Yamalis Diaz, PhD

03/11/2026

I recently shared some thoughts with Good Morning America about the growing trend of very young children (ages 3–6) using beauty products… and the rise of beauty brands designed just for them.

A few key points I think are important for parents and caregivers to keep in mind:

- Kids playing dress-up and imitating what they see adults do is completely normal. It can be creative, playful, and part of healthy development.
- But there’s a meaningful difference between playing with makeup as part of pretend play and wearing makeup regularly as part of a routine.
- My concern is that when appearance becomes a focus too early, kids (especially girls) may begin to internalize unrealistic beauty standards and build their self-esteem from the “outside in,” based on feedback about how they look.

Of course we want children to feel beautiful! But it’s just as important that they learn to feel beautiful for reasons that go far beyond appearance. The goal is helping kids build self-esteem from the inside out focused on qualities like kindness, curiosity, creativity, effort, and confidence.

As adults, it’s worth being mindful of the messages we send. When we shift the focus from appearance to character and capability, we help kids develop a stronger, more resilient sense of self.

Share your thoughts in the comments!

Some beauty brands like Super Smalls are offering products they say are specifically formulated for young kids and that there’s demand for them.

05/31/2024

About Our Kids' Yamalis Diaz, PhD & Dr. Lori Evans talk with postdorctoral fellow in child psychology, Jorge Cienfuegos Szalay, PhD, MPH at NYU Langone Health LIVE Fri 5/31 from 9-10amET. Learn how to start the convo with your kids about tough topics, including *x & *xuality

05/25/2024

I highly recommend that parents establish clear rules for appropriate technology and social media use (and related consequences for breaking those rules). This is especially important when you first allow kids to access the internet, when you give them personal devices, and as they begin to engage in online communication with others. You can modify the rules as they get older, while still monitoring their online/tech activity. I’ve heard parents say they don’t want to “violate their privacy” (and I get that!), but online isn’t private 😉

02/01/2024

Tune in! I will try not to be too much of a . Lisa Loeb Official’s music provided part of the soundtrack to some of my favorite moments with best friends! Looking forward to having her on the show!

🎧Tune in Fri 2/2 at 9:45amET as Grammy Award winning musician Lisa Loeb Official & Host on SiriusXM 90s on 9 joins Doctor Radio's About Our Kids hosts, Lori Evans, PhD, Yamalis Diaz, PhD & Pantea Farahmand, MD to talk about how impacted her life from an early age, how to cultivate a connection to music in your home & her passion for 's music. Live stream the entire interview (link in comments/below).

01/27/2024

Shared my Technology child/teen contract on Doctor Radio! Parents can use this to establish rules/guidelines and related consequences to help manage online behavior. The best time to do this is when you first give kids devices or access to online games etc. but it’s never too late to put these in place!

12/20/2023

Forever grateful for the mentorship I received from Dr. Ruth Zambrana at her kitchen table. I finished my dissertation sitting at this table as she served snacks and a little tough love! She mentored many students at this table! Read the full story on the homepage!

11/15/2023

Great discussion about creating effective routines with Susan Stiffelman today! Check out this and many other available webinars at www.susanstiffelman.com

Did you morning go smoothly today?

Or... did you find yourself shouting (or begging) to get your kids to get dressed or eat their breakfast? 😏

Was everyone at the bus stop or in the car on time?

Or... was there a frantic search for a missing homework assignment? 😩

Morning time is hectic for most families... but help is on the way! 😅

There are ways to keep mornings moving along without chaos and drama. The same can be true for homework, chores, and bedtime.

This is because most kids thrive on routines! 📝

I have a new class with Dr. Yamalis Diaz on The Power of Routines. Our session will be geared both to parents of neurodivergent kids (ADHD, ASD) and neurotypical children and teens. This class designed to help you create clear, specific routines for everyday activities, to help life run more smoothly. 🌈

Here are some of the things we'll be talking about:

• Science-backed benefits of routines for developing executive functioning 📊

• Kid-friendly time management tools to encourage independence ⏰

• How to create stress-free mornings with effective wake-up strategies, school preparation, and breakfast routines 🍳

• Soothing bedtime rituals for better relaxation and sleep 😴

• How to empower tweens and teens to assume responsibility for daily commitments 💪

• How to set healthy boundaries and limits around screen time 📱

• How to facilitate smooth transitions for two-home families 🏡🏡

The early bird discount expires tonight! Don't miss out.🐦

https://susanstiffelman.com/power-of-routines/

05/09/2023

On this episode of , I share information and tips for helping college students understand and manage their symptoms of ADHD with Dr. Sarah Olivo and Dr. Liz Seidler. Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

05/08/2023

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in your employee Mental Health Town Hall with my colleagues. I hope your employees will feel supported and encouraged in seeking support when needed. I appreciate your dedication to increasing awareness and facilitating these discussions across platforms, including on Doctor Radio

03/06/2023

Why are more people interested in ? This is the question I helped answer for health.com.

I want to emphasize that medication for ADHD can be a very effective part of treatment, but people should also be seeking effective to learn skills and strategies for managing symptoms as well. Keep in mind those medications wear off after X number of hours. What are you doing to manage challenges when the meds wear off? Keep this in mind when seeking treatment.

Take a look at the article here:
https://www.health.com/why-are-more-people-getting-diagnosed-with-adhd-7112137

Information about ADHD has become more accessible, expanding the public's education and perspective of the diagnosis. This, and other factors, has led to an increase in ADHD diagnoses across the United States.

02/27/2023

Spoke with bphope.com to share tips for managing some of the challenges of parenting kids with ADHD. Tip #1: start with structured routines to the extent possible. Check out the rest of the article for more tips!
https://www.bphope.com/a-pandemic-era-survival-guide-for-parents-of-children-with-adhd/

Getty Images (Stock photo posed by models) Understanding How COVID-19 Restrictions Impacted Children with ADHD The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions

12/13/2022

Watch my last webinar on tips for managing challenging behavior during the holidays and school winter break. View the recording here:

https://nyulangone.zoom.us/webinar/register/8216700113534/WN_VmyQxfnQRiG5t2gwBwxtNw?mc_cid=3db08e8127&mc_eid=e0bb9bd1ca