It’s easy to recognize that a child hiding behind a parent’s leg, trying to disappear from a friendly stranger’s questions, may be feeling shy and a little anxious at that moment. It’s also pretty widely acknowledged that certain scenarios like public speaking, starting a new school, or going away to camp may create a bit […]
In fits of frustration, an intense and upset child might exclaim, “I hate my life! I’m so stupid!” These kids sometimes hit themselves, destroy their work, and seem out of control. It can be really hard to listen to your child say terribly mean things to himself. It can be scary to think your child […]
The other day, I came home to find my 6 year old son flat on the kitchen floor, red faced, and cry-yelling, “I am so STUPID and I can’t do ANYTHING and NOTHING is working and we don’t even have any paper towels!!” A quick scan of the kitchen revealed a counter of spilled milk […]
Does your gifted child have trouble connecting with peers? Does your child have trouble working or playing with peers? Is he or she emotionally sensitive and more easily hurt by what peers say and do? Dr. Meghan Barlow explores the factors that interfere with the social relationships of gifted kids. She discusses such topics as […]
The books I have found to be among the most useful as both a child psychologist and a parent are a series of books by a developmental psychologist, Louise Bates Ames, and a pediatrician, Frances L. Ilg. Each book highlights the stages that typical children progress through fairly predictably. The authors are careful to remind […]
School aged children are encouraged (and sometimes required) to complete summer reading. Many bookstores, schools, restaurants, and even sports teams have developed incentive programs to keep kids reading during the summer. For kids who love to read, these programs are often just icing on the cake – a goal to be achieved. The reading would […]
It’s hard to understand how a 5 year old can feel stressed or why a teen can be so upset about the breakup of a month long relationship. Sometimes we wonder why it’s so hard for a teacher to understand that your child is trying to start his work, but he needs a few seconds […]
Bringing home a new baby can be a stressful time for all involved. Follow these tips for helping older siblings adjust and to set the stage for positive sibling relationships. Keep Routines As much as possible, keep the older sibling’s routines. New babies bring a level of unpredictability. You’re never exactly sure when they will […]
Many parents will tell me that it “really doesn’t matter” if their child is gifted or not. I get what they’re telling me – they love their child regardless of their child’s IQ score. But understanding what being gifted can mean really does matter. Understanding the social and emotional aspects of giftedness helps smooth out […]
October is Bullying Awareness month and schools around the country are talking to kids about how to not be a bully, what to do if you see bullying, and what to do if you are being bullied. The trouble is, sometimes kids confuse the message. They overgeneralize the term “bullying” to other types of behavior […]