Happy Halloween

Very soon, a lot of kiddos will visit your door. Please be open minded. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills or may be hungry. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues or a cognitiveContinue reading “Happy Halloween”

How Childhood Trauma Could Be Mistaken for ADHD

Some experts say the normal effects of severe adversity may be misdiagnosed as ADHD. Inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behavior may mirror the effects of adversity, and many doctors don’t know how—or don’t have time—to tell the difference. When speaking to traumatized children inappropriately diagnosed with ADHD, Dr. Heather Forkey, a pediatrician at University of Massachusetts MemorialContinue reading “How Childhood Trauma Could Be Mistaken for ADHD”

Lifelong Impacts of Childhood Trauma

Big Think and the Mental Health Channel are proud to launch Big Thinkers on Mental Health, a new series dedicated to open discussion of anxiety, depression, and the many other psychological disorders that affect millions worldwide. The Adverse Childhood Study found that survivors of childhood trauma are up to 5000% more likely to attempt suicide,Continue reading “Lifelong Impacts of Childhood Trauma”

Handling Bullies: 3 Nevers

This 1987 commercial with the tag line “Never let them see you sweat” is cool advice in general – but especially when dealing with a bully. Below is the original commercial and here’s how you can change the words to make it fit bullying:

Help kids learn empathy

Empathy — the ability to understand and share the feelings of another — is something that experts say can be enhanced, learned, and practiced.  Could a generation of children raised to be empathic change the world? Imagine… no hunger, homelessness, or war. Imagine schools with no bullying. How do you foster an empathic environment atContinue reading “Help kids learn empathy”