When parents think about illicit drugs that can harm their children and teens, they probably first think of substances such as marijuana, LSD, heroin and cocaine. Also looming large is the epidemic of opioids, which is an enormous crisis for both youth and adults. Sadly, newer drugs are finding their way into our kid’s lives, sometimes with deadly consequences. One of these is a substance called kratom, an herbal extract that...
What is your favorite thing about springtime? Here at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, the warm weather of April marks the joyful start of planting season at our two organic gardens—one at our headquarters in Roslyn Heights and the other at our Marks Family Right From the Start 0-3+ Center in Manhasset. When they begin as clients of the Guidance Center, many children and teens have low self-esteem and...
Today is National Pet Day, but in reality, for the estimated 65% of U.S. households that own a pet (nearly 80 million homes), every day is Pet Day! The benefits of having a pet in the family are enormous, impacting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Dog owners, in particular, reap health rewards when they walk and play with their favorite four-legged family members. But research shows that interactions with any type...
Many adults reflect on their childhood days through rose-colored glasses. We tend to remember the happy times— fun family vacations, close friendships, holiday celebrations and more. And there’s nothing wrong with reveling in such memories. But if we take off those glasses, we’re likely to also remember the pressures of doing well in school, or the bully who made us feel small, or the fights our parents had over money....
Does your child beg you for the latest version of the iPhone, or the hottest videogame, or even an outrageously priced handbag from the latest designer? “Our kids are growing up in a world where what you have is sometimes seen as more important than who you are,” says Andrew Malekoff, Executive Director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center. “It’s the job of parents and other role models to...
blog_holder article .post_image, .blog_holder article .post_image img, .blog_holder article .post_image>a { width: 500px; } At North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, our staff includes some amazing social workers who give their all to help children and teens who are suffering from a host of mental health challenges. Their goal is to move them from hurting to healing. That mission is a heartfelt one for Elissa Smilowitz, a senior staff...
It’s not uncommon for people to flippantly make comments that they or someone they know has OCD, or obsessive compulsive disorder, simply because they like things to be very neat, or they are uncomfortable being around people who are sick. But there’s a real difference between having a mild tendency to have some recurring thoughts to being truly obsessive about it. “It is common for everyone to have intrusive thoughts...
It’s been just a few weeks since models hit the runway for New York Fashion Week. And while most of us cannot begin to afford any of the haute couture styles that designers try to convince us will somehow make our lives better, one thing is clear: Super-thin is still in. And the obsession with being skinny starts early. One study showed that by age 6, girls begin to express concerns...
When Dan Donnelly was asked by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center to be the honoree at our Jonathan Krevat Memorial Golf & Tennis Classic in 2017, he took on the challenge with gusto. As with everything that he commits to in his life, Donnelly got involved in a big way! With a spirit of generosity, creativity and fun, Donnelly gave his all to planning the day, coming up with...
Do you think childhood trauma is a relatively rare occurrence? Here are just a few statistics to change that perception: More than a quarter (26%) of children in the United States will witness or experience a traumatic event before they turn four. 60% of adults report experiencing abuse or other difficult family circumstances during childhood. In one year, 39% of children between the ages of 12 and 17 reported witnessing violence;...