Childhood today looks different than it did for previous generations. Instead of outdoor play and tight-knit neighborhood communities, many children now navigate a world dominated by screens, social media, and increasing isolation. These changes aren’t just cultural shifts; they’re influencing children’s development in profound ways.
Out of concern for their children, modern parents seek guidance from books and podcasts, only to be overwhelmed by conflicting advice. So they also turn to a long-trusted resource—pediatricians—for clarity. But even as new constellations of mental and behavioral health concerns have entered their clinical orbits, pediatricians often have limited training in child psychology.
“Most pediatricians are trained to treat physical ailments, not behavioral ones,” says pediatrician Blair Hammond, MD, D ’96, MED ’03. Nevertheless, challenges like speech delays, social difficulties, and emotional regulation “are now among the most common conditions of childhood.”
To bridge this gap in training, Hammond partnered with developmental psychologist and fellow Dartmouth alum Aliza Pressman, PhD, D ’96, to co-found the Mount Sinai Parenting Center in 2014. Their mission: Make child-rearing science accessible and actionable for pediatricians and parents alike.
Rethinking Education
The Mount Sinai Parenting Center develops and provides free content—videos, handouts, and an app—for parents and providers. Pediatricians can earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, while online courses allow flexible learning. Today, 195 pediatric residency programs and 344 family medicine programs use its resources across the country.
While pediatricians traditionally focused on physical health, the center’s approach acknowledges that mental and behavioral health are closely intertwined with physical well-being. The center trains pediatricians to weave mental and behavioral health into routine care, evolving the model of child health to recognize that physical conditions often have emotional and relational roots.
“For example, during an ear exam, a pediatrician can ask, ‘Which ear should I look in first?’ This small action fosters a child’s autonomy,” says Hammond.
In their training resources, the center emphasizes safe, stable, and nurturing relationships (SSNRs), which the American Academy of Pediatrics calls “biological necessities for all children.” Research shows that, by buffering against toxic stress, SSNRs can prevent common diseases and conditions and are essential to healthy child development.
A key focus is training pediatricians to model effective caregiver behaviors for parents during medical visits and praising parents for positive healthy practices. “Creating a nurturing environment supports child development and improves parental well-being,” says Hammond.
Parenting Overload
Pressman and Hammond’s flexible, science-based approach is a direct response to counsel that heightens anxiety; 84% of parents report feeling judged, and nearly half feel overwhelmed most days, according to a recent Ipsos survey.
“The pressure to parent ‘correctly’ has created a generation of anxious caregivers,” Pressman explains. Instead, she and Hammond refine parenting into practical strategies that fit seamlessly into daily life.
“When you tell a parent, ‘You did such an amazing job soothing your child during vaccines,’ you affirm that this benefits their brain development,” Hammond explains.
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