Social Media and Teenagers
Whether we like it or not, technology is an ever present force in an adolescent’s life. Probably accompanying this technology is involvement in social media. Social media is used for a variety of reasons, from reconnecting with old friends, finding new friends, sharing information, or receiving feedback. For teenagers and young adults in particular, social […]
Updates in Autism Research
When exploring prevalence and frequency of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of the reasons cited for the increase in diagnoses comes from our advances in research and understanding of autism. We are seeing more ASD now, because we know more, and some of the historical mysteries surrounding behavior, relationships, and communication are better explained by […]
External vs Internal Motivation
Parents and teachers often want to know how to increase motivation in students. While we know how important motivation can be with initiation of tasks, maintaining focus and follow through, and putting in effort for quality work, the actual act of increasing motivation can be elusive. Parents may resort to bribery and negotiation, such as […]
Parents Just Don’t Understand: The Teenage Years
To say that the teenage years of raising children can be challenging would be an understatement. Even with all of the technology available to make communication easier, you may be wondering, “Why doesn’t my teenager want to talk to me? Why does my teenager stay in their room or only talk to their friends?” You’ll […]
Strategies That Help Kids With ADHD
According to the latest statistics (from 2016) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that 9.4% of children have received a diagnosis of ADHD. The acronym, which stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, includes three sub-types: the inattentive type (known as ADD, for Attention Deficit Disorder, until 1987), the hyperactive-impulsive type, and […]
How To Help Kids Deal With Bullying
Bullying continues to be a major factor in schools and child environments. While policy makers, schools, and parents have increased efforts to prevent bullying and respond quickly, the increase in technology and the ever present power dynamics and hierarchies that exist within social structures means that bullying will continue to be a factor for children’s […]
When Should Parents Get Involved With School?
0Being a parent is a constant tight rope balance between support and enabling. The goal is to eventually launch children into the world as productive and independent as they possibly can be – with all of the help and scaffolding they might need along the way. It can be challenging along the way to know […]
Gender Differences Within Autism
Any conversation about autism and the prevalence rates is incomplete without also mentioning the gender differences that occur across the spectrum. An understanding of the gender differences helps capture the traits and symptoms present in ASD in a more nuanced manner, and makes sure that we don’t miss the particularly subtle presentation that many females […]
What Happens When A Child Hears ‘No’
Nothing changes a happy parenting scene as quickly as a child in the throes of a meltdown. Often the trigger for that public display of emotion? When the child hears “no” or is prevented access from something they want. Yet hearing “no” and learning about boundaries is a critical part of parenting and a necessity […]
Parenting In The Era of Screen Time
You may have heard some of the alarming news related to research that links screen time and media usage with anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. This analysis was done as a part of a larger, longitudinal study that will follow more than 11,000 children as they grow up around screens – an unparalleled […]