Blog
Assessment Considerations
When it comes to an assessment for their child, parents are typically focused on “the diagnosis.” Largely supported by the medical model, this approach embodies a, “Yes, he has it,” or “No, he does not have it,” perspective. It is the belief held by many, that once...
“We’re Not Doctors…We Think You Should See a Neurologist”
Oliver, age 8, has difficulty behaving in his third grade class. They were told by the school, "We're not doctors, so we don't know why he's doing these things, but we think you should see a neurologist." The last statement is code language. Here's the translation -...
“Missed Opportunities for Practicing ‘The Skill of…'”
So much of a child’s world can be framed in an ongoing series of different skills. For example, some kids have the “skill of” saying hello and greeting someone they meet for the first time. Others may have the “skill of” manners in social interactions by saying...
“‘Hayden, Remember to Use Your Indoor Voice'”
Modern parents can make you nostalgic for bygone eras. There was a time when children went outside to play and basically did not see their mother for a solid 8 hours, except when she made them a nutritious bologna sandwich on white bread, which was wolfed down before...
“‘Spilling the Milk’ & ‘You Owe Me’ – Child Behavior in Two Acts”
Since my latest book, Beyond the Power Struggle: A Guide to Challenging Kids, was published some months ago, I have had some interesting interactions – a number of different interviews and parents contacting me about their kid’s behavior. A nice surprise was a small...
“So, What If I Have Dyslexia?” (#Dyslexia)
“So, what if I have dyslexia?” The question threw me a bit, especially since it was coming from a nine-year-old boy.” 99% of the time when I ask a child, even a teenager, whether they have any questions following an introductory session, they shake their head saying...
“Dyslexia is Not a Score”
A number of years ago, I had the good fortune to take part on a panel during a symposium on dyslexia sponsored by the grassroots parenting group, Decoding Dyslexia: NJ. Dr. Sally Shaywitz, the author of “Overcoming Dyslexia” was the keynote speaker. While talking...
“Gradations from the Middle” (#Dyslexia #ADHD #Other Stuff)
Parents commonly come in with common questions such as, “Does their child have ADHD?” or “Is my child dyslexic?” Difficulty with reading and attention occur on a continuum or a spectrum from below the mid-point of average (see bell-curve picture above), to more...
“Double Check Your Hypotheses & Theories” (#Child Behavior)
While meeting with parents to discuss the concerns they have regarding their children’s struggling, numerous hypotheses and theories are often offered as to why children do what they do. Typically, the theories are linked to medical explanations, in other words...
“The Power of Nonchalance” (#ADHD; #Executive Function Disorder)
Synonyms for “nonchalance:” apathy, complacence, indifference, unconcern, torpor Antonyms for “nonchalance:” concerned, interested, motivated A parent came to talk to me about her 14-year-old-son, Brett. Previously “diagnosed” with ADHD of the inattentive variety,...
My Interview with Documentary Film Director, Jamie Redford (#Dyslexia)
(***This blog is a revision of an earlier post.) Understanding dyslexia is challenging, primarily because of the deeply embedded mythologies that we hold. Chief among them is “the reversal thing.” To illustrate, try this experiment. With any friend or relative ask...