Grade School

The Plight Of Child Homelessness In The United States

This is the first blog post of a series in collaboration with the Lesley University Child Homelessness Initiative (CHI). For more information about the CHI curriculum, and the ways in which it seeks to empower the next generation of teachers and caregivers to understand and advocate for homeless children, visit their website.

How To Talk To Your Kids About Internet Pornography

When I was in medical school, there was this show called Beavis and Butthead.

Beavis and Butthead (as their names suggest) were two exaggerated versions of typical early adolescent boys who snickered at words with even a hint of sexual connotation.  It was fashionable when the show was on to imitate their raspy laughter.

How to Talk With Your Kids About the Ferguson Unrest

On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African-American man, was shot to death by on-duty police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri.  The case immediately drew national and even international attention.

Just after the shooting, many commentators sought to view the tragedy as part of a larger narrative. The U.K.

Send Our Politicians To The Principal’s Office

“They’re rude.”

That’s what my daughter’s friend said to me last week as she glanced over my shoulder at the newspaper. On the cover was a photo of Mitch McConnell, newly victorious in his quest for re-election, and by virtue of his victory, the Senate majority leader.

I looked up at my daughter’s friend.

Conquering Test Anxiety

Jenny thought she was prepared for her tenth grade AP Physics exam. She hadn’t missed a single class, consistently participated in group discussions, completed all her homework and was diligent about studying. Her confidence about her preparation was fairly good—until she walked into the classroom.

Making The Most Of Your Parent-Teacher Conference

Yep, it’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again.  Though it seems as if the school year has just started, you’ll soon receive an email or a notice from your child’s teacher asking you to sign up for the fall parent-teacher conferences.

The Role Of Temperament

Intro music written and performed by Dr. Gene Beresin.Outro music arranged and performed by Dr. Gene Beresin.

We have all had the experience of either knowing or parenting siblings that seem quite different from one another—in appearance, skills, talents, opinions and personalities.

Summer Reading With Your Kids

When does summer begin for most kids?

It begins about two weeks before the bell rings on that last day of school.  Whatever kids have planned for the summer, you can bet they’re already thinking of these plans well before they are officially granted their academic freedom.

Why It’s OK To Be Unplugged At Summer Camp

Camp provides time to be in nature and to practice living away from family. And, other than time spent asleep, camp is one of the few extended periods of time when kids will be away from their screens and devices. To better understand why it’s hard to unplug for summer camp, we interviewed Michael Thompson, Ph.D.

Surviving Summer Camp

Summer is here, and if you’ve decided to send your child to summer camp, you may be experiencing a range of emotions and wondering how best to make this a good experience for your little one.  It’s perfectly normal for first-time campers—and their parents—to experience some anxiety as camp gets closer and closer.