POSTED BY:
Maia Noeder, PhD

A new world is upon us — the world of Pokémon GO. Many parents have already seen their kids transform into top-notch trainers of these virtual creatures (pocket monsters, or Pokémon for short) who search the neighborhood, leaving no stone unturned, in their quest to “catch ‘em all.” This new game has swept the nation and is credited for putting kids on their feet, out the door … and into harm’s way? In addition to taking over screens, it has taken over conversation as well. Pokémon GO has received mixed reviews. Some parents rave about the benefits, while others voice concern about safety. If you’re not sure what to think, check out the pros and cons below to help you decide if this game is right for your family. Poké-what? Pokémon GO is a game played on smart phones. The game uses the phone’s GPS to show the player’s surroundings as […]

Many parents wonder: “Is my child’s anxiety normal? Should I be worried?” While anxiety in young kids can be nerve-wracking for parents, it has a lot to do with age and development. Anxiety about a certain trigger can be completely appropriate at one stage and inappropriate at another. For example, it’s entirely normal for children up to age 2 to have some degree of separation anxiety, but we hope that kids are able to separate without too many tears around ages 3 or 4. Being worried about dogs, bees, storms and sudden loud noises is totally understandable for 3- and 4-year-olds because they’re starting to understand that the world can be scary sometimes. It’s also expected that kids of this age will go through a phase when they’re exercising mastery of their environment – when it’s “my way or the highway,” which can often be mistaken for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For […]