Providing researched based educational resources to meet the needs of Long Islanders
By Maxine Roeper Cohen, M.S. We live in challenging and dangerous times. Consider the school shootings which occurred during the past few months. Incredibly, these murders were committed by teenagers, although nobody at the time was able to predict that those teens were in such states of crises that they literally exploded at their schools.…
By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H. Communication affects all that goes on between people. It is much more than just talking; it is what we say, how we say it, and what we don’t say. Communication includes our facial expression, body language, and tone of voice. It is two-directional and involves paying attention to what others…
By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H. Screen-free week is a worldwide movement that is growing each year. Past participants of screen-free week have indicated that going screen-free was easier than they expected it to be. They also found that they had fewer discipline problems with their children and had more family time for fun. They plan…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA Meltdowns happen. Just visit any grocery store, restaurant, park or any public place around 4pm and you are likely to encounter at least one young child who has gone “over the brink” into a meltdown with a parent (or two) following not far behind. Children often “lose it” when they are…
By Kathy Sinkin, RN, CDE Do you remember how you felt when you passed your road test and drove by yourself for the first time? Remember that sense of freedom and privilege? Think for one minute how you would feel if someone took your car keys away and said you couldn’t drive anymore. For older…
By Maxine Roeper Cohen, M.S. As parents, it’s difficult to determine if your teen is suffering from depression or anxiety, or is merely being moody. Rates of clinical depression and anxiety have risen in the teenage population (ages 12-17) during the past ten years. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that in the past…
By Dinah Torres Castro Recently, I was sitting outside of a library in the late afternoon on a beautiful day. I watched as three siblings ran towards the library entrance. Suddenly the boy stopped near the entrance and announced that he was going to write some graffiti on the library door. He appeared to be…
By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H. I’m sure you have heard of distracted driving, but what about distracted parenting? For years there has been concern about children’s use of technology. Numerous studies point to health, behavior, and learning issues. But there is growing concern about the impact that parents’ technology use has on their children. Children…
By Tim Jahn, M.ED Drug overdose deaths have doubled since 1999, and deaths from prescription opioids and heroin have quadrupled. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 91 people die each day from opioid drug overdoses. In fact, more people die each year from drug overdoses than from car accidents or homicide. What are Opioids?…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA Does the thought of getting up and trying to get your young children ready to leave the house make you want to dive back under the covers? Preschoolers need plenty of time and a clear routine to follow, or frustration and anger can set the tone for the rest of the…