Child Mind Institute 2018 Fall Luncheon Raising Strong and Empathetic Kids: A Discussion on Increasing Communication Between Parent and Child

Child Mind Institute 2018 Fall Luncheon Raises $351,410 to End the Stigma of Childhood Mental Health Disorders

Palo Alto – The Child Mind Institute held its 2018 Fall Luncheon on October 9, including a panel discussion on “Raising Strong and Empathetic Kids: Nurturing Healthy Relationships and Boundaries at Every Age.” The event highlighted how effective communication can transform the relationship between a parents and children and featured Wendy Mogel, PhD, clinical psychologist and author of Voice Lessons for Parents: What to Say, How to Say It and When to Listen, and David Anderson, PhD, clinical psychologist and senior director of the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute. Child Mind Institute president Harold S. Koplewicz moderated.

Parents need to let children know that they are thinking of them, Dr. Mogel stressed. Saying “I thought of you today when….” allows parents to show children that “you hold them in mind when you’re not with them and you are not trolling for intel about whether or not you should be anxious,” said Dr. Mogel. “It keeps the curiosity level up and the anxiety and judgement level down.”

The ways our children are expected to act in the world and interact with peers are changing, but one thing hasn’t changed: parents are the greatest influence in a child’s life and their values are important to kids — even when it doesn’t seem like it. “Engaging and effective communication with your child is essential,” noted Dr. Koplewicz.

Many parents in attendance were concerned about to how to have an open dialogue with their children about the news of the day, which can be alarming. “The general thing is we tell parents first to start reflecting on their way of absorbing news,” said Dr. Anderson. “And that can then set the stage for the discussion the child might

have because they just want to connect with you around what matters to you in your world.”

The luncheon Host Committee included Megan and Harris Barton, Cori and Tony Bates, Ashlie Beringer, Devon Briger, Lisa Domenio Brooke, Abby Durban, Eve and Ross Jaffe, Karen and Ronnie Lott, Andrea McTamaney, Linnea Roberts, Allison and Dan Rose, Dianne Taube, Candice Uytengsu-Hamilton and Angelique Wilson.

The luncheon and other events like it are part of the Child Mind Institute’s public education mission, giving families and professionals’ accurate information about mental health and learning disorders and how to find effective treatment.