Articles by Anne K. Fishel, Ph.D. and Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

February 7, 2020

By Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

5 Ways To Avoid Becoming A Helicopter Parent As You Send Your Child Off To College

Emily, a college freshman, strolls from her dorm to her biology class and en route, she calls her mother so that she doesn’t appear aimless and lonely as she passes by her peers. She barely notices that almost all them are also on their cell phones. In class, she takes notes on her iPad, although […]

July 7, 2014

By Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

Why It’s OK To Be Unplugged At Summer Camp

Camp provides time to be in nature and to practice living away from family. And, other than time spent asleep, camp is one of the few extended periods of time when kids will be away from their screens and devices. To better understand why it’s hard to unplug for summer camp, we interviewed Michael Thompson, […]

March 20, 2014

By Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

Should the TV Be On or Off During Times of Breaking News?

During times of “breaking news,” we are all drawn to our TVs, phones and computers for information. This was especially true throughout the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and lockdown, when we found the drama usually reserved for action-adventure movies playing out in our own neighborhoods. In interviewing several hundred families* about the bombing and subsequent […]

December 18, 2013

By Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

The Holidays: Unplugged

We like to play on our computers as much as anyone. But during the holidays, solitary screen time squanders the chance to play with siblings, parents, grandparents, cousins and friends who are also on vacation. Taking a break from work can also mean a chance to recharge without being tethered to our computers. But, many […]

November 26, 2013

By Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

Do As I Say, Not As I TXT: Tips for Parents to Manage Technology Use at the Dinner Table

In 21st-century America, where we no longer quilt on the front porch, play musical instruments together, or plant beans side-by-side in the field, dinner is the primary occasion we use to connect with one another. It’s also an important time to tell family stories, teach social skills and model good manners. There is so much […]

October 28, 2013

By Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

Supporting Our Gay and Lesbian Youth

TV shows such a Glee and Modern Family have brought gay characters and storylines into the homes of millions of Americans.  But for any child, the decision to come out of the closet remains one of the hardest things that a gay, lesbian, or bisexual person will do. “Coming out” is the process of revealing […]

September 18, 2013

By Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

3 Things Technology Has Taken Away From You

Since there are only so many hours in the day, we figured that all the hours spent on the Internet must be subtracted from some other activity. Are those eight hours a day of screen time costing us some snooze time? Are we having less sex? We decided to ask a group of over 200 parents the […]

By Tristan Gorrindo, M.D.

Hit Send, No Wait: The Dangers Of A Hyper-Personal Online Life

Online communication can bring mischief and even serious trouble to peers and colleagues because it invites far more disinhibition than face-to-face conversation.  This pull for personal disclosure was noted as early as 1996 by Walthers in a term he dubbed the “hyper-personal,” or, the tendency to reveal more about yourself to online people than to […]