Always Remain Optimistic.

One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is a sense of hope about life.  If your child is not doing well at school, he or she needs to know that they can succeed if they try.  The basic premise is this: as a parent you need to teach your children that life is fluid and that often over time things change for the better.

Here are some things you can apply –

1.  Handle each situation calmly.

2.  Talk about the details to ascertain what went wrong.

3.  Use calming statements and phrases.

4.  Work with your kid to solve problems together.

5.  Trust their intelligence.

Now, trust your own judgement and seek the professional assistance of New York/New Jersey renowned child psychologist Dr. Steven Sussman.  Dr. Steve will sit down with you and your child and assess any and all behavioral issues that may be concerning you.  Contact him at his Mountainside NJ office by calling (908) 217-8106   

A Time for Celebration.

December is the time of year for celebrations with those around you and maybe those that you only see during the holidays.  I hope that you will keep this in mind…it is a teachable time of year.  It’s a time to learn about tolerance and the acceptance of other cultures both in the United States and around this ever-shrinking globe.

Here are some of them -

1.  The fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (A Mexican celebration)

2.  St. Lucia Day in Sweden

3.  Boxing Day in the British Commonwealth

4.  Kwanzaa (An African celebration)

5.  Hanukkah (A Jewish celebration around the world)

6.  Christmas, of course

These and other observances are a time for family and great reflection about our own culture and the tolerance of others.  I hope that you will take some time to reflect on this as you have your own celebration with family and friends.  I am New Jersey child psychologist Dr. Steven Sussman.  From my family to yours have a Happy Holiday Season.

When Does Social Media Become an Addiction?

It’s true of anything, too much of a good thing is no longer a GOOD THING!  Social media has its place.  It will evolve, but it is not disappearing anytime soon.  We know that our teens (and tweens) can unfortunately become addicted to social networking websites.  How do you deal with it as a parent just as your parents dealt with you about television?

What are some of the symptoms of social media addiction?

1.  Mental health consequences in addition to psychosocial ones.

2.  Sleep disturbance.  We know that kids need more sleep.

3.  Low self-esteem.

4.  Anxiety and depression.

In other words…addiction to social media can severely inhibit an entire childhood if it gets out of hand.  To avoid negative mental health outcomes and addiction, teens’ social media use should be limited to no more than two hours per day.  If I can help, please call me.  I am New York area child psychologist Dr. Steven Sussman.  That number is (908) 217-8106.  

Dec 15th - Annual Family Gingerbread Open House

Dec 15th - Annual Family Gingerbread Open House

(Click the link above for more information)

The Mountainside Restoration Committee invites all families with children to attend their annual Family Gingerbread Open House on Sunday, December 15, from 1 - 4pm. Both the Hetfield House and the Levi Cory House will be decorated for the holidays to welcome community members.