I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.
 -Georgia O'Keeffe Art is a natural, and indeed a universal means of communication, especially among children....

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for. -Georgia O'Keeffe Art is a natural, and indeed a universal means of communication, especially among children....

Homework requires disciplined attention and executive skills, which are often areas of weakness for children with ADHD. Because of this, homework battles often ensue. The best way to conquer homework and minimize battles is to establish consistent routines that become...

Homework requires disciplined attention and executive skills, which are often areas of weakness for children with ADHD. Because of this, homework battles often ensue. The best way to conquer homework and minimize battles is to establish consistent routines that become...

A consensus among child development specialists is that early identification of children with developmental and learning challenges is critical. Early intervention takes advantage of what is often referred to as brain plasticity or neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to...

For decades we have known that it was possible to change physiological function through biofeedback. Biofeedback involves measuring an aspect of physiological function (e.g. finger temperature), and presenting that information to the individual as a basis for training in improved...

In this article on Executive Functioning, Dr. Granetz defines executive functioning and discusses red flags that may help to determine if your child is struggling in this area. Several recommendations are highlighted that have been shown to be useful in...

Parents are important, but not in all the ways we think we are. We called our third child Annaelle, which in addition to being a pretty name, also means in Hebrew, "Please God." I often joke that we were actually...

Dinner needed to be ready soon. My son and I had just gotten home from a long day. Would he - a 2 1/2 year old at the time - be able to entertain himself - let alone keep himself...

Under normal circumstances, development is a complicated process that unfolds in early childhood in sometimes contradictory ways. For example, a typical six-year-old may be highly attuned to people's subtle changes in emotions, but only able to verbally describe people in...

"Caps, caps for sale!," you say with your best pitch-man voice. Your child is riveted and thus begins a wonderful interaction between you and your child - and some silly monkeys. The reading of Caps for Sale - and others...

Having your child join you when you are running errands, such as grocery shopping, can be a great opportunity for you to bond with and teach your child important skills. However, many parents report that having their child tag along...

Use your preschooler's Winter Break to spend some un-harried, fun time together in activities around the home. 1. Wake up early and enjoy the sounds and sights of early morning frost ("Baby Snow"). See if you can find any animal...

Choosing a preschool for a toddler is an exciting time for a family. Open houses are attended. Friends are queried for their preferences or experiences. Online research is conducted. Credentials are considered. Family schedules are reviewed to determine the right...

Your child watches you get up from the couch and go the kitchen toward the refrigerator. As you raise your hand to open the refrigerator door, your child says, "I want some juice". You didn’t say where you were going...

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is characterized by problems in language, communication, sociability, sensory modulation, cognitive awareness, and physical and behavioral function. Current estimates from the Centers for Disease Control are that autism spectrum disorder occurs in 1 out...

The Internet is arguably the greatest achievement of the 20th century. From it's humble beginnings as a tool for University scientists to communicate to the vast open data fields of the world wide web where almost any piece of information...

Family Compass offers Drama Therapy for small groups of children on Monday afternoons during the school year. Most children who come to Family Compass for Drama Therapy have experienced challenges in the interpersonal arena. The pleasure and mastery they achieve...

Everyday social situations are full of unspoken rules and tacit expectations. To thrive in the interpersonal realm, we have to read social cues. While some children intuitively grasp these subtleties, many find them bewildering and incomprehensible. Dramatic play is structured...

A richly dramatic story is irresistible to children (as well as adults!) Just consider the books, movies, games, and real life events that enrich and enliven your child's world. Now envision that your child could literally step into his most...

Starting Kindergarten is the beginning of an educational adventure. For some, it will be their first exposure to school. For others, it will initiate being in a whole new school environment. Transitions to new school experiences are opportunities for excitement...

"The single best childhood predictor of adult adaptation is not school grades and not classroom behavior, but rather, the adequacy with which the child gets along with other children" (Hartup, W 1992). Social competence is a broad term that describes...

Children with ADHD can experience varying degrees of social challenges that may interfere with friendship development and a positive sense of self. An impulsive child might grab toys, have difficulty waiting his/her turn, or overreact to peer conflict in ways...

Parents are often told they are their child's first and most important teacher. As true as this is, parenting is full of challenges, and when children don't seem to be meeting typical developmental milestones, parents may feel they are not...

Social Communication... Pragmatics... you may have heard these terms before but what do they really mean? What are the challenges for children with pragmatic language deficits? What can you do to support your child and help improve his/her social communication?...

Recent research highlights the significant effect engaging children in conversation has on their language development (July 2009 issue of Pediatrics). While it was once thought that children mostly needed to be provided with language input, i.e., reading, story telling and...

Child: "Look at that tat mommy!" Mom: "Tat?" Child: "No, tat!" Mom: "Cat?" Child: "Yeah, tat!" Mom: "Yes, what a nice cat!" Speech development is a complex process involving a child's mental representation of a language's sound system (phonological development),...