On May 7, nearly 150 parents and caregivers from Smithtown, Setauket, Port Jefferson, and surrounding communities attended a community forum at Harbor Country Day School, titled "Stress and Anxiety in Children and Teens: How to Help Your Child Thrive in the World Today." This event marks the fourth in a series of annual events hosted by Harbor Country Day School, called the HCDS Speaker Series, in which the school brings in experts to discuss topics related to parenting, education, and child and adolescent health and wellness.
The event featured a panel of mental health experts in a candid discussion about the prevalence of stress and anxiety in children and adolescents, expectations and demands children and adolescents are facing today, warning signs for parents and caregivers, steps parents can take to help their children navigate the pressures of the world in which we live, and much more. Panelists included James Parles, MD, FAAP; Carissa Millett, LCSW, Psychotherapist; Anthony Dattero, Guidance Counselor; and Nicole Rotondi, DACM, LAC.
"Like all schools, our focus at Harbor Country Day School is on the children and giving them the best educational experience we possibly can," said Harbor Country Day Head of School John Cissel. "But what's unique about Harbor is that we spend a tremendous amount of time, energy, and resources on our students' social-emotional health, both through a formal Social-Emotional Learning Program and, perhaps even more important, in the ways we teach and interact with our students on a daily basis."
Mr. Cissel continued, "As an extension of that mission, we want to be a resource for Harbor parents, and for people in the community, when it comes to topics related to children's and adults' social-emotional wellness, parenting concerns, and educational trends and developments. We hope our Speaker Series events provide parents and caregivers with the information they need in those areas and more."
Harbor Country Day School will host its fifth HCDS Speaker Series event during the 2019-2020 academic year. For more information about these events, please contact Kate O'Brien at (631) 584-5555, extension 103.
