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Great news—I have a whole book for you!
In The Child Code: Understanding your Child’s Unique Nature for Happier, More Effective Parenting, you’ll learn about the ways that genes shape your child’s behavior (and your own!), decode your own child’s unique disposition, and discover how you can harness that information to help your child grow into the best version of themselves. Learn more about the book here, and/or sign up for my newsletter with more parenting tips below.
Refrigerator Reminders
Downloadable tip sheets with key take-aways from The Child Code. Click below to download individually or all at once (in a .zip file).
The Child Code in the News — click here for podcasts and more
3 Reasons Parents Can Worry Less
Parents have many concerns for their children, but here’s some reassuring news.
What’s Your Child’s Unique Nature?
Take the quiz to figure out what parenting styles will work best for your child.
How to Improve Self-Control in Children
A proven self-control strategy that's rooted in brain science.
How to Grow Your Child’s Social Skills
Strategies to help your child with their emotional intelligence.
Holiday Family Fun: A Reality Check
For all my fellow idealistic parents who enter every holiday season with fantasies of Norman Rockwell moments.
Planning a Day of Fun with Your Child — that you both can enjoy!
Understanding how each of you is wired is key to setting you up for success.
How Your Child’s Genes Influence Their Development
Understanding how your child is wired is critical to effective parenting.
Five Ways Children’s Genes Shape their Behavior
How genes influence the amazing, crazy, ridiculous, frustrating, and adorable things that kids do.
Does Allowing Your Child to Use Alcohol in Your Home Teach Them to Drink Responsibly?
What the research says about teenage brains and alcohol.
It’s Purposeful Parenting Month!
What does that even mean?
Why is Parenting so Darn Hard?
Cut through piles of parenting advice to focus on what really matters by understanding your child’s code.
How to Curb Defiant Behavior in Children
Three simple steps to reduce temper tantrums and talking back.
A New Approach to Parenting
The science behind personalized parenting, focusing just on what your child needs.
The Chaos of Raising Children
Ever wonder why you can’t seem to get it together? Here’s the reason.
Addiction
Much of my work focuses on understanding why some people are more at risk than others for different types of addiction—and how to prevent problems in our children. Below are a series of resources to help you better understand addiction. For even more resources, please visit the website of the new center I direct, the Rutgers Addiction Research Center.
How Genomics Can Help Us Address the Addiction Epidemic
Is your child at risk for alcohol use problems?
Ted Talk: From Genes to Addiction – How Risk Unfolds across the Lifespan
What does being “genetically at risk” for addiction mean?
How the genetics of addiction can inform prevention and intervention
Interview with NIH about my alcohol studies
Translating Genetics into Prevention/Intervention
(University of Chicago DNA Day)
Genes, Marshmallows, and You – Understanding Risk for Addiction
Learn about our unique project: Spit for Science
This short worksheet consists of a series of questions that reflect genetically influenced dimensions that have been associated with increased risk for developing a substance use disorder. It can help individuals understand the way their brain is wired, which in some individuals creates natural tendencies that can lead to increased risk. Remember: DNA is not destiny! By understanding our natural tendencies, we can put in place strategies to accentuate our strengths and overcome challenges.
With alcohol sales soaring, individuals who are genetically at risk have an increased likelihood of developing problems. But how do you know if you are genetically at risk?
Worried About Alcohol Use During the Pandemic?
Is it Safe to Drink in Moderation?
Here’s what a new global study says.
How Dangerous is Cannabis Use in Kids?
There’s reason to be concerned about a coming cannabis crisis.
Why We Love Dry January
The benefits of giving up booze, if only for a bit
Helping Kids Develop a Healthy Relationship with Alcohol
The research is quite surprising
5 Ways to Keep Alcohol in Check During Stressful Times
Between the global pandemic and social unrest, there are a lot of serious stressors in our lives today. Here are some simple ways you can keep your alcohol use under control.
Daiquiris, Margaritas, Frosés, Oh My!
Some simple ways to keep alcohol in check during summer fun.
Why Do You Drink?
Your reasons could indicate your risk of developing problems.
Teen Substance Use
What every parent needs to know about teen substance use
Let’s Talk About Cannabis
It’s the drug some teen addiction researchers are most scared of
COVID-19 led to increased substance use among some minority youth and decreased use in others. New research on predictors of substance use during the pandemic helps explain why.
How the Pandemic has Affected Minority Youth Substance Use
Worried About your Drinking or a Loved One?
Here’s how to find help for alcohol problems.
How Do Our Genes Influence Risk for Alcohol Problems?
A new study shows multiple ways.
A Radical New Way to Help Kids Avoid Substance Use Problems
It’s time to rethink the way we approach substance use prevention in adolescents and young adults.
Are You at Risk for Addiction?
Here’s how to know if you carry genetic risk
Anxiety/Depression
Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health challenges in the world, and – perhaps no surprise to you by now – the likelihood that you will be affected is impacted by both your genes and environment.
Wellbeing
For a long time, psychologists who studied mental health mostly focused on mental health challenges. That is to say, we studied what causes people to have problems. Of course, understanding problems is important…
Understand the Power of Genes
Our genes impact almost every aspect of our lives. This video will introduce you to the surprising ways your genes are influencing your life – and what you can do about it!
How the Environment Interacts with our Genes
Lots of us want to understand how our environments have shaped our lives, but did you know that you can't actually understand your environment without taking into account your genes?
Decode Your Disposition
Disposition discovery! This video explains where to find resources to learn more about your unique disposition, how it shapes your life, and what you can do about it.
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