If you are an educator and you see that a child is constantly alone at recess or lunch, call a meeting, come up with a plan, do something to help that child. Research supports the notion that there are strategies we can use to help a child not be alone at recess, such as more structured play time, incorporating more …
Tips to Help Your Child Build Courage: An Important Life Skill
Being courageous and taking on a challenge are critical skills for a successful and fulfilled life.
Cyberbullying – Information & Prevention Tips for Parents & Teachers
Bullies and meanies have been around since forever. If you were young before the internet came about, you know that most bullying happened in person. Bullies tormented other kids during recess, at the bus stop, in the hallway, or cafeteria. However, the bullying generally stopped once a child got home. The house was a safe place and a haven that …
3 Therapeutic Benefits of Beading for Children
The art of beading is about so much more than creating beautiful pieces of jewelry or home décor. In addition to being an enjoyable hobby that is appropriate for people of all ages, beading has therapeutic benefits. Bead therapy is used in hospitals, clinics and other settings to help both kids and adults in numerous ways. While crafts like beading …
Info About ADHD and Tips to Manage Symptoms in Children and Adolscents
You’ve likely heard of ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. If you’re the parent of a school-aged child, it’s worth learning more about. ADHD is so common that if your child doesn’t have it, they will have a friend or classmate who does. ADHD can make it difficult for a child to control their impulses. They also may be fidgety, …
Top 10 Discipline Tips for Kids with Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Raising a child with oppositional defiant disorder can be extremely frustrating because you feel like everything is a constant battle. You just want your child to do his homework, pick up his toys, get dressed for school, etc. and you are constantly faced with refusal. Version en EspañolAs a behavior specialist and school psychologist I have had many parents and …
How Do Positive Role Models Affect Our Youth and Communities?
Research findings indicate that adolescents who can identify a positive role model in their lives have higher grades and self-esteem than those who can’t, particularly when the youth knows their role model on a personal level. Positive role models are also shown to decrease a youth’s potential for risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, sexual intercourse, and violence. …
10 Great Books to Teach Social Skills to Children
best social skills books for kids
3 Research-Based Programs That Improve Social-Emotional Skills in School-Aged Children
As a school psychologist, I have often heard teachers and parents express concerns about students’ abilities in the area of social skills, emotional regulation, and self-control. I am often given the task of making recommendations to support these students’ needs. Upon researching the topic, I came across three research-based programs that aim to help children improve these kinds of social-emotional …
Does Increasing Physical Activity in School Lead to Improvements in Academic Achievement and Behavior?
Recently, one of our readers asked about the effects of physical activity on academic performance. Here is what the research says… The American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) analyzed 26 individual studies in December 2017, which all examined the impact of physical activity on academic performance and/or classroom behavior. Results indicated that if schools increase students’ physical activity, they can significantly …