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August 11, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Negative Impacts of ‘Looksmaxxing’

A trend known as “looksmaxxing” has drawn attention due to influencers who have utilized the extreme grooming, fitness, and occasionally extreme cosmetic practices associated with the subculture.

In a new set of resources, the Child Mind Institute discusses why such extreme self-improvement routines can have a negative impact on boys’ self-esteem and mental health.

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“Looksmaxxing” has become a trend due to the practices of popular online influencers, who have used extreme measures such as “bone smashing” to try to alter their facial structure. There has also been a rise in social media content that encourages teenage boys to engage in self-improvement routines to meet a narrow and exacting standard of attractiveness.

The trend, which has been around for nearly a decade and stems from the belief that women choose romantic partners based on physical traits alone, can be especially damaging to young boys during puberty.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources examine how “looksmaxxing” affects boys and how to help teens navigate current beauty standards. Clinicians have raised concerns that the trend can exacerbate certain mental health disorders – such as body dysmorphic disorder – in teenagers.

The resources also include information on how social media use can lead to self-doubt in teens and how to monitor what they are doing online, while also respecting their independence. There is also a piece on the challenges of early adolescence and how to help boys build confidence during that time.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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August 3, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on How to Calm Squabbling Siblings

Siblings can often be each other’s best friend, but a lot of time spent together over the summer can occasionally feel like too much. Squabbling can then become commonplace during long car rides or activities in which siblings are spending too much time together.

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The Child Mind Institute has put together a series of resources on what to do when siblings won’t stop fighting. The first step is to figure out if there is a pattern to the arguments, and then to set ground rules to help avoid conflict.

If one child keeps running to an adult to tattle, they should establish rules on when to tell an adult and when to resolve things on their own. Noticing when children are getting along and praising them for it helps to reinforce the desired behavior.

There are also tips for when there’s a new baby on the way or if a sibling has a mental health challenge. When a child is struggling, a sibling might often be the first to notice and can sound the alarm so that their brother or sister can get help.

Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources:

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July 22, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Inspiring Children to Read for Fun in the Summer

One of the summer’s challenges for caregivers is making sure that children do not lose some of the skills they have gained over the past year. A critical way to ensure this is to find ways to make reading more appealing for those who aren’t naturally inclined to pick up a book.

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The Child Mind Institute’s latest series of resources focuses on how to prevent the summer slide and encourage children to read for fun during their break.

One of the options explored in the resources are reading a chapter book to a child to share a story they are not yet ready to tackle themselves.

The institute has provided a list of nearly 100 children’s books about mental health as well as a piece on strategies to help children with learning disorders or ADHD with reading.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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July 20, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Provide Advice in Handling “Failure to Launch” Syndrome

In our currently expensive age, it’s common for young adults – especially recent college graduates – to live at home with their parents or caregivers.

Some may be looking for a job, while others might have one that doesn’t pay enough to enable them to live on their own yet. But some adult children live at home for a longer period without going to school, working, or looking for work.

The Child Mind Institute has released a set of resources for caregivers with highly-dependent adult children – known as “failure to launch syndrome” – that describes what can be done for children who are not moving forward.

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The series includes an article on what constitutes highly-dependent adult children as well as the difference between supporting children facing mental health challenges and enabling their dependence.

Another piece examines research that has found that carefully pulling back on accommodations, using principles from a treatment that has been effective in children with anxiety or OCD, can encourage highly-dependent adult children to take steps forward.

Mental health struggles can be a contributing factor to these scenarios, so the Child Mind Institute has included an article on signs that adolescents have anxiety or depression. There is also advice on how to help children develop the confidence they need to do hard things, which is an essential part of the growth process.

Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources:

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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.