Takeaway: Meditation can help change the baseline state of your adolescent’s mind – gradually making her a calmer, less anxious version of herself. The trick is to start small (3 minutes a day, at first) and find a meditation style that suits her personality and needs. Read More
Takeaway: Children with auditory processing disorder (APD) have brain differences that give them specific characteristics. But these characteristics sometimes overlap with those of children with hearing issues, language disorders, dyslexia, anxiety disorders, and ADHD. So, you’ll need a specialist to help diagnose your child’s APD and design the right support plan. Read More
Takeaway: ADHD makes it harder for children to focus on homework assignments. But there’s a solution: Develop the right study routine. This means (1) Identifying your child’s unique challenges, (2) Helping her settle down to work, (3) Identifying fun study strategies to explore, (4) Working with – not against – her ADHD traits, and (5) Using the right organisation tools. Read More
Takeaway: It’s often hard to spot executive-function difficulties in primary-age children, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. And unless we diagnose and address them early, they become much harder to deal with later. So, by learning to recognise a few of the basic red flags, you’ll know when to bring your child in for a more thorough assessment. Read More
Takeaway: We usually think of ADHD in terms of all the troublesome behaviour it can trigger. But there’s depth to the ADHD mind that researchers are only now discovering. Because, rather than stopping adolescents from learning, ADHD simply gives them a different set of needs. So, as parents and facilitators, our job is to recognise and help meet these needs. Read More
Takeaway: Neurodivergent children are those who think, feel, or behave differently from their classmates. And rather than seeing these differences as disorders that need to be cured, we should see them as natural brain diversity (i.e., neurodiversity) with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. So, we’re not trying to ‘fix’ a ‘problem’ anymore. Instead, we embrace and develop valuable aspects of a child’s rich, complex mind and personality. Read More
Takeaway: Dyspraxia makes every little task much harder. And this can leave your child feeling upset, frustrated, and demoralised about seeming so ‘limited.’ But you can help by showing her how to work around her difficulties and develop a growth mindset. Read More
Takeaway: Dyslexia and dyscalculia are separate learning differences, but they have common roots in the brain. So, while dyslexia affects reading skills and dyscalculia affects maths skills, they often overlap. And they both can chip away at your child’s self-confidence if left unchecked. The solution? Teach your child how to adapt to her new learning needs. Read More
Takeaway: Sleep-deprived children tend to be more anxious, while anxious children are often sleep-deprived. And this gets magnified in children with autism and/or ADHD. If regular sleep schedules and relaxation techniques aren’t helping, consider contacting a specialist for guidance. Read More
Takeaway: Adolescents boys and girls have trouble with ADHD, but find different ways of dealing with their challenges. For example, if a boy gets bored in class, he’s likely to become disruptive, while a girl might simply start daydreaming. So, a girl’s desire to fit in and stay out of trouble means her ADHD is more likely to go undiagnosed. The solution? Consult a specialist if you notice your daughter having problems at school or in her social life. Read More