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June 23, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Effects of Traumatic Separation

Whether it’s a young child whose father disappears without warning, one whose caregiver is detained and deported, or a young person who is placed in foster care, separation from a parent or caregiver can be traumatic for a child.

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Traumatic separation, according to the Child Mind Institute, is a clinical concept based on the importance of the caregiver- or parent-child bond and the profound effects that can result from breaking it.

The element that makes a separation harmful is not necessarily its length, but its character – ones that are sudden or confusing or those that come about through large-scale distressing events, such as a war or natural disaster.

In its latest set of resources, the Child Mind Institute has provided an article about how traumatic separation affects children of all ages and how the right support can prevent long-lasting negative effects and help them to recover. Another piece focuses on separation anxiety and other effects on children, such as difficulty paying attention, acting out, or regression.

The resources also feature information on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), advice for military families on how to help children feel secure and connected when parents are deployed, and a discussion of how serious stress can affect child development and why it’s important to help them learn coping strategies and build resilience.

The resources include:

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June 22, 2026

Thriving Kids Episode Discusses How to Support Children’s and Your Own Mental Health

Most people don’t want to just exist to get through life – but rather, they would at some point like to thrive, a notion that is explored in the latest Thriving Kids podcast.

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Psychologist Alfiee Breland-Noble, PhD, MHSc, has spent years studying what gets in the way of thriving for young people and what helps. One of her key takeaways is that the way we care for our own mental health teaches children how to care for theirs.

On the latest Thriving Kids podcast, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education for The Child Mind Institute, joins Breland-Noble, founder of the mental health nonprofit The AAKOMA Project and author of “Rise and Thrive,” to discuss this topic.

The discussion focuses on what her research reveals about the pressures on young people – including the nonstop news cycle – as well as why social media can be a risk and, for others, a genuine lifeline. They also discuss how trusted voices and community can chip away at stigma.

Some of their tips on how to support a child’s mental health and one’s own include:

Get children used to talking about feelings before there is a problem; talking openly and regularly about emotions helps to normalize mental health, so it feels less scary or shameful when something harder comes along.
Show children how to cope and don’t just tell them what to do; children pick up coping habits by watching the adults around them, so name your own feelings and what you do about them aloud.
Taking care of your mental health is part of parenting, not a luxury; managing your own stress is one of the best ways to keep children from absorbing it and tending to your own well-being shows them that practicing mental health care is something grown-ups do.
When upsetting news comes up, help children process it; if something is frightening in the news, it’s better for children to hear it from you – calmly present the facts – so you can set the emotional tone.
Take their online life seriously and stay curious about it; rather than dismissing social media’ impact, check in regularly and ask children about notice how particular apps, feeds, and comments make them feel.

For more information, listen to the Thriving Kids podcast.

News

June 8, 2026

Child Mind Institute Provides Resources on How to De-Escalate with Autistic Children

Allowing a child’s temper tantrum to run its course is often a method employed by many caregivers, but tantrums from children with autism might need a different approach.

In a new set of resources, The Child Mind Institute discusses how to de-escalate when children with autism are having a meltdown.

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Meltdowns, the institute writes, are similar to tantrums in that they share such traits as crying, screaming, door slamming, and harsh words. But they differ in that they are an intense involuntary response to outside stimuli, such as stress, powerful emotions, or sudden changes.

Meltdowns can go on for hours and have the potential to become dangerous to the child and others if not effectively defused.

Among the Child Mind Institute’s resources are an article that covers the different stages of an autistic meltdown as well as the dos and don’ts on how to de-escalate.

There is also an article on the sensory processing issues that can trigger extreme behavioral responses from children with autism or other developmental disorders. There are also some tips on how to help autistic children to build communication skills and manage responsibility.

Another resource discusses common causes of behavior problems in children – such as anxiety and ADHD – and how to help them regulate strong emotions or impulsive urges.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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Thriving Kids Podcast Focuses on How Anxiety Can Affect the Brain

The latest Thriving Kids podcast episode is a discussion on how anxiety can affect the brain and how children who suffer from it often fly under the radar.

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In the podcast, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education for the Child Mind Institute, joins neurosurgeon Brian Hoeflinger, MD, for a discussion on anxiety.

