Iā€™m Fine, Thank You Very Much!

ā€œMy daughter is so sassy! I try to help her make friends, but she will not take my advice.ā€ Many parents of tweens and teens with ADHD struggle as they watch their child ignore overtures of friendship, cling to friends who donā€™t treat them well, or ignore advice and make mistakes that ultimately leave them…

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The Imagine Neighborhood, Where Children (and Adults) Learn About Feelings

Joyce Cooper-Kahn, PhD, interviews Scotty Iseri and Sherri Widen, PhD Imagination and pretend play have long been considered a foundation for the development of behavioral and emotional regulationā€”see, for example, the work of psychologists Dorothy and Jerome Singer. Both the process of imagining and the specific rehearsal of situations that are part of pretend play…

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Teach Your Child to Read the Room

WEā€™VE ALL SEEN SIGNS OF A CHILD who doesnā€™t quite know how to follow the unwritten rules of proper etiquette. The child with ADHD who barges into someoneā€™s house and sits on the couch in a wet bathing suit. The teenager who tries to get the attention of his teacher while she is hurriedly packing…

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Camp Can Be a Place to Thrive

For many parents whose children have ADHD or are twice-exceptional, summer marks the end of a school year rife with organizational, social, and academic challenges. From homework hassles to organizational black holes and home/school communications, a high level of frustration can develop in both parents and children. Research-informed summer camps provide an opportunity for children…

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Help! My Child Only Has Virtual Friends

From Cajoling to Collaborationā€“Learn How to Help Your Child Develop True Friendships IF YOU HAVE KIDS WHO ENGAGE WITH OTHERS on any social media or gaming platform, you’ve said it before: “Those people are not real! They are not your friends. You don’t even really know who they are! Why do you spend so much…

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The Challenging Horizons Program and School Success

THE CHALLENGING HORIZONS PROGRAM is a school-based treatment model for middle- and high-school students with ADHD. The CHP specifically targets the social and academic challenges many of these students experience. Students participating in the CHP meet with staff several times during the school week and learn organization skills, study strategies, and social behaviors. Unlike some…

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Was Grandma Right About Manners?

“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” “Wait your turn.” “Say please and thank you.” WE TRY TO TEACH OUR KIDS good manners so that they can navigate social situations smoothly. As with everything else, some kids pick them up easily, while others struggle. Children with ADHD usually understand what good manners are and probably get…

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Helping Them Soar: WINGS for Kids

IMAGINE A SAFE PLACE to call home after school, a place where children in kindergarten through fifth grade can play games, have fun, make new friends, and learn social and emotional skills intended to last a lifetime. Now imagine this safe and fun place being reserved especially for low-income children who in most instances would…

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Left Out: How Teachers Can Help Change a Student’s Negative Reputation

MANY CHILDREN WITH ADHD ARE SOCIALLY EXCLUDED by their classmates at school. Other students are reluctant to work with them. At recess, peers say that children with ADHD can’t play. These experiences can be painful and make school an unpleasant place. For this reason, it’s important to help children with ADHD to develop better relationships…

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