Just when most kids have started the new school year—or are about to—parents and educators are left with the grim...Read more The post Talking to Your Children About Violence first appeared on Smart Kids.| Smart Kids
Looking back on my freshman year at college, one of the things I did not anticipate was how much effort...Read more The post Making Friends in College: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone first appeared on Smart Kids.| Smart Kids
Starting a new school year is often challenging for kids with LD, but when the new year coincides with the...Read more The post Is Your Child Making the Move to High School? first appeared on Smart Kids.| Smart Kids
Some years your child will have a teacher who is a perfect match for his or her learning needs. Other years, the match might not be as good. As a parent, your job is to forge a positive working relationship with every teacher your child has. This encourages teachers and school administrators to recognize and| Smart Kids -
As your child’s primary advocate, it’s your job to help guide the IEP process. One way to do that is to use questions to gather information and prompt meaningful discussions. But the answers you get often depend on the questions you ask. Below are basic guidelines to help you hone the art of asking questions.| Smart Kids -
Developing collaborative, non-adversarial, mutually respectful relationships with your child’s teachers is fundamental to her success in school. But oftentimes that’s easier said than done. Following are some tried and true strategies to help you establish a parent-teacher relationship that will ensure her success throughout the year. Be proactive Request a get-to-know-each-other meeting. The school year| Smart Kids -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted by the federal government to ensure that all children with disabilities are provided with “equality of [educational] opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.” Originally adopted in 1975 and amended in 2004, the IDEA aims to curb educational problems associated with low expectations and insufficient| Smart Kids -
When it comes to learning disabilities, knowing your child is half the battle—the other half is knowing how to get what your child needs from her school system. Here are some strategies to help you navigate the system. Know the law The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is federal legislation that clarifies how certain| Smart Kids -
If you feel as if nothing you do helps your child with ADHD manage their emotions and behaviors, take a...Read more The post Calm Parenting Reduces ADHD Behaviors first appeared on Smart Kids.| Smart Kids
Make the most of the last weeks of summer break to ensure that the new school year starts strong. www.smartkidswithld.org| Smart Kids
As we’ve blogged about in the past, teen drivers with ADHD are a risk on the road. Studies have found...Read more The post Cell Phones: Not the Only Problem for Teen Drivers first appeared on Smart Kids.| Smart Kids
Let reading for pleasure this summer help sharpen your child’s literacy skills while encouraging their love of reading. www.smartkidswithld.org| Smart Kids
Local school districts already feel the impact of the Trump administration’s changes to public education. www.smartkidswithld.org| Smart Kids
By Matt Saleh, J.D., Ph.D. A whirlwind of federal legal activity has left parents uncertain and concerned about their children’s...Read more The post Trump’s Budget: What Parents Need to Know first appeared on Smart Kids.| Smart Kids
If your child is not getting enough sleep, they are not alone. National- and state-level data from the Youth Risk...Read more The post Tips To Help Your Teen Sleep Better first appeared on Smart Kids.| Smart Kids
With only so many hours in a day, too much screen time can inhibit the essential face-to-face time your child needs to develop the social/emotional competence necessary to navigate successfully at school, at home, and in the community. Why is this important? With enhanced social/emotional competence comes improved self-esteem, self-confidence, patience, persistence, empathy, conflict resolution,| Smart Kids -
By Marcia Eckerd, Ph.D According to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, 64% of babies ages one to two watch TV and/or videos for slightly more than two hours daily, and preschoolers use media on average 2.2 hours to 4.6 hours a day. Citing the lack of evidence that screen time provides educational benefits to| Smart Kids
For students with LD who are starting college this fall, preparing ahead will help ensure a smooth transition. Following are...Read more The post Summer To-Do List for College Freshmen first appeared on Smart Kids.| Smart Kids
Common-sense strategies to manage screen time when your kids are home for the summer.www.smartkidswithld.org| Smart Kids
Summer school doesn’t have to be drudgery. Options include local or residential programs, week-long to summer-long sessions, full-time academic forays, or academic/recreational combinations. To determine if an academic curriculum will enhance your child’s summer vacation, ask yourself the following questions: Does my child enjoy academic, social, and behavioral success? Adolescents who thrive in academia, and find| Smart Kids
The rights of your child with LD are at risk as the Trump Administration orders the closing of the Department of Education. www.smartkidswithld.org| Smart Kids
Difficulties in learning math seldom lead to referrals for learning disabilities evaluation, despite being specified in both federal and state LD definitions. School systems provide assessment and special services mostly on the basis of difficulties learning to read (dyslexia). So perhaps math difficulties are uncommon, not particularly serious, or maybe they don’t impact adult functioning| Smart Kids -
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability that impacts the ability to perform and make sense of mathematics. A life-long developmental disorder present from birth, dyscalculia is much more than a dislike of math: it is a difference in how the brain processes math. While many children may find math demanding or boring, for those with| Smart Kids -
By Jo Ann Freiberg, Ph.D. with Eve Kessler, Esq. With a new school year comes this important reminder that school bullying is a significant and pervasive problem in the United States, affecting at least 20% of students, with over one-third of those cases involving kids with learning and other disabilities. For children that are vulnerable| Smart Kids
