For parents

Phone Tracking: Should You Track Your Child?

To track or not to track... That is the question parents face. For some parents tracking their child’s phone is an absolute must, and they don’t see what the problem is. For others, it is an intrusion of their children’s privacy.  

So, what does the research say? Let’s have a look.  

What Does the Research Say? 

Kids & phones

Sources +

 

[1] Burnell K, Andrade FC, Kwiatek SM, Hoyle RH. Digital location tracking: A preliminary investigation of parents' use of digital technology to monitor their adolescent's location. J Fam Psychol. 2023 Jun;37(4):561-567. doi: 10.1037/fam0001067. Epub 2023 Mar 6. PMID: 36877491; PMCID: PMC10238636.

[2] Racz, S.J., McMahon, R.J. The Relationship Between Parental Knowledge and Monitoring and Child and Adolescent Conduct Problems: A 10-Year Update. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 14, 377–398 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-011-0099-y.

[3] Kerr, M., Stattin, H., & Burk, W. J. (2010). A reinterpretation of parental monitoring in longitudinal perspective. Journal of research on Adolescence, 20(1), 39-64. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2009.00623.x.

[4] Kakihara, F., Tilton-Weaver, L., Kerr, M., & Stattin, H. (2010). The relationship of parental control to youth adjustment: Do youths’ feelings about their parents play a role?. Journal of youth and adolescence, 39, 1442-1456. DOI 10.1007/s10964-009-9479-8.

[5] Auxier, B., Anderson, M., Perrin, A., & Turner, E. (2020). Parenting approaches and concerns related to digital devices. Pew Research Center.

 

Ask Dr. Ana: How Can I Support My Daughter After Her Friend’s Tragic Death?

Question:

A parent is seeking advice on how to support their teenage daughter, who is grieving the sudden suicide of a school friend. The family is deeply saddened and in shock, and the parent wants guidance on how to connect with their daughter during this difficult time.

Read the Full Question Below

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

I completely understand what you’re saying about how hard it can be to be far away from family, especially when you have kids, right? You can feel very lonely a lot of the time.  

Ask Dr. Ana: How Can I Teach My Tween Daughter to Be More Respectful at Home?

Question:

A parent is struggling with their 12-year-old daughter's rudeness at home despite her good behavior and academic success outside. They feel frustrated and are seeking advice on how to teach respect without resorting to harsh discipline.

Read the Full Question Below

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

Dear Mark,  

Many thanks for getting in touch. I have four teenagers, so I totally get you! Coping with rude tweens and teenagers is tough. 

Child Development: Fine Motor Skills

Have you ever noticed how babies go from being quite uncoordinated to becoming coordinated toddlers? This happens because babies are born with very little control of their body.  As they grow, they learn to control their own body through a long and complicated process.[1] To achieve control of their own bodies, babies must master two types of motor skills: gross and fine motor skills.  

Sources +

[1] Adolph, K. E., & Hoch, J. E. (2019). Motor development: Embodied, embedded, enculturated, and enabling. Annual review of psychology, 70(1), 141-164. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-102836.

[2] Bondi, D., Robazza, C., Lange‐Küttner, C., & Pietrangelo, T. (2022). Fine motor skills and motor control networking in developmental age. American Journal of Human Biology, 34(8), e23758. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23758.

[3] Suggate, S., Pufke, E., & Stoeger, H. (2019). Children’s fine motor skills in kindergarten predict reading in grade 1. Early childhood research quarterly, 47, 248-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2018.12.015.

[4] Carvell, N.R. 2006. Language Enrichment Activities Program (LEAP), vol. 1. Dallas, TX: Southern Methodist University. 

[5] Salazar Rivera, J., Alsaadi, N., Parra-Esquivel, E., Morris, C., & Boyle, C. (2024) A Scoping Review of Interventions Delivered by Occupational Therapists in School Settings, Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 17:3, 510-534, DOI: 10.1080/19411243.2023.2232806.

[6] Karasik, L. B., Tamis-LeMonda, C. S., Adolph, K. E., & Bornstein, M. H. (2015). Places and postures: A cross-cultural comparison of sitting in 5-month-olds. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 46(8), 1023-1038. 10.1177/0022022115593803.

[7] Martzog, P., & Suggate, S. P. (2022). Screen media are associated with fine motor skill development in preschool children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 60, 363-373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2022.03.010.

Developmental Milestones at 2 Years Old

What Are Developmental Milestones?

Little kid

Developmental milestones (1) are things most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age. Skills such as taking a first step, waving, or smiling for the first time are examples of developmental milestones.  

Sources +

 

[1] Scharf, R. J., Scharf, G. J., & Stroustrup, A. (2016). Developmental milestones. Pediatrics in review, 37(1), 25-38. 

[2] De Moura, D. R., Costa, J. C., Santos, I. S., Barros, A. J. D., Matijasevich, A., Halpern, R., ... & Barros, F. C. (2010). Risk factors for suspected developmental delay at age 2 years in a Brazilian birth cohort. Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, 24(3), 211-221. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199402173300708.

 [3] Bucher, H., Killer, C., Ochsner, Y., Vaihinger, S., & Fauchère, J. C. (2002). Growth, developmental milestones and health problems in the first 2 years in very preterm infants compared with term infants: a population based study. European journal of pediatrics, 161, 151-156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-001-0898-0.

[4] Brothers, K. B., Glascoe, F. P., & Robertshaw, N. S. (2008). PEDS: developmental milestones—an accurate brief tool for surveillance and screening. Clinical pediatrics, 47(3), 271-279. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922807309419.

[5] Sheldrick, R. C., Schlichting, L. E., Berger, B., Clyne, A., Ni, P., Perrin, E. C., & Vivier, P. M. (2019). Establishing new norms for developmental milestones. Pediatrics, 144(6). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-0374.

 

Ask Dr. Ana: How Do I Motivate My Daughter With Mental Disorders to Stay in School and Plan for Her Future?

Question:

My daughter with mental disorders has no interest in passing junior year, keeping grades up and isn't concerned about her future. How do I help and avoid truancy?

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

I am sorry that you are going through this. If I am not mistaken, junior year means that your daughter is 16 or 17, right?

Ask Dr. Ana: Grandson Refuses School Mornings? Expert Doctor Answers

Question:

I have 13-year-old grandson living with me. I am struggling with getting him to school. There doesn't seem to be any issues at school like bullying, at bedtime he says he is going but the next morning he won't get up to go. He goes to bed at a good time but doesn't always sleep well. There have been trauma issues but overall, it seems that he is doing good. There is something I recently came across called Failure to Launch. This seems to describe part of his behavior.

Join the Family

Your Partner in Parenting, From Baby Name Inspiration to College Planning.

Subscribe