Building Happier Kids

February 7, 2022
Pediatrician Bhargava sounds the alarm that kids are suffering from over scheduled, high-achieving upbringings in her helpful debut. As she writes, “The constant pressures of our society have led us to lose sight of the basic building blocks” for healthy adulthood, such as “a life toolbox” that can help kids deal with challenges. Bhargava tackles topics including the loss of free time for kids (important because it helps with social and cognitive skills), the effects of stress (it can negatively impact a child’s immune system and brain development), and how to get better sleep (reducing screen time can help). She’s strongest when sharing tools and strategies parents can use to help their children, among them “grounding” (an exercise that asks someone to focus on surfaces supporting their body); a daily mood check-in in which kids write how they’re feeling as a number from 1 to 10; and making a habit of getting outside for at least 30 minutes each day. Bhargava’s expertise and conversational tone will leave readers feeling like they’re sitting in her exam room: “Raising our kids... takes thoughtfulness, planning, and understanding what is truly important.” Parents looking to dial back on the demands piled on their kids will find this hits the right note.

February 1, 2022

A pediatrician and parent of two teenagers, Bhargava understands the busy life of working caregivers. When her daughter, overloaded from the pressures of school sports, homework, orchestra, and other activities, woke up and declared she was too stressed and needed a day off, Bhargava began to re-evaluate her own parenting, she writes. She argues that today's 24/7 news cycle, social media, global issues, and climate change combine to spark panic attacks, depression, substance use, and school difficulties in kids. Bhargava suggests boundaries for protecting children (and adults too) from some of the adverse effects of these stress factors. Bhargava doesn't ignore toxic stress in children, which can result from abuse, neglect, poverty, racial profiling, being separated from a parent at the border, or a family member's addiction to drugs or alcohol. She addresses how bullying and systemic racism can disrupt a child's sense of safety and increase the risk of toxic stress. There's additional concern for the 2.7 million children in the U.S. who have an incarcerated parent. VERDICT Concise and filled with practical nuggets, this is a winning quick-reference manual for parents.

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