New York Times bestselling author Dr. Michael G. Thompson will speak Thursday, Nov. 18 at the Middlesex Middle School auditorium at to speak about “The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life.”
Dr. Thompson’s presentation, one of a series of events to address student mental health and substance use from the Thriving Youth Task Force (TYTF) in response to its recent student survey findings about Darien 7th-12th grade students’ mental health and substance use.
“The Pressured Child” presentation is recommended for “pressured parents” who have forgotten what school is actually like for children and who may mistakenly believe that there is a one-to-one correlation between school performance and success in life.
Dr. Thompson will remind adults that children are almost never judging themselves by grades: they are always monitoring their own development and constantly searching for three things: connection, recognition and a sense of power. Each journey has its own different pressures, and every child is constantly developing strategies for coping with the pressures that they feel.
The Pressured Child is available at the Darien Library in print and digitally and can also be purchased at Barrett Bookstore (mention TYTF for a 10% discount.)
Anyone interested in learning more about the psychological journey that children experience during their thirteen years in school and how parents can best support them along the way is welcome to attend.
“This is the first in a series of programs TYTF will offer this year to directly address our Darien student mental health and substance use survey findings,” noted Emily Larkin, Thriving Youth Program director.
“Students reported that getting good grades, getting into a good college, and standardized testing were their top stressors – even in middle school. We’re eager to learn more about handling these pressures from Dr. Michael G. Thompson, a renowned clinical psychologist who has spoken all over the world about children and families.”
If You Want to Attend …
The event, which begins at 7 p.m., will also be live streamed via Zoom and is free and open to the public;
Registration (online, here) is requested for in-person attendance and required for Zoom. For a more impactful discussion, in-person attendance is encouraged.
About the Thriving Youth Task Force
The Thriving Youth Task Force is a volunteer coalition that convenes local community organizations to promote and empower positive youth development, with the goal of reducing teen substance use.
The diverse group includes mental health, substance use and healthcare professionals as well as leaders from the schools, police, town government and clergy. TYTF members have also provided insight and guidance for the nationally recognized “06820” campaign to examine the impact of alcohol on the teen brain and to encourage healthier attitudes and behaviors.
The TYTF, which is convened by The Community Fund of Darien, was created in 2008 and meets every other month during the school year. For questions, survey results or more information, please visit www.communityfunddarien.org/thriving-youth-task-force.
TYTF programming is made possible thanks to funding from the federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Grant, managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to address substance use prevention and mental health promotion in Darien.
This presentation is made possible with the support of The Community Fund of Darien, the Darien YMCA, Silver Hill Hospital, Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, the Darien Library, the Darien Youth Commission, Liberation Programs, Sasco River Center, Barrett Bookstore, the Middlesex Parent Association, Trinity Church and YWCA Parent Awareness.