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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Helping Children In Your Community
May 19, 2008, 12:00 am
Gabrielle posted a question asking how she could help kids in her community and requested information about how to get started. Helping children is incredibly rewarding, but it can seem overwhelming when you have a general desire to improve things in your neighborhood, but do not know where to start. Read More
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Sibling Competition
May 12, 2008, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, My two boys are fourteen months apart, and they are very competitive with each other, in everything they do. I worry sometimes that their rivalry gets too nasty and will seriously damage their relationship. It's also not too pleasant for others to be around. What can I do to make their relationship better? Read More
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When To Separate Twins
May 5, 2008, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, Our identical twins are in the same kindergarten class, and the school has asked for our opinion about whether we want them to be in the same class next year. What would be the best thing for them? Read More
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Seasonal Affective Disorder
April 28, 2008, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, My husband got transferred, and we are moving from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest. A friend of mine told me that I should beware of seasonal affective disorder. I have heard of it, but donât really know what that means. Should I be concerned about moving my children? Read More
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Trouble Sleeping
April 21, 2008, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, We have been having a lot of difficulty with our ten-year-old son lately concerning bedtime. He has trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Then he is so difficult to wake up in the morning, and is often cranky throughout the day. Read More
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Being Assertive
April 14, 2008, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, I heard the mother of my daughterâs friend mention that she is trying to teach her daughter to be assertive. I would like to do this for my daughter as well, since I have always been on the shy side, and I donât want to pass this problem on to my daughter Read More
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Finding A Therapist
April 7, 2008, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, My 12-year-old daughter is having a very tough time dealing with a lot of things including social and academic issues, and I think she may be experiencing some problems with depression and anxiety. We are a bit overwhelmed lately, and have started feeling that it might be time to seek some professional help, but neither my husband nor I have any experience with counseling, so we donât really know where to start. Do you have any advice for us? Thanks, S.J. Read More
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Childhood Obesity
March 31, 2008, 12:00 am
Due to some changes in his mother's situation, my 8-year-old stepson has