“ Dialogue is something that’ s really important, parent-to-child or caregiver-to-child, to help them understand the context in which these social media platforms work.”— Dr. Viren A. D’ Sa
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU’ RE SEEING NOW, IN TERMS OF CHILDREN COMING INTO THE CLINIC, AND HOW THAT COMPARES TO WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED PRACTICING? We have a heightened awareness of the influences in the community and the environment on children’ s behavior and on children’ s developmental trajectories and performance in general. Those environmental influences are having such an impact on children, particularly when you think about some of the social impacts of their social environment on them. A lot of the face-to-face, more direct interactions have been replaced by heavy doses of social media interaction. In some instances, they’ re beneficial and helpful and help develop some social skills. But on the flip side, it’ s often too much, too overwhelming and sometimes misused. There are children who could be taken advantage of by their peers. And you see a lot of mental health consequences from them.
HOW SHOULD PARENTS GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH USING SOCIAL MEDIA? Dialogue is something that’ s really important, parent-tochild or caregiver-to-child, to help them understand the context in which these social media platforms work, the way messages can come through, and what they can mean. You’ re preparing them to understand the nuances and differences between similar kinds of posts that are directed to them. It’ s really about that dialogue, and keeping that open communication, where if a child experiences or receives something, or isn’ t too sure what something might mean, that they can come to a parent and ask for clarification or find out whether it’ s something that’ s malintended or just a typical social interaction. But it all stems from that dialogue, and that’ s difficult to do because at certain ages, preteens and teens are trying to assert their own independence and find their place in their friend group. It’ s about balancing that privacy with safety in terms of mental health.
Resources
New England Center for Anxiety North Kingstown and Westerly, 236-7096, newenglandanxiety. com
Newport Mental Health Middletown, 846-1213, newportmentalhealth. org
Butler Hospital Providence, 844-401-0111, butler. org
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Rhode Island info @ ocdri. org, ocdri. org
Pediatric Anxiety Research Center at Bradley Hospital Riverside, 432-1469, parcanxiety. org
High Performance Parenting info @ highperformance-parenting. com, highperformance-parenting. com
Brine Occupational Therapy 843-069-0856, brineot. com
CAMP Courage Quest Summer Camp for ages eight through twelve, held at the University of Rhode Island. childanxietyprogram. com / summer-camp
BOOKS Banish Bedtime Battles: The Ultimate Six-Week Plan to Help Your School-Aged Child Sleep Independently by Ellen Flannery-Schroeder and Chelsea Tucker
Pride and Joy: A Guide to Understanding Your Child’ s Emotions and Solving Family Problems by Kenneth Barish
Freeing Yourself from Anxiety by Tamar Chansky Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD by Eli Lebowitz
Happy Families: How to Protect and Support Your Child’ s Mental Health by Beth Mosley
WEBSITES my. clevelandclinic. org / health / diseases / anxiety-in-children nimh. nih. gov / health / topics / anxiety-disorders
Editor’ s Note: This article is not intended as a medical diagnosis or treatment. A licensed medical professional, through a neuropsychological evaluation, must diagnose anxiety disorder or OCD. If you suspect anxiety in your child, consult a medical professional. 🆁
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