Let’s talk mental health myths, because there are a few that come up again and again, especially when it comes to kids.

One of the biggest myths I still hear is that kids are “too young” for therapy. It’s a question I hear all the time, are kids really old enough to need therapy, or what could they possibly need therapy for?

But here’s what we know from decades of research: about half of all mental health disorders start by age 14. That means if we wait until high school to pay attention, we’ve already missed some really crucial years.

Early support doesn’t mean labeling your child or overreacting.

It might mean teaching them coping tools, helping them navigate big feelings, or simply ruling out something more serious. It’s not a sign that something is wrong, it’s a sign that you’re paying attention.

And that’s one of the most protective things a parent can do.

The second myth is just as common: that talking to kids about mental health will somehow make them anxious or put ideas in their heads.

In reality, it’s the opposite.

When we talk about emotions, stress, or mental health, even casually, we take away the mystery and the stigma.

We make it normal to say, “I’m having a hard day,” or “I need a break,” and that gives kids permission to do the same.

It also means if your child ever does need help, they’ll already know that reaching out is a sign of strength, not shame.

And maybe most importantly, it opens the door for them to help a friend. Because when kids know the language of mental health, they notice when someone else is struggling, and sometimes, that awareness can truly make a difference.

Therapy isn’t “too much” for kids.

Talking about mental health doesn’t cause problems, it helps prevent them.

And normalizing these conversations? That’s how we raise a generation that knows how to care for themselves and each other.

Let’s talk about The Crucial Years, screens, and summertime—because this is hands-down one of the most common concerns I hear from parents.

Screen time gets especially tricky in the summer, when routines loosen up, camps come and go, and kids suddenly have a lot more unstructured time.

We know that too much screen time is linked to increased anxiety and depression—and right now, the average child is spending nearly five hours a day on screens.

In this video, I’m sharing some practical thoughts on how to create a healthier balance this summer, whether you're navigating long car rides, slow afternoons, or just looking to make more room for creativity, boredom, and connection.

Let’s dive in!

Melissa Wirt is CEO of Latched Mama and author of the book I Was Told There’d Be a Village, a book for moms by a mom. In her own words, here is her story:

“Hi, I’m Melissa, mom of six, CEO of Latched Mama, and someone who’s in the deep trenches of motherhood right beside you. Motherhood is beautiful, messy, exhausting, and sometimes so lonely it hurts. When I became a mom, I was told there’d be a village, but what I found was a journey I had to figure out on my own."After eight year of building this brand, I knew I needed to do more to help moms feel seen. This book is my heart on paper—filled with stories, humor, and hard-earned lessons from my own motherhood journey. It’s for the moms who feel like they’re doing it all alone, for the moms searching for connection, and for the moms who just need to know they’re enough."I wrote this book because I wish I’d had it during my hardest days as a mom. It’s my way of reminding you that you don’t have to do it all or be everything to everyone. You’re enough, just as you are.”

You can also find Melissa on Instagram.

Hosted by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler.

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You can order Dr. Ziegler's new book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12) at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target or your local book retailer.

Dr. Anmol Kapoor is a pioneering leader in precision healthcare, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology who is revolutionizing modern medicine. As the founder of CardiAI and BioAro, he leads innovations in genomics, longevity medicine, and personalized healthcare. Dr. Kapoor holds over seventy patents in diverse fields including AI, genomics, quantum sciences, medical devices, supplements, and digital health. His groundbreaking work has significantly advanced diagnostic methods, treatment outcomes, and overall healthcare strategies worldwide.

One of his companies, BioAro, offers genetic and microbiome testing, empowering individuals with valuable health insights that were previously inaccessible. With a focus on evidence-based guidelines, BioAro provides affordable, personalized healthcare experiences. Through genetic data analysis, BioAro reveals inherited and acquired health risks, aiding decisions on diseases, pharmacogenomics, and nutrition. He discusses these remarkable tests, the advances in detection and technology, and offers tips for living a healthier lifestyle, which will, in turn, improve mental health.

You can find out more about BioAro at their website.

You can find Dr. Anmol Kapoor on Instagram.

Hosted by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler.

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You can order Dr. Ziegler's new book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12) at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target or your local book retailer.

Dr. Courtney Tracy is the founder of Truth Doctor Media, which addresses some of society's most challenging mental health conditions. They specialize in creating mental-health-informed content for the general public and blend personal storytelling with helpful guidance using Dr. Courtney's "human first" approach. Their resources are designed to support and empower those struggling with their mental health. The truth is: No one should have to "human" alone.

Her book Your Unconscious Is Showing is a groundbreaking guide showing us how being “out of control” (and admitting it) is the first step to living a truly better, more meaningful life.

Half psychology textbook written by your best friend (who's also a therapist), half comprehensive guide brimming with actionable insights for engaging with our unconscious positively and productively, Your Unconscious Is Showing is here to help us accept what we can't control, courageously change what we can, and wisely know the difference.

You can find Dr. Tracy at her website, and on TikTok.

Hosted by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler.

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You can order Dr. Ziegler's new book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12) at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target or your local book retailer.

