News You Can Use

from

Melissa Sornik, LCSW PLLC,

A Family-Centered Practice Supporting Gifted and 2e Children 

How to Sharpen Executive Functions: Activities to Hone Brain Skills

Executive functioning skills range from working memory to cognitive flexibility to inhibitory control, and beyond. They power our daily functioning, future planning, and mental/physical health. Here, learn how to improve core EFs through recommended activities, exercises, and games. Read the full article at ADDitude.

Yet Another Childcare Crisis

Childcare in America, in general, is a patchwork system that families are left to navigate on their own. Costs are frequently too high, providers are paid too little, and some regions are essentially childcare deserts without sufficient quality options. But for parents with neurodivergent kids—kids who have what are referred to as “invisible disorders,'' such as ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or defiant behavioral disorders—the options are even fewer, leaving parents to put their children in whatever program they can find. At most facilities, staff aren't trained to care for children with specialized needs. Where they are, tuition can be exorbitantly expensive (rates vary widely, but can cost tens of thousands of dollars annually). Even centers that claim to care for neurodivergent kids aren't a sure thing, often calling parents when issues of violence or self-harm arise. Read the full article at Marie Claire.

Why Screens Mesmerize Our Teens — and How to Break the Trance

Their loot boxes and Snapstreaks are designed to hook us. For some, the draw of video games and social media is so strong it can fuel problematic, disordered behaviors. Here, understand digital addiction and how to help teens with ADHD develop healthy behaviors around screen use. Read more about this at ADDitude.

How to Avoid Passing Anxiety on to Your Kids

Discover the impact of parental anxiety on children and effective strategies for managing stress with mindfulness techniques in this insightful video. Learn how to avoid transmitting anxiety to your kids by managing your stress effectively and setting boundaries. By modeling stress tolerance, engaging in open conversations, and planning ahead for stressful situations, you can create a calmer environment and support your child's emotional well-being. Watch this 8-minute video from Child Mind Institute.

The Link Between Autism and Gender Diversity

In January of 2023, research published in the Journal of Autism released the latest evidence in a question that scientists have spent more than a decade trying to empirically prove: Is gender diversity (also known as gender divergence, or gender body incongruence) overrepresented in autistic youth? Read more about this in Psychology Today.

The Parents’ Guide to Dismantling Oppositional, Defiant Behavior

Defiance is rarely improved by assertive requests or vague and shifting ground rules. Here, learn about the parenting strategies that may unintentionally exacerbate a teen’s symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder or pathological demand avoidance — and what to do instead. Read the full article at ADDitude.

We hope you found these articles thought-provoking. If you have an article you think our community would find interesting, please forward it to us and we will review it. Maybe we will include it next time!