Center for Child & Family Well-being

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Slater writes in MedPage Today about what the ongoing conflict with Iran is doing to children here at home, a conversation that is largely missing from public discourse.

The article covers five groups of children, from those with deployed parents to Iranian-American, Jewish-American, and Palestinian-American youth, to all American children absorbing war imagery on social media, often without an adult present to help them process it.

For parents and caregivers, the core message is to open the conversation rather than manage it. Children who are allowed to ask questions, name their fears, and hear honest answers tolerate uncertainty better than those who are simply reassured. Listening, maintaining routines, and reinforcing safety are within reach of every caregiver and make a real difference.

Opinion | What We're Not Talking About: The War and Our Children Every war finds its way home

In the article When Gentle Parenting Drifts Into Fragilizing, Laura Kastner, Ph.D., a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, examines how gentle parenting can become counterproductive when empathy is not paired with clear limits.

Drawing on decades of research, she explains that children thrive when parents combine emotional understanding with consistent boundaries. While validating feelings helps children feel supported and understood, limits are essential for building self-control, resilience, and a sense of security.

Kastner also highlights how social media has contributed to a widespread misunderstanding of gentle parenting by emphasizing empathy while minimizing the importance of structure and authority.

Read the full article here:

www.parentmap.com

This article from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shares guidance for parents and caregivers on talking with children about immigration enforcement in their communities. They discuss how stress can show up at different ages and age-appropriate ways to answer kids’ questions and support their sense of safety.

Read more here:

Talking to Kids About Immigration Enforcement in Their Communities A clinical psychologist shares tips for parents on how to help kids navigate stress related to immigration enforcement.

To our community 💛
From the Children’s Network—this is a kid-friendly resource for moments of worry.

If ICE is something you’re hearing about or feeling concerned by, this post helps explain what to do and where to find support.

Earlier this week, we hosted the Immigrant and Refugee Health, Education, and Well-Being Panel. For those who were unable to join, the recording is now available:

Immigrant and Refugee Health, Education, and Well-Being - The Center for Child and Family Well-Being This webinar included a panel of health, mental health, and education experts sharing their experiences working with immigrant and refugee children, youth, and families. They discussed the challenges communities are currently facing, how to support child and family well-being, and provided trauma-in...

Next week, we are hosting a free lunchtime panel presentation, Immigrant and Refugee Health, Education, and Well-Being. Four experts in mental health, health, and education will share their experiences working with immigrant and refugee children, youth, and families. They will discuss the challenges communities are currently facing, ways to support child and family well-being, and trauma-informed recommendations for people working with families. All are welcome to attend.

Date/Time: Monday, December 8, 2025, 12:00–1:20 PM (PT)

Location: Online via Zoom (registration required)

Register and learn more here: https://ccfwb.uw.edu/event/immigrant-refugee-panel/

We’d like to share this recent podcast episode, “End the Constant Parenting Battles with Your Kid by Considering Your Kid’s Temperament.” Center Director Liliana Lengua and colleagues discuss the parenting challenges that often arise with children who are easily frustrated or inflexible. Their behavior can be rooted in a reward-oriented, approach-driven system. If a rule gets in the way of something they want to do, they may become frustrated, and even small changes in routine can feel difficult. This reflects the interplay of temperament and behavior, and there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some children may need more routine than others, and consistency can be helpful. Setting limits can take time, and it often works best when parents can stay calm and wait for moments when emotions are not running high to involve children in problem-solving.

Starting with small challenges can make change more manageable. Explaining shifts in routine, working through them together, and offering a limited number of options can help prevent children from feeling overwhelmed. Gradually building from small steps can help children tolerate difficult emotions in larger situations and support flexibility over time. One of the biggest mistakes a parent can make is giving in during a moment of conflict, but there is also a fine line between setting limits and over-accommodating. Sometimes parents are tired or stretched thin, and it is important to be honest with yourself about that and return to the limit-setting conversation on a day when you have more capacity.

Access the full podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g285jJTkRdo

As well as on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0gVcb9AfPxguL5MTPgogMi?si=8fb150a9b4694958

Mental Health Supra Omnia Podcast · Equilibria PCS · A podcast exploring real conversations about mental health. Join us each episode as we share practical tools and connect with people that inspire honest, human stories of growth.

EmbraceRace shares important information on how racial taboos form in childhood. When adults avoid talking about race, children can learn that it is a topic they should not bring up. Children notice race and racial patterns early, and without conversation, they make sense of it on their own.

The goal is not to have a perfect conversation. It is to normalize talking about race and help children reflect on what they are noticing and learning in their environments. EmbraceRace offers more detail and additional resources for those who want to learn more.

Read more here:

The surprising way we teach kids NOT to talk about race Here's something that might surprise you: When your preschooler points out someone's skin color at the grocery store and you quickly shush them, you're not just avoiding an awkward moment.

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard recently shared a webinar on how wildfire smoke is impacting young children. Drawing on new findings from the LA Fire HEALTH Study, the discussion looked at both the immediate and long-term effects of smoke exposure, which can travel far beyond fire zones and remain highly toxic.

The panel also talked about what communities can do to protect children, including ways to limit exposure, support caregivers, and provide stability through consistent routines, caregivers, and school environments. Watch the full conversation to hear how these strategies can help children stay healthy and supported during wildfire seasons

Webinar: Protecting Young Children From the Impacts of Wildfires Learn how wildfire smoke affects young children and how we can reduce exposure to support healthy development.

The Latino Center for Health is hosting "Healing Across Borders: Promoting Resilience in Latinx and Newcomer Youth", a special presentation with Dr. William Martinez, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF and Director of Child and Adolescent Services at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

Date: Wednesday, October 1
Time: 12:00–1:30 PM PT
Location: Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center, Unity Suite 104/106
Hybrid option available

Dr. Martinez will share insights on reducing behavioral health disparities among ethnic minority youth, with a focus on Latinx and immigrant populations. This event takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month and is open to all.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=W9229i_wGkSZoBYqxQYL0jKygSj5SU1KieUTto7jFVVUMlBaM0pCVVJMTk9JTklPOVA5TDFZNUtOMy4u&route=shorturl

This article by the RAPID Survey Project shares four years of data showing that child care providers are facing growing financial strain and emotional distress. In March 2025, two in three reported struggling to meet at least one basic need, most often utilities, healthcare, or food.

83% of providers reported stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness this year. Staffing shortages are adding to the workload, leaving many feeling burned out and worried about the future.

These findings highlight the urgent need for sustained policies that focus on the economic and emotional well-being of child care providers.

Read more here:

Four years of listening to caregiver voices shows increasing economic hardship and emotional distress among those providing child care to young children Those who care for young children, in homes and in centers, provide critical support for families and for overall child development. Yet despite the complexity and importance of their work, these essential…