Harmless Habit or Cause for Concern: Wisdom and Tips from Dr. Andy Barnes

Countless children (and adults, for that matter!) are habitual nail-biters, hair-twisters, thumb-suckers or nose-pickers. When might those behaviors be cause for concern? Even if they are apparently harmless habits, are there reasons to try to put an end to them? University of Minnesota pediatrician Dr. Andy Barnes brings reassurance and practical advice to this week’s lively chat with Marti & Erin!

Note: You also will want to stay tuned through the end of the show for “Relationships that Nurture,” a brief monthly feature brought to you by St. David’s Center. This month’s segment addresses what you can do to ease your child’s separation anxiety.

*Listen to: Harmless Habit or Cause for Concern: Wisdom and Tips from Dr. Andy Barnes

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Marti Erickson is a developmental psychologist who’s had a long and distinguished career at the University of Minnesota, studying parent-child relationships, helping professionals learn best practices for working with children and families, and writing and speaking to diverse audiences throughout the U.S. and abroad. Marti is familiar to Minnesota audiences through her frequent appearances on Twin Cities TV and radio, including 15 years as a regular contributor to KARE-TV’s Today and Sunrise Shows.

In 2005 Marti led “The Motherhood Study,” a large national study of mothers’ values, concerns and needs, which helped launch conversations among mothers’ groups around the country. Identifying motherhood as a passion in both her professional and personal life, Marti says her most important credential is being the mother of Erin (the show’s co-host) and Ryan, now young adults, and grandmother of Clara and McKinley (ages 7 and 5) and Miles and Elise (ages 6 and 3). Read more about Marti Erickson.

Erin is a specialist in Maternal-Child Health and writes has extensive experience speaking on issues related to maternal-child health and parenting. She writes on related topics for several magazines and websites. Erin completed graduate school at the University of Minnesota with a Master of Public Health in Maternal Child Health - Epidemiology and is currently enrolled in the certificate program in Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices - Health Coaching at the U of M's Center for Spirituality and Healing.

Erin is in the thick of everything the Mom Enough™ show addresses – and she’s glad her mom lives close enough to help and support her in her journey as a mother to Clara and McKinley. Read More about Erin.

Mom Enough is brought to you through a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Education, and Working Family Resource. Find out more about the Working Family Resource Center.

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