They discuss a scenario involving a boy who went from being the seventh grade class president to slipping out of class with his heart racing and thinking he was going to die. The boy started skipping school, his parents never noticed, and his teachers never asked why. For the next 20 years, anxiety controlled his life.

In the podcast, Hoeflinger said it shouldn’t have taken the boy so long to get help, and explains how anxious children can go unnoticed by parents, teachers, and counselors.

The podcast’s topics include what panic attacks feel like from the inside and how to face them and what parents should know about head injuries and helmets.

Tips for recognizing signs of anxiety in children and offering support include:

Know that anxiety often hides in plain sight; anxious children are often quiet, well-behaved, and outwardly OK, which is why their struggles can go unnoticed.
Watch for avoidance, not just worry. A child who skips school, dodges social situations, or finds reasons to opt out of doing things may not be lazy. Anxiety often shows up as avoidance.
Learn what a panic attack feels like – racing heart, trouble breathing, sweating, trembling, or a sense of dread.
Don’t help a child avoid what they are afraid of; avoidance feels better in the moment, but makes anxiety worse over time. Prioritize gradual exposure to the thing they are anxious about.
Validate the feeling without amplifying it; saying “I know you’re scared, and I know you can handle this” works better than dismissing the fear or promising nothing bad will happen.

For more information, listen to the Thriving Kids podcast.

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May 26, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Provide Advice on How to Handle Children Who Lie

It’s not unusual – in fact, it is normal – for children to occasionally lie.

While some may concoct an elaborate explanation as to why they couldn’t have done something for which they are being scolded, older children may flat out lie in certain situations – for example, whether they have done their homework.

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In a new set of resources, the Child Mind Institute notes that children may lie because they want something or they want to avoid something. However, understanding motivations that are not as obvious can help caregivers to respond to lying in ways that make it less likely to reoccur.

The resources include a piece about the various reasons why children lie and what caregivers can do about it. Sorting tall tales from more serious untruths can help caregivers to decide when children should be gently redirected or face sterner consequences.

A podcast episode included in the resources provides advice on what to do when children lie and don’t show remorse when they are caught. There are also resources on helping children navigate issues that can contribute to lying – such as being too hard on themselves, lacking self-confidence, struggling to handle conflict, or feeling overwhelmed.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

News

March 17, 2026

Resources Focus on Identifying Early Signs of Developmental Disorders

Children are often diagnosed with mental health or learning challenges in middle and high school after having struggled for years without support.

Some of them could have been identified and gotten help earlier if adults in their lives had recognized the signs. The Child Mind Institute has put together resources on how to keep an eye out for early signs of developmental disorders.

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The institute’s resources on how to recognize signs cover a number of developmental disorders, including autism, ADHD, nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD), and dyslexia.

One article focuses on NVLD at various ages, from preschool to high school, and how in young children it can show up as a motor delay or difficulty drawing shapes, building with blocks, or doing puzzles.

Another discusses how some of the earliest signs of autism include delays in simple gestures such as pointing and sharing objects with others. One resource focuses on how learning disorders such as dyslexia and dyscalculia often aren’t caught until a child is struggling to keep up in school, but there may be early signs in preschoolers, such as trouble with rhymes or counting.

A resource on ADHD in preschool discusses how identifying it early can help children get behavioral support they need to succeed when they get to elementary school. Anxiety and depression are covered in two other resources.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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March 3, 2026

Podcast Explores Importance of Caregivers Taking Care of Themselves

Being the caregiver of a child can be equally exhilarating and exhausting. As a result, many caregivers find themselves worn out and running on empty.

When this happens, the latest Thriving Kids podcast episode explores, even small challenges can be overwhelming.

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In the podcast, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education at the Child Mind Institute, discusses with Joanna Kim, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University, why taking care of oneself as a caregiver is important, but might feel unrealistic.

The podcast discussion involves how guilt can prevent a caregiver from meeting their own needs, why self-care doesn’t have to mean making big changes, and how filling one’s own cup helps caregivers to show up for their child with more calm, patience, and consistency.

In addition, Thriving Kids provided some reminders about caring for oneself as a caregiver.

