Blog
“The Continuum of Normality”
In my files, I came upon an article I’ve kept for a few years, called, “The Real Reason Everyone Seems to Have ADHD These Days,” by Ralph Lewis, M.D.. Here are a few choice quotes from the article: … Part of the confusion stems from how ADHD is described and...
“Beyond the Power Struggle: A Guide for Parents of Challenging Kids”
Exciting News!!!!! Over the next few weeks, my latest book, "Beyond the Power Struggle: A Guide For Parents of Challenging Kids" is scheduled to be released. If you are a beleaguered parent or know a beleaguered parent, you might want to get a copy. Here's a link to...
“Beyond the Power Struggle” (Structure & Leverage)
As noted in the previous blog, with children showing challenging behaviors causing you tremendous stress, you were encouraged to adopt a mantra helping you remain in your center, as you speak one “Didja” (e.g., “Didja you do your homework?”) after another. The mantra...
“They Need Structure…I Need Leverage”
Following up on last week’s Selznick Poll discussion on what percentage of boys show signs of “executive function” deficits (click here: See "A Hypothetical Poll") ,let’s emphasize some points: • Using a bell-shape curve perspective, if about 85% of the boys in the...
“A Hypothetical Poll”
Let’s take a random group of 100 boys, roughly between ages 10 – 14. You know nothing about them, but their moms are asked a simple poll question: On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the most negative) how would you rank your son on his taking initiative, organizing...
“‘Come on, Doc. Tell It to me Straight'” (#Assessment)
Whenever I do an assessment I know that in many ways I am swimming against the tide in my approach and perspective. Hopelessly mired in identifying the the “soup-pot” of variables interacting, I rarely see things as one way or another. Parents are typically focused on...
Family Matters #Dyslexia Talk – (Link to the Talk)
I recently had the honor of presenting an overview of dyslexia, shut-down learner and executive functioning to Family Matters: Parent Training and Information Center. Based in Illinois, they have great workshops and material on their site and I would encourage you...
Follow-Up to “ADHD? Perhaps”
In last week’s post we noted that there were many factors that can lead to erroneously hypothesizing that a child has ADHD/ADD. https://shutdownlearner.com/adhd-perhaps/ There were a number of comments posted. Dr. M., a developmental pediatrician, reminded us to...
ADHD? Perhaps.
Practically every week I hear an array of concerns regarding distractibility and inattentiveness. There's always the question of, "Does my child have ADHD/ADD" lurking. While talking to parents I try and broaden the narrative, reviewing other factors that may be...
Fillin’ the Cracks
Anxiety over your child’s school-based problems can start very early. A mom recently contacted me after reading The Shut-Down Learner. “My son is drowning in school. Do you think he could be a shut-down learner?” After asking a few more questions, I was struck by the...
Sharks & Minnows – Part II
Last week we talked about the law of the playground (and the jungle), that in spite of well meaning attempts to extinguish the phenomenon of “sharks” picking on the "minnows,” the law of the playground persists (Sharks & Minnows (Part I). Picking up on the...