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Bridging Research & Practice in Child Psychology
Explore insights from parenting challenges to cutting-edge research... making psychology accessible, practical, and evidence-based.
The Case for Doing Less
Independent Play, Boredom, and Why “Underparenting” Might Be Exactly What Your Child Needs By Dr. McKinzie Duesenberg-Marshall, PhD, LP, NCSP | Minds in Progress, LLC If you have ever felt guilty for not playing with your child, for letting them sit in their boredom a little too long, or for wishing they could just (for once) entertain themselves for twenty minutes while you finish something: this article is for you. There is a growing movement in child development research a
16 min read
The Screen-Free Summer Guide
What the Research Says...and What to Actually Do About It By Dr. McKinzie Duesenberg-Marshall, PhD, LP, NCSP | Minds in Progress, LLC It’s become a familiar summer scene: kids sprawled on the couch, phone in hand, the afternoon disappearing into a scroll. Parents know something is off...but between working, managing the house, and the sheer exhaustion of summer logistics, it’s easy to let screens absorb the hours that feel hardest to fill. You’re not imagining it, and you’re
13 min read
When the End of the Year Feels Like Too Much...
Understanding Test & End-of-Year Anxiety Across All Ages Something shifts in the air at this time of year. Backpacks get heavier, sleep gets shorter, and the phrase "I have a test" takes on a new weight. Whether your child is in third grade worried about a reading assessment, a tenth grader bracing for some of their first cumulative exams, or a college sophomore facing final exams, the end of the school year brings a particular kind of pressure...one that is very real, very c
10 min read
Before You Can Change the Behavior, You Have to Understand It
Understanding the function of behavior using the SEAT Framework by Dr. Mckinzie Duesenberg-Marshall You’ve been through the homework meltdown. The tantrum in the grocery store. The child who suddenly “can’t” do anything the moment it’s time to leave the playground. You’ve tried calm, you’ve tried firm, you’ve tried ignoring it, you’ve tried everything — and still, the behavior keeps coming back. Here’s what most behavior advice misses: behavior doesn’t happen randomly. Every
6 min read
Making the Most of Summer
A Parent’s Guide to Structure, Sleep, and Staying Sane By Dr. McKinzie Duesenberg-Marshall, PhD, LP, NCSP | Minds in Progress, LLC Summer sounds like freedom....no alarms, no homework, no rigid schedules. And in many ways, it is. But for a lot of kids (and their parents), the weeks that stretch out after that last school bell can feel surprisingly hard to navigate. Too much unstructured time can lead to boredom, meltdowns, sleep chaos, and by mid-July, a household that feels
10 min read
“That’s Not Fair!” — Teaching Kids the Difference Between Equal and Fair
If you have more than one child (or have ever watched kids interact on a playground), you’ve heard it. That word, stretched out with total conviction: “THAT’S NOT FAAAIR.” The older one stays up later. One child gets extra help with homework. Someone gets a bigger snack. In your child's mind, anything that looks uneven is automatically unjust. And honestly? It makes sense that they think that way! They just haven't learned one of the most important distinctions of childhood y
5 min read
Family Activities for Emotional Regulation: A Guide for Every Age
Emotions don't come with an instruction manual...but the good news is that emotional regulation is a skill , and like any skill, it can be practiced, strengthened, and taught. Whether you're parenting a toddler mid-meltdown or navigating the emotional complexity of your own adult life, there are research-informed strategies that work. At Minds in Progress , we believe that supporting emotional wellness is a whole-family endeavor. This guide breaks down practical activities by
6 min read
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