Building a Healthier Future for 21st Century Kids
Expert guidance that moves beyond panic to practical, research-informed solutions for families
Organizations working to support kids and families need expertise that keeps pace with reality
Clarity when advice contradicts itself.
Insight that accounts for how digital life, cultural context, and child development actually intersect—not fragmented approaches that treat them as separate issues.
And expertise that doesn't just cite studies, but translates them into guidance that works in messy, real-world situations.
Whether you're a nonprofit developing family programs, a school crafting digital wellness policies, a research team investigating childhood in the digital age, or a tech company building products for kids—you're navigating territory that's both critically important and constantly evolving.
You need nuanced, realistic approaches that honor the complexity of raising kids in a rapidly changing world.
The stakes are high, but the path doesn’t have to be chaotic
With the right perspective, it's possible to cut through the noise, make informed decisions, and create resources, policies, and programs that genuinely serve kids' wellbeing. Not by chasing every trend or sounding every alarm, but by staying grounded in what we know about how kids actually grow, learn, and thrive.
Welcome
Hi, I'm Mieke—a developmental psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with families, organizations, and research initiatives at the intersection of child development, digital life, and global culture.
My mission is straightforward: Kids grow up well when the adults around them—parents, teachers, policymakers, designers—have the knowledge, tools, and support they need. When we help families navigate 21st century challenges with clarity and confidence, we create ripple effects that shape healthier communities and a more thoughtful approach to childhood itself.
I work with nonprofits, schools, research programs, and mission-driven organizations to move the conversation forward in balanced, informed, and actionable ways.
Whether you're developing educational curricula, shaping policy, creating family resources, or designing technology for kids, I bring clarity, depth, and practical perspective to complex 21st century challenges
Why I can help
My approach combines unusual breadth with on-the-ground experience:
PhD in developmental psychology plus decades advising families, schools, and organizations
Cross-cultural perspective from studying how cultural contexts shapes parenting and childhood (and raising my own kids across countries and languages).
Bridge-builder between research and practice — I translate academic findings into relevant, useful guidance for the people who need it most.
Broad historical and sociological lens — understanding today’s challenges requires seeing how childhood, technology, and family life have evolved over time
Matter-of-fact, non-alarmist approach — I’m acutely aware of real concerns without falling into panic or dismissiveness.
In short, I bring expertise that bridges research and reality, theory and practice, global awareness and local needs.
Let’s work together on:
Guidelines and Policies
Governmental support and organizational policies set the stage for community well-being. I advise on developing clear, actionable guidelines around creating and maintaining safe, healthy environments for families and kids.
Topics include:
Mindful parenting
Parenting in the digital age
Parenting across cultures
Child development and learning in families and informal spaces
Cross cultural family support
You’ll gain: Policy frameworks that are research-informed, culturally aware, and actually implementable.
This is for you if: You’re shaping organizational direction, community standards, or public-facing guidance and need expertise that balances evidence, empathy, and practicality.
Workshops
I offer engaging, interactive workshops for kids, parents, teachers, and other professionals — in formal settings like schools or informal ones like neighborhood parent groups.
Topic are customizable and include:
Parenting and child development
Digital wellness and managing kids’ social media
Cross-cultural family dynamics
Raising kids in the digital age
You’ll gain: Accessible, actionable learning experiences that meet your community where they are.
This is for you if: You want to education and empower the adults (and kids) in your community with guidance that’s substantive without being overwhelming.
Research Projects
Society changes at the speed of light—especially when it comes to technology. Despite rapid advancement, it's still vitally important to explore the impact of new tools and paradigms on kids.
With a strong background in developmental psychology and educational technology research, I contribute to projects exploring tech and kids, digital wellness, parenting, and child development.
You’ll gain: Research design, implementation support, and analysis grounded in developmental science and real-world family dynamics.
This is for you if: You’re conducting studies on childhood, technology, or family life and want a collaborator who understands both rigorous methodology and practical implications.
Making Research Accessible
Academic research plays a vital role in building knowledge. But findings often stay locked behind jargon and paywalls, out of reach for the parents, teachers, and policymakers who need them most.
I translate research into relevant, useful, and actionable information—distilling the science for the people working directly with kids and families.
You’ll gain: Clear, compelling communication of complex findings that drives understanding and action
This is for you if: You have research findings, white papers, or position statements that need to reach a broader audience — without losing nuance or credibility.
Schools and Educational Curricula
What's your school's approach to students' digital wellness? Don't have a policy? I can help you create one.
I provide teacher training on digital citizenship and digital wellness, develop curricula that weave 21st century concepts throughout learning, and offer workshops for parents through education nights or PTA meetings.
You’ll gain: Comprehensive, age-appropriate frameworks for supporting students’ development in a digital world.
This is for you if: You’re a school administrator, curriculum developer, or education leader looking to equip teachers, engage parents, and support students holistically.
Designing tech for kids’ wellbeing
Digital tools are powerful; let’s use that power to make a positive impact for kids in the 21st century.
If you have a tech product—or an idea for one—that you believe will do meaningful work for kids, I can help you make it truly shine.
I provide expert consulting to:
Build or improve your product for high engagement and genuine learning
Apply child development expertise so your design matches kids' ages, stages, and capabilities
Engage parents effectively to increase buy-in and meaningful participation
Stand out in a crowded field where many products don't live up to their claims
You’ll gain: Product development insights that honors what kids actually need — not just what’s technically possible — plus strategies for brining parents along as partners.
This is for you if: You’re a mission-driven tech company committed to building something that genuinely serves kids’ well-being, not just capturing attention.