Being a caregiver can be demanding, and sometimes it can feel like you’re running on empty. But taking care of yourself is essential and self-care isn’t a luxury. Even taking small, mindful moments dedicated to yourself can make a big difference.
Building a strong support network is crucial. Surround yourself with other adults – a partner, family members, friends, or fellow parents – who understand your challenges and can lend a helping hand. Share responsibilities, delegate tasks, and ask for help.
Investing in your well-being isn’t selfish – it’s empowering. When you take care of yourself, you’re better able to parent with patience, joy, and presence. You’ll also set a positive example for children in your care by demonstrating that it’s important to take care of yourself.

News

January 19, 2026

Child Mind Institute Shares Resources on How to Respond When Children Act Out

Most children – especially toddlers – act out sometimes as they start to get in touch with their full range of emotions.

But caregivers might find themselves frustrated about how to get frequent temper tantrums, yelling, or hitting to stop, especially as children get older.

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The Child Mind Institute has put together a list of resources on how caregivers and educators can respond when children act out. Before taking disciplinary action, it is important for adults to understand why a child might be acting out.

The institute’s resources include discussions of strategies that experts use to identify motivations or purposes behind a child’s problem behaviors as well as tips on how to respond.

While behavioral issues can be a result of a child dealing with emotions they don’t yet have the skills to understand or manage, they can also be linked to mental health challenges. Anxiety can be a common cause of disruptive behavior, especially in social settings like the classroom.

Children with ADHD might have a difficult time performing repetitive or boring tasks, leading to inattention, impulsivity, or tantrums. Depression can show up as irritability and angry outbursts alongside or in place of prolonged sadness.

The resources also include information on when caregivers should turn to professional help for severe tantrums.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

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Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Seasonal Affective Disorder in Children

Seasonal affective disorder – also known by the acronym SAD – is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons.

For most people, the disorder appears in the winter months and fades when the weather gets warmer. The Child Mind Institute has put together some resources on how to tell if a child is feeling down due to the season or if they are dealing with something more serious.

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Experts aren’t exactly sure what causes SAD, but some believe that a lack of sunlight affects chemicals in the brain that impact mood and energy levels. However, a lot of people experience symptoms that look like depression during the winter.

SAD and other types of depression can be challenging to identify depending on how or when they appear. The institute provides resources on premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a type of depression tied to the menstrual cycle that is a severe form of the more common PMS.

There are articles on treatments for depression, including different types of therapy and medication, and a video in which experts explain how to recognize signs of mental health challenges in teens.

There is also a resource on behavioral activation, a therapy commonly used to treat SAD. The therapy involves getting children to do things – such as take a walk or talk to a friend – even if they don’t feel like it.

Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources on seasonal affective disorder.

News

January 5, 2026

Thriving Kids Podcast Episode Focuses on Building Kindness and Resilience

In today’s complex world, it is more difficult than ever to raise children who are kind, resilient, and prepared to handle life’s challenges.

From navigating big feelings and social stress to constantly evolving technology and the growing need for independence, helping children to build coping skills, stay connected, and develop confidence requires patience, practice, and repeated conversations from caregivers.

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In the latest Thriving Kids podcast, Dave Anderson, PhD – the Child Mind Institute’s senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education – joins Melinda Wenner Moyer, an award-winning journalist and the author of “Hello Cruel World: Science-Backed Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times.”

The podcast’s discussion focuses on how to support children in building the core skills needed to thrive in realistic and sustainable ways without falling into fear-based or perfection-driven parenting.

Some of the topics discussed include:

How listening – not lecturing – can strengthen the parent-child connection
Why caregivers should have ongoing conversations with children about tech, media, and money
What it looks like to be an “autonomy-supportive” caregiver and why it matters

The Child Mind Institute has recommended other strategies for raising confident and independent children:

Shift away from fix-it mode: When children are young, the job is to be fixers and protectors, but somewhere along the way, caregivers’ job changes to become consultants, rather than fix all of a child’s problems for them.
Embrace scaffolding: This term describes the consultant role, in which caregivers offer support and encourage children to decide how they want to tackle challenges on their own. While caregivers cannot protect children from life’s trials, they can give them tools to self-advocate and solve problems for themselves, helping them to develop the grit they need to survive and succeed.
Teach children that it’s OK to fail: Children will make poor choices, and that’s OK. When they make the wrong decision, guide them to think about what went wrong and why, so they can make a different choice next time. Caregivers who swoop in and solve their problems for them prevent children from growing.

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