Providing researched based educational resources to meet the needs of Long Islanders
By Cara Weiner Sultan, MSW Since 1949, National Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May. The goal of this initiative is to bring attention to mental health through education, media, local events, and screenings. The hope is to reduce the stigma around mental health issues and embrace the notion that mental health is…
By Maxine Roeper Cohen, M.S. There has been much talk and some legislation about legalizing marijuana in several states. A neighboring country, Canada, has recently legalized its use. In considering this proposal for New York, we need to understand that drug’s effect on the brain, especially the teenage brain. The adolescent brain continues to develop…
By Alysa Ferguson, RD, CDE The pumpkin is carved, the costumes are ready, it’s time to trick-or-treat! If your family is like most, this can mean a month or more of candy laying around everywhere. While candy and treats can and should be a part of Halloween for children (yes, even children with diabetes), there…
By Tim Jahn, M.ED Want to know what’s really scary at Halloween? Pre-teens and teens roaming the streets unsupervised after dark armed with shaving cream, silly string and raw eggs, that’s what. Halloween mischief making is sometimes harmless, just a few smashed pumpkins, trees wrapped in toilet paper and kids covered in flour. But there…
By Dinah Torres Castro How many times have we heard a parent say, “If you eat your broccoli then you can have a cookie”? And for the most part the child will oblige. The problem with using food (the cookie) as a reward for a desired behavior (eating their broccoli) is that it works in…
By Kerri Kreh Reda As your child’s first teacher, you teach her many things – how to talk, feed herself, dress herself and how to use the toilet. You make a conscious effort to teach these skills. What you may not realize is that you also teach many other things unintentionally by the example you…
By Tim Jahn Raising a pre-teen today can be pretty nerve-wracking. Whenever a young person brings a gun to school or is lured into a dangerous rendezvous by an online predator, the headlines shock the general public and terrify parents of pre-teens and teens. Every week brings some news that distresses parents – youth gangs,…
By Alysa Ferguson Summertime is great for barbeques, picnics, and fresh produce (think grilled vegetables with your meal and watermelon for dessert!). However, fun-in-the-sun eating also means taking some extra precautions to ensure your family’s food is safe to eat. The warmer temperatures create a perfect environment for bacteria and other pathogens to multiply rapidly,…
By Timothy Jahn The Dignity for All Students Act or DASA was passed by the New York State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Paterson in 2010 and became effective July 1, 2012. Under this law, schools are required to provide a school environment free from discrimination and harassment which is defined as verbal…
By Dinah Torres Castro Music can play an important part in boosting resilience and mental health. Let’s take a look at some other benefits that music can provide as children experience music in their everyday activities. The Environmental Rating Scales Institute tells us that children can gain language skills, fine motor skills, social skills, balance…