Connecticut Children's Blog

By: Vanessa Laurent, PhD, and Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD As the days grow shorter and the hours of sunlight decrease, your child may feel sad or sluggish from the gray skies. For some kids and teens, this feeling may be a more serious problem known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.  Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologists explain. […]

Oh, tummy troubles! Abdominal pain is among the most common reasons kids visit their pediatrician or obtain a referral to a gastroenterologist. What’s a parent to do when they hear, “My tummy hurts—I can’t go to school,” more and more frequently, even after a visit (or two) to the doctor? Are these complaints “legit” or […]

In recent years, athletes from Simone Biles to Naomi Osaka to Michael Phelps have come forward to talk about the importance of mental health, along with the impact of sports and competition. Lots of young athletes can relate. A sport can all too easily switch from a source of joy to a source of stress. […]

Our kids have been through a lot during this pandemic. Many have lost people in their own families due to COVID-19. Because of this, we’ve told them that masks are how they help to save people’s lives—and they did a good job at taking this mission seriously. On March 1, 2022, the COVID-19 mask mandate […]

When your young child has big feelings in their little body, they may not know what to do about it. To help, you can work with them on a coping toolbox, mindfulness exercises or quick resets. Or, if you’re into wellness apps, you can turn to your phone: There are a growing number of apps […]

Grades, friends, sports, extracurricular interests – teens have a lot on their plates. All of these obligations can quickly go from fulfilling to overwhelming, especially during times of transition or in the midst of ongoing stressors like the pandemic. Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologist Vanessa R. Laurent, PhD, has tips.   Want more articles like this […]

As a parent, you’re often told to “model calm.” But in life, and especially over the past couple years of the pandemic, it can be exhausting for parents to constantly keep it together – and it’s not necessarily healthy for their kids, either. How do you manage stress, fear, sadness, and other negative emotions when […]

February 7, 2022 Media Contacts: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to be a never-ending rollercoaster ride for kids and families. Lately, with the rise in infections due to Omicron, that’s included a sensitive subject: what to say to your child when they or someone they know tests positive. Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologist Emily Wakefield, PsyD, helps […]

Everyone, at every age, deserves healthy, positive relationships. For teens who are just starting out, it’s not always easy to know what that means. Dr. Preeti Sandhu, pediatric psychologist, shares ways to help your teen navigate the dating world and be their own advocate for healthy, fulfilling relationships. 1. Talk openly about healthy relationships. Dating […]

For most of their lives, kids and teens are told exactly where they’ll be and what they’ll be doing in the year to come. Their teachers and families prepare them for the transition from one grade to the next, and for the move from elementary to middle to high school. Then, at the end of […]