Navigating the Neuropsych
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Alex, an eleven-year-old girl whose parents were wisely thinking ahead about a high school placement for her. In our conversation, mom and dad shared that Alex had become increasingly challenged by school. She spent hours on her homework, yet her grades were falling. Her teachers suggested a […]
When We Help Our Kids Too Much
When my daughter was in high school, her physics teacher lamented that while she was not afraid of the most complex physics problems, she was stymied by remembering to bring a pencil to class. Oh that darn pencil. I had heard that before. In an earlier English class, I had heard what a gifted and […]
Grit, Inspiration, & New Hampshire Boarding Schools
A Yankee Recipe For Success David Brooks recently wrote a column, “Putting Grit in its Place,” in which he references the current fascination with this formative four-letter word. He initially defines grit more in the negative as “the ability to trudge through long stretches of difficulty.” Parents often invoke this definition of grit to urge […]
Filling the Developmental Tool Kit When Your Child Hits the Wall
When your child’s capacity hits its limits: it’s time to withhold judgement & fill the developmental tool kit. “He just isn’t motivated.” “She is so obsessed with the social scene she can’t reach her academic potential.” “He used to be such a happy kid.” “She used to love learning.” These are the observations regularly shared […]
Click Deeper Into College Websites
Don’t all the smiling students and lush campuses splashed across college websites look the same? In truth, you’ve got to click deep into a site to discover distinguishing features. Think of the website more as a way to interact with a school than to size it up the way you once would with a shiny […]
The Role of the Post Graduate (PG) Year in Preparation for College
Not Just For Athletes Anymore I have worked with many PG students who have eventually declared the PG experience as essential to their growth and success. These students are young women and men, some student athletes, who have chosen to commence to another challenge before taking on the new world that is the college experience. […]
The Long-Awaited Lazy Days of Summer
What Those Sunny Days May Reveal & How to Use Them Wisely The long awaited days of summer! The promise of relaxation, fun, and a well deserved break from the grind of long school days, hours of homework, and the stresses of a tightly scheduled life…every kid’s dream! Yet for both parents and kids, summer […]