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The end of summer can bring mixed feelings for children and parents: excitement about seeing friends again, sadness that carefree days are ending, worries about a new teacher or classroom, and—especially for internationally mobile families—the additional challenge of returning to a school environment after weeks of travel, different routines, or time spent in another country. For families living abroad, the transition back to school can involve more than simply getting up ear

Moving to a new country comes with countless decisions about your child's education, language development, and wellbeing. Many international parents wonder whether they should be "teaching" their child more at home, whether speaking multiple languages is confusing, or whether play really is enough in the early years. The reassuring news is that research tells us something remarkable: children are learning from the moment they are born—and often in ways that adults cannot easi

As another school year comes to a close, many international families across the Netherlands are preparing for a well-deserved summer break. Whether your child is finishing primary school, navigating the challenges of secondary education, or completing a university semester, the end of the academic year is much more than a holiday—it is an important psychological transition. For students, this period often brings a mix of emotions: pride, relief, excitement, uncertainty, and s

With Father's Day coming up, I wanted to focus a little on fatherhood. I enjoy articles from Greater Good Magazine, published by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, because they combine research with positive, practical ideas that can inspire everyday family life. Their work focuses on the science of well-being, compassion, connection, and meaningful living. One article that stood out to me is “What Is Your Purpose as a Father?” by Jeremy Adam Smith. The article e

As a child psychologist, I spend much of my time helping children and families navigate the challenges of growing up in today's world. Increasingly, I see children struggling with anxiety, sadness, perfectionism, loneliness, and the pressures of modern life. While there is no single solution to these challenges, recent research highlights an often-overlooked source of support: grandparents. This topic feels especially meaningful to me personally. Having recently become a gran

The Power of a Positive School Environment Schools have long been recognized as important environments for adolescent wellbeing. Beyond academic achievement, the quality of relationships, feelings of safety, belonging, support, and connection within a school can profoundly shape young people's mental health. A recent longitudinal study by Su et al. (2026) provides compelling evidence that a positive school climate is not just beneficial—it may serve as a powerful protective f

As parents, caregivers, and family members, we often assume that loneliness is simply the result of spending too much time alone. Yet new research suggests the reality is far more complex—and understanding this complexity can help families better support both younger and older generations. A recent study published in Developmental Psychology (Wild, T., Willroth, E. C., & English, T. (2026). Social interactions and loneliness in daily life: A study of younger adults and cognit

Autism is often described as a spectrum because every autistic person is unique. While researchers have long recognized the wide variation in how autism presents itself, a newly published international study has provided intriguing evidence that there may also be different biological pathways underlying autism. The study, published on 3 June 2026 in Nature Neuroscience by researchers from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italy), the Child Mind Institute (United States), a

For many adolescents and young adults, especially those growing up internationally, questions like “Who am I?” and “Where do I belong?” are not just philosophical—they can feel urgent, confusing, and at times overwhelming. Recent research by Kristina Eggermont and colleagues (2026) sheds new light on how identity struggles and feelings of emptiness can, in everyday life, contribute to thoughts of self-harm. This has important implications for international families and studen

At Baumgarten Child Psychology and More, we often meet children who are bright, curious, and capable—yet quietly struggling with reading. What may look like a simple academic hurdle is often something deeper: reading-related anxiety. A recent study by Grills and colleagues (2026) introduces an important new tool designed to better understand this challenge: the Reading Anxiety Scale (RAS). This development marks a meaningful step forward—not just for researchers, but for educ