Your teen has struggled with friendships over the years, but now the social isolation seems even worse. You watch him sulk around the house because there’s no one to hang out with, confide in, share secrets with, or laugh with. Watching your teen on the periphery, trailing behind other kids during social gatherings can be …
How to Help a Teen Who Has Few (To No Friends) Now That School is in Full Swing Read More »
At some point, all kids will resist something. Whether the child is seven or seventeen, they may refuse to finish their math assignment, shovel the walk or wear the dress Aunt Nancy gave them for their birthday. As a parent, this opposition may not only be perplexing, but also frustrating. When Your Child Resists, Remember …
Raising “Can Do” Kids – 11 Ways to Help When They Resist Trying Read More »
I am a mission… “No, not again!” I can hear some of you saying. LOL! Well, yes, I am and it’s a mission of connection. In an effort to bring more connection into all our lives, I have involved my family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and strangers in this project, and they have no idea! Why …
By, Caroline Maguire, M.Ed This article first appeared in the 2022 issue of Parents League Review – Essential Articles on Parenting and Education © 2022 Parents League of New York www.parentsleague.org. Moving from Social Distancing to Social-Emotional Learning As parents, we helped our children with remote learning, remote homework, and remote playdates during the pandemic. …
Social Skills: How to Detect Gaps & Build Proficiency in Children of All Ages Read More »
When trying to figuring out how to make friends as a teenager or join a group, more often than not, teens experience genuine social anxiety and fear. Some teens have a long history of rejection and social anxiety. They may feel awkward and not confident in their own skin. As they approach friendships and relationships, …
How To Make Friends as a Teenager When You’re Shy & Insecure Read More »
What is the “Distancer and Pursuer Dynamic?” This dynamic, from the work of Dr. John Gottman, Julie Gottman and Terry Gaspard, affects all of one’s relationships over a lifespan. In this post, we address specifically the impact on family relationships when a child or partner has ADHD. How Do John and Julie Gottman Explain this …
One way you can identify your child’s lagging skills is by asking yourself the following question: “What is getting in the way of my child’s success?” Start by trying to figure out what the overall reasons are for your child’s inconsistency. Some kids freak out about timed events or tests. Some can’t handle peer pressure. Some don’t understand social boundaries. Some don’t know what to do when they make a mistake, and they fall apart and blow the rest of the race, recital, test, etc.
I had seen this phenomenon work for some of my other ADHD clients as well. White noise helped them focus when nothing else worked. When I was prepping to talk about this subject on Attention Talk Radio, my co-host, Jeff Copper, said, “Oh yeah. That works for me too. I call it the white noise experience.” Now, I use Copper’s term to describe this tool I have used with my kids consistently over the last decade.
People are having a lot of conversation about the bullying epidemic on social media and coffee shops these days. On the other hand, many parents are washing their hands of the problem, as if to say, “I see it going on around me, but it’s not happening in my house”.
Avoidance is a sign. Not a sign that the child does not care. Or a sign that he lacks motivation, is resistant, or is just uninterested in having friends, but a sign that he does not know how to break down the barriers so he can participate, or “join in”. Without a roadmap or help with his social plan, children and teenagers often shut down.