Bennie Fowler is a six-year veteran of the NFL. He began his career as an undrafted free agent signed by the Broncos in 2014. He spent four years with the Broncos and was a member of the Super Bowl 50 championship team in 2016. Bennie played college football at Michigan State University, where he was a member of the 2014 Rose Bowl championship team. Bennie holds the annual Bennie Fowler youth football camp in Detroit, Michigan, is an in-demand speaker trained through the NFL Speakers Bureau, and lives in Denver during the offseason.

In his book Silver Spoon: The Imperfect Guide to Success, Bennie Fowler shares stories that will help you overcome what’s holding you back. You’ll hear from Bennie and other professional athletes like Draymond Green, Julius Thomas, Darqueze Dennard, and Demarcus Ware, as well as entrepreneurs and employees, on how they rose to the occasion when adversity struck. You’ll gain a better understanding of yourself and be motivated to implement the daily practices you learn from these top performers.

You can find Bennie Fowler on Instagram.

Hosted by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler.

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You can pre-order Dr. Ziegler's new book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12) at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target or your local book retailer.

Dr. Morgan Cutlip is a mother of two, married to her high school sweetheart, and she has worked in the field of relationship education for over 15 years alongside her father, Dr. John Van Epp, who is the founder of Love Thinks and developer of multiple relationship education courses that have been taught to over a million people worldwide. She is “on a mission to help women feel empowered in all of their relationships so that they feel whole, light, and deeply connected to those they love.”

Her new book, A Better Share: How Couples Can Tackle the Mental Load for More Fun, Less Resentment and Great Sex, where she helps couples view the mental load—the endless and mostly invisible work of managing a household and family—as a shared enemy to conquer versus a problem they have with each other, offering practical solutions for navigating the most common pain points couples struggle with. She offers practical advice that goes beyond getting your spouse to pick up the slack and focuses on the unique perspectives and experiences of each partner, enabling both of you to feel seen and heard. She helps you leave behind resentment and anxiety and begin to:

* Understand why the mental load primarily falls on women and how it impacts sexual desire

* Share perspectives, expectations, ownership, and accountability

* Use actionable plans for divvying up tasks and teaching the next generation how to share the mental load

Through research and stories based on real couples, A Better Share guides you out of the endless stress and resentment cycle and into a relationship where sharing is caring, having fun together is a priority, and great sex isn't a thing of the past.

You can order her book here. And you can find her at her website and on Instagram.

Hosted by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler.

Please follow Dr. Ziegler on Instagram.

Sign up for Dr. Ziegler's newsletter at her website.

You can pre-order Dr. Ziegler's new book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12) at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target or your local book retailer.

Dr. Cara Natterson is a leading voice in puberty and adolescent health. A pediatrician, speaker, and the co-host of the This Is So Awkward podcast, she is the author of ten books including the bestselling This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained and the New York Times bestselling The Care and Keeping of You series. When her own kids started puberty, Cara founded Less Awkward, the first company aimed at making puberty less cringey and more comfortable with both product and content. Cara graduated from Harvard college and Johns Hopkins Medical School, trained at UCSF. She has two college aged kids and lives in Los Angeles.

Vanessa Kroll Bennett is a national bestselling author and puberty educator who helps adults navigate uncertainty while supporting the kids they love. She is co-author of the national bestselling book This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained, co-host of the This Is So Awkward podcast and President of Content at Less Awkward. Vanessa was founder of Dynamo Girl, a company focused on building kids’ self-esteem through sports and puberty education. A graduate of Wellesley College, Vanessa holds a Masters in Jewish History, but perhaps her most important schooling comes from raising her own four children, ages 14 to 21.

Their book This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained is the ultimate guide for adults helping tweens and teens navigate the rollercoaster of puberty.

Hosted by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler.

Please follow Dr. Ziegler on Instagram.

Sign up for Dr. Ziegler's newsletter at her website.

You can pre-order Dr. Ziegler's new book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12) at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target or your local book retailer.

Welcome! If you’re navigating the amazing, ever-changing, and sometimes overwhelming world of parenting, you’re in the right place. I’m so glad you’re here!

This is The Crucial Years—a community where we’ll explore the joys, challenges, and real talk of raising kids. Here’s a little hello from me and what you can expect moving forward.

Let’s get the conversation started- I can't wait to hear from you!

Jessica Joelle Alexander is the creator of Raising Digital Citizens, which is designed to "help families foster more meaningful relationships based on what researchers clearly confirm is the very best protection for children in the digital world: conversations."

Talking together about values in the online world and making a bond based on trust, not fear, is one of the best long term investments in a child’s safety a family can make. Most parents have no idea how to even begin to cover everything when discussing digital citizenship. This is exactly why Raising Digital Citizens’ conversation cards were created: to help you cover all the important topics in a fun, hands-on way so you can ensure your child knows what to do in any situation even when you aren’t there to protect them.

The cards are followed up by a personalizable agreement, ongoing support, guidance and lots of cutting edge research and tools to help you evolve together with understanding and respect, not distance and hostility.

You can find Jessica at her site here. You can find Raising Digital Citizens here.

Hosted by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler.

Please follow Dr. Ziegler on Instagram. 

Sign up for Dr. Ziegler's newsletter at her website. 

You can pre-order Dr. Ziegler's new book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12) at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target or your local book retailer.