What are executive functioning skills? Executive function refers to a cognitive process that helps with planning, initiation of tasks, organizing, managing time, problem solving, and self-regulation. Many adults and teens with ADHD have difficulty with executive dysfunction. This translates into weak prioritization skills, time blindness, and an inability to orchestrate concurrent tasks. Chores that Develop Executive Functioning …
When a parent asks me how to get their kids to organize and maintain their bedrooms, I always lob this question right back at them: Is your child’s bedroom set up to make it easy for them to create and maintain an organizing system? And if they can’t answer that? It’s time to go on a tour of …
Q: “How Can I Tackle ‘The Great Bedroom Clean-Up’ with My Teen?” Read More »
The Positive Effects of Journaling For over 30 years, researchers have been studying the effects of journaling. In most studies, participants are asked to take 15 to 30 minutes to write about an emotionally challenging, even traumatic incident in their lives. Typically, they are asked to do this once a day for three to five …
For some children , boredom can feel uncomfortable and result in feeling anxious. Boredom is disengagement, and disengagement from your environment feels vulnerable and dysregulating. Chronic boredom can even lead to depression and anxiety. Chronic boredom, however, is very different from the initial, superficial level of boredom experienced when standing in line or waiting …
The Nurtured Heart Approach’ gives parents and teachers an absolutely clear understanding of how a challenging child really responds to normal ways of parenting and why traditional methods actually make the situation worse. It also provides a powerful set of strategies designed specifically to turn the challenging child around to a new pattern of success. …
Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach Read More »
Kids in the Syndrome Mix is a concise, scientifically up-to-date, all-in-one guide to the whole range of often co-existing neuro-behavioral disorders in children-from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder, to autistic spectrum disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities, sensory integration problems, and executive dysfunction. Dr. Kutscher provides accessible information on causes, symptoms, interactions …
Most kids know something about death. They’ve seen it on TV shows. But it’s very different when it happens to someone close to them. Parents can’t take kids’ pain away, but they can help them cope in healthy ways. The way kids respond to death is different from adults. They may go from crying to …
There comes a time when every person must learn how to swallow medication or vitamins. Medications, vitamins, and supplements can be crucial when helping those with developmental and/or emotional disabilities. The task of swallowing a pill can feel incredibly daunting to a person, especially a child and even some teens. A child may not understand how to swallow …
Why routines matter Research shows that routines support healthy social emotional development in early childhood. In particular, children with regular routines at home have self-regulation skills, the building blocks of good mental health. When children learn to regulate feelings and behaviors, it means they are able to identify their feelings and have skills to manage …
