.
Show genuine interest in how the child is feeling and make sure you’re actively engaged in the conversation. Listen without judging or rushing to offer solutions.
Your own emotional state can influence your child’s, so take time for self care and learn how to manage your own stress effectively.
Help the child learn that stressful situations can have many interpretations, and challenge negative thoughts by gently guiding them towards more balanced perspectives.
Help the child to learn to tolerate stress instead of trying to eliminate it by teaching them such coping strategies as deep breathing, mindfulness exercises, or creative expression.

For more information, listen to the latest Thriving Kids episode.

News

February 10, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Children with Multiple Diagnoses

It can be challenging for caregivers during the process of seeking a diagnosis for a child, but even more so if they learn the child is struggling with two – or more – mental health or learning disorders.

Learn More

The Child Mind Institute has put together a series of resources on what experts call co-occurring disorders. Having multiple disorders is not unusual: One study found that 40 percent of adolescents diagnosed with a mental health disorder met the criteria for another.

Some of the most common combinations include autism and ADHD, anxiety and depression, ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and learning disorders together with anxiety or depression. Additionally, children with Tourette’s often have OCD or ADHD.

The institute’s resources include a piece on co-occurring disorders that examines why they happen frequently and how they affect treatment. In some cases, two disorders are diagnosed together, but one is often identified later when treatment for the first doesn’t resolve some symptoms.

Sometimes, a second disorder is developed as a result of a child’s struggles with the first – especially depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. In any of these cases, the conditions must be treated carefully for the child to thrive, as treatment for one could complicate the other, particularly if multiple medications are being used.

Below is the list of the Child Mind Institute’s resources on co-occurring disorders.

News

February 9, 2026

Thriving Kids Episode Focuses on Teaching Children How to Handle Disappointment

In a culture that emphasizes achievement – and considers mistakes something to avoid at all costs – it is important for caregivers and educators to teach children how to tolerate disappointment.

Learn More

Failing at something is a core life skill and not a weakness. When failure feels unacceptable, children can become anxious, overly self-critical, or afraid to try new things and, in the process, become more vulnerable to burnout or emotional distress.

Dave Anderson, the Child Mind Institute’s senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education, joins journalist Jennifer Wallace, author of “Never Enough” and “Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose,” in the latest episode of Thriving Kids to discuss this topic.

They talk about how toxic achievement culture affects caregivers and children alike, and what it means to raise a child who feels like they matter for who they are – and not what they accomplish.

The discussion covers:

Why fear of failure fuels anxiety and burnout
How caregivers can instill counter-culture messages about self-worth
What children need from adults when they fall short

Some tips provided by Thriving Kids on how to help children learn to fail and recover from setbacks include:

Start with empathy; when children fail, resist the urge to immediately reassure them or fix the problem. Instead, acknowledge their feelings and recognize that they are in distress.
Model how to handle mistakes; help the child understand that failure is a normal part of life and happens to everyone.
Turn failure into a teachable moment. A setback can be an opportunity to build acceptance and problem-solving skills.
Step back and allow failure. It can be painful to watch children struggle, but hovering or rescuing can prevent them from developing resilience.
Know when extra support may help. If a child’s fear of failure is so intense that it interferes with their daily life, professional support from a therapist can help them practice tolerating disappointment in a structured way.