Ask the Child Psychologist
School Avoidance
by Lisa Medoff
February 23, 2009
Dear Dr. Medoff,
It is becoming more and more difficult to get my eleven-year-old son to school in the morning. He will hide under the covers or throw a tantrum, and he even threw up last week when I was trying to get him dressed. What can I do? From, K.
Dear K.,
You and your son are definitely not alone in your struggle about getting to school; most parents will agree that getting their children out of bed and out the door in the morning is not the most pleasant part ...
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Lisa Medoff, Ph.D holds a B.A. in psychology, a master's degree in school counseling, and a Ph.D. in child and adolescent development. Although she’s worked with all types of children, for the past eight years, she has worked with students with special needs, such as ADHD, learning disabilities, depression and anxiety. She has taught courses in psychology and child/adolescent development at Stanford University, Santa Clara University, San Jose State University, and DeAnza College. She currently works as a resilience consultant for the non-profit Cleo Eulau Center, helping teachers at a low-performing elementary school understand issues of connectedness, special needs, and cultural sensitivity in order to build resilience in their students.
Column Archive
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Popularity
by Lisa Medoff
December 8, 2008, 12:00 amI am worried about my niece because she seems to be very unpopular at school. What can I tell my sister to help her out? From, G.M. Read More
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Raising Respectful Children
by Lisa Medoff
December 3, 2008, 11:45 amDear Dr. Medoff, My mother commented that kids today are so much ruder than they were when I was young. I really want to raise my kids to be respectful of others. How can I do this? Read More
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Telling Others About a Diagnosis
by Lisa Medoff
November 24, 2008, 12:00 amDear Dr. Medoff, Our teenage son was recently diagnosed with ADHD and we decided to put him on medication. My husband, my son, and I all have different ideas about which people this information should be shared with. What is the right answer? Read More
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Teen Parenting: When To Ask For Help
by Lisa Medoff
November 17, 2008, 12:00 amOne of the most common questions that I hear from parents centers on what is considered developmentally normal behavior during adolescence and what behavior should be a cause for concern. All children have episodes that can be worrisome, and even scary, for parents. Read More
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Female Teen Depression
by Lisa Medoff
November 7, 2008, 6:40 pmDear Dr. Medoff, I have heard that teenage girls are more likely to get depressed than boys are. Why is this, and what can I do to try to prevent this problem in my daughter? Read More
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Media Monitoring
by Lisa Medoff
November 3, 2008, 12:00 amSome of my friends are very, very strict about the television and movies that they let their children watch. A few of them have made critical comments about my husband and I because we are more lenient with our kids, but we feel that our kids can handle what they are allowed to see in our house. Should we be stricter about it? Read More
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Disciplining Other People's Children
by Lisa Medoff
October 27, 2008, 12:00 amSome of the other neighborhood mothers and I take turns watching the kids for a few hours after school so everyone gets a bit of a break without having to pay for babysitters. Normally this arrangement works out really well, but I'm never sure how to handle it when the other kids misbehave. Read More
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Grammar Problems
by Lisa Medoff
October 20, 2008, 12:00 amDear Dr. Medoff, My sister-in-law told me that she thinks that my daughter (who is in 1st grade) is having problems with her grammar. My daughter is an only child, and I don't have a lot of experience with kids, so I don't know if my daughter is really having problems, or if the mix-ups she has are normal for her age. From, Terrie Read More
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Should My Teen Get A Job?
by Lisa Medoff
October 13, 2008, 12:00 amI would like my 16-year-old daughter to get a part-time job, but since the economy is so bad, the few jobs that are available for teens are so menial. She feels that she would be wasting her time and she wouldn't be making that much money anyway. Is this worth arguing about? From, K.E. Read More
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Spoil Check
by Lisa Medoff
October 6, 2008, 12:00 amNo parent wants to raise a child that's spoiled. All parents would like to know that their children are self-sufficient, polite, and appreciate what they have. However, it is difficult to avoid spoiling your children in a world where temptations (both for your child and for you) lurk everywhere you turn. Read More
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