Marissa Nivison

(She/Her)

8

Articles

0

Comments
Big feelings are strong emotions, such as anger, frustration or excitement, that children are not always able to regulate on their own. (COLOURBOX)

Big feelings: 5 ways parents can help kids learn to regulate their emotions

Marissa Nivison, University of Calgary; Gizem Keskin, University of Calgary, and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary

Supporting a child through intense emotions while managing your own is challenging work. Part of this is to practise identifying and validating emotions.
Helping your older child or children navigate having a new sibling will help set the stage for positive sibling relationships across childhood and beyond. (Colourbox)

Expecting again? Tips for helping your first‑born child thrive with a new sibling

Marissa Nivison, University of Calgary and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary

It is normal for an older child to behave in ways parents will find challenging when a sibling arrives, and for parents to feel upset they cannot spend as much time with their older children.
When we are children, sibling relationships can be full of rivalry, and parents can mitigate this. (Peopleimages.com/Colourbox)

How parents can promote positive sibling relationships

Marissa Nivison, University of Calgary and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary

Strong, positive and supporting relationships between siblings can support people’s well-being throughout their lifetimes, and parenting approaches matter.
Thinking through your own attachment history and expectations of relationships may be a great opportunity for self-reflection, but it is important to remember that attachment is only one aspect of a relationship. (Keira Burton/Pexels)

Is attachment theory actually important for romantic relationships?

Marissa Nivison, University of Calgary and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary

Attachment theory is the notion that in the first year of life, the ways in which a parent and caregiver respond to a child’s needs shape a child’s expectation of relationships across their lifespan.
Kids can gain developmental or social benefits from extracurricular activities, but time for free play, relaxing and family bonding also matter for individual and family wellness. Girls playing street hockey in Victoria, B.C., in May 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Active or overscheduled kids? How parents can consider benefits and risks of extracurricular activities

Marissa Nivison, University of Calgary and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary

Researchers with expertise in parent-child relationships and child development offer 5 tips about how parents or caregivers can find a balance between children’s structured and unstructured time.
A child’s sense of attachment with parents or caregivers is formed from the consolidation of a series of interactions and responses during the child’s first year of life (and beyond). (Shutterstock)

How children’s secure attachment sets the stage for positive well‑being

Marissa Nivison, University of Calgary; Audrey-Ann Deneault, Université de Montréal, and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary

Parents or caregivers who a child can return to in times of distress to receive comfort or protection provide a secure base for the child from which they feel safe to explore the world.
Before going out, instead of doing the planning yourself, ask your child to help plan or map out the route, read a map, decide what to pack and check and prepare for the weather. (Pexels/RDNE Stock project)

7 everyday ways to foster children’s math and literacy skills to avoid ‘summer slide’ learning loss

Audrey-Ann Deneault, Université de Montréal; Marissa Nivison, University of Calgary, and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary

Any activity that you and your child enjoy can be educational, sometimes with just small tweaks.

Contact Marissa for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision