THE ROAD MAP

In this newsletter, you’ll find:

🚦 First stop (Benefits of family storytelling and rituals)

🛤️ Site-seeing at mylemarks.com (Winter Holiday Printables)

📣 A word from BetterSleep

📡 On the Radar (Depression on young brains, hurried child syndrome, and more)

📅 Mark your calendars (Important dates to know)

🤗 Sharing is Caring (spread the mylemarker love and earn)

Let’s go!

FIRST STOP

🎄 Holiday Memories: How Family Stories and Rituals Build Happiness and Resilience

Emory psychologists Marshall Duke and Robyn Fivush’s research shows that family storytelling and rituals create happiness, stability, and resilience in children. “Children really respond to routines and rituals,” Fivush explains. Holidays offer opportunities for bonding and connection.

Family gatherings, especially around food, are a great time to share stories about parents, grandparents, and other relatives.

Stories about overcoming tough times are compelling for teaching resilience. As Fivush says, “Bad things happen, but with the help of your family, you’ll learn and emerge stronger.” Of course, funny and joyful stories are just as important, creating moments of shared laughter that bring everyone closer.

Kids love hearing these stories again and again, and over time, they become part of the family’s lore. “Especially for children, they want to hear the story over and over,” Fivush adds. “Then they might start participating in the telling. It helps them feel like part of the group.”

Family rituals are just as meaningful—even the silly ones! Duke and Fivush suggest leaning into traditions, whether they’re long-standing or brand-new.

SITE-SEEING at mylemarks.com

Winter Holiday Printables

Our winter holiday printables offer a fun way for clinicians to engage children in exploring the upcoming holidays.

• Christmas Activity Pack

• Snow-Man Game & Craft

• Holiday Tree Feelings

• Christmas Cards

• Our Christmas Traditions

• 12 Days of Kindness

• How We Celebrate Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa

New Year Resources

Our New Year’s printables are a great way to help children reflect on the past year and set positive intentions for the year ahead.

• My Year in Review

• My Year in PRE-view

• My New Year’s Goal

• New Years Word Search

• Changes [Teen]

A Word from BetterSleep

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Build and layer a unique personalized mix from over 300 unique sounds such as: green noise, ocean waves, heavy rain, arctic storms or even background bustle in a city cafe! Use sound science to send yourself to sleep and improve your restlessness.

By building your perfect dreamy soundscape and watch your sleep and your mornings improve in just 7 days!

Try it tonight!

ON THE RADAR

 🧠 Largest Study on Youth Depression Reveals Key Brain Patterns

A massive new study published in Nature Mental Health has shed light on how depression affects young brains. Researchers looked at brain scans from 810 participants aged 12 to 25 and found major differences in the way certain brain networks function in those with depression. Specifically, they saw disruptions in the default mode network (involved in self-reflection) and attention networks (which help us focus). These changes were linked to the severity of depressive symptoms, offering new clues about the biology of youth depression.

This fascinating research highlights adolescence as a critical time for brain development. The brain hubs that coordinate attention and introspection are still maturing, making young people particularly vulnerable to these disruptions. The findings could guide better treatments in the future, like tailoring non-invasive therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) specifically for younger brains.

 💄 TikTok to Block Beauty Filters for Teens Amid Mental Health Concerns

TikTok has announced new restrictions on beauty filters for users under 18, responding to growing concerns about the impact on teenagers’ mental health. Filters that enhance physical features, such as making eyes larger or smoothing skin, will soon be inaccessible to teens. These changes come after reports of rising anxiety and plummeting self-esteem, particularly among girls, with some stating that using these filters made their real appearance seem "ugly." Fun filters, like those adding bunny ears or dog noses, will remain unaffected.

🕒 The Stress of "Hurried Child Syndrome" on Kids' Mental Health

Philly Voice explores the growing concern of "hurried child syndrome," a term introduced by Dr. David Elkind to describe the effects of pushing children into overly structured and demanding schedules. This fast-paced approach to childhood is linked to increased levels of anxiety, stress, and burnout in children, potentially leading to long-term issues with emotional regulation and mental health. Children may exhibit delayed emotional growth, an intense focus on achievement, difficulty truly relaxing, and increased defiance toward their parents.

Unstructured playtime, the article highlights, is crucial for children’s emotional, social, and cognitive growth. Experts are urging parents to rethink jam-packed schedules and instead prioritize downtime, allowing kids to unwind and explore their world at their own pace.

💢 Venting Doesn’t Ease Anger, But Calming Activities Do

Conventional wisdom suggests that venting—like yelling, punching, or smashing objects—helps release anger. However, a large meta-analysis of 154 studies by Ohio State University challenges this belief, finding that venting often fails to reduce anger and may even worsen it. "Venting anger might sound like a good idea, but there's not a shred of scientific evidence to support catharsis theory," says lead researcher Brad Bushman. The study found that anger is best reduced by calming activities that lower physiological arousal. Effective strategies include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, slow-flow yoga, and even simple timeouts. "Calming activities take the heat out of anger and undermine its physiological fuel," explains co-author Sophie Kjærvik.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Here are some dates you should know!

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) – Promotes the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society.

• Human Rights Day (December 10) – Celebrates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, promoting equality and freedom for all.

• First Day of Winter (Winter Solstice, December 21) – Marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

• Christmas Day (December 25) – Celebrates Christmas traditions and values, focusing on giving and family time.

• Kwanzaa (December 26 - January 1) – Honors African heritage and culture through seven days of principles and celebrations.