2009 October | Meanager

“Why Is Everyone Always Mad at Me?” Why Misreading Social Cues Leads to Acting Out Behavior

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Does your child often perceive himself as being right when he’s wrong and wrong when he’s right? Some children have a hard time picking up on other people’s expressions, body language or social cues. These kids are often prone to thinking they’re being disapproved of or disliked when they’re not.

Understand that reading social situations is [...]

Running Away Part II: “Mom, I Want to Come Home.” When Your Child is on the Streets

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

In part two of this series on running away, James tells you how to handle it when your child is on the streets, and what to say when they come home—including giving them consequences for their actions.
For kids, running away is like taking a long, dangerous timeout. They may use it to avoid some difficulty [...]

Running Away Part I: Why Kids Do It and How to Stop Them

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare—you go to check on your child in the middle of the night, and she’s not there. Your heart starts pounding and you fly into panic mode, calling her friends, your relatives, and the police.
Whether or not your child has run away or threatened to do so—or you fear that she [...]

Under the Radar: How Girls with ADHD Go Undetected And Why the Correct Diagnosis is Important for Girls and Boys Alike

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

“I never suspected my nine-year-old daughter’s inability to concentrate was due to ADHD,” said Diane, the mother of three girls. “She isn’t ‘hyper’ or noisy—in fact, just the opposite. Kayla is the middle child—she’s quiet and tends to daydream a lot. We were frustrated because she couldn’t ever seem to concentrate or get her schoolwork [...]

Out of Control Behavior: Should I Medicate My Child?

Monday, October 19th, 2009

The recent death of a four-year-old Massachusetts girl from an overdose of medications for ADHD and bipolar disorder has brought the issue of medicating children for behavior problems to the forefront of public consciousness. While this sad case shows the extreme end of the issue, it reminds us of the fork in the road many [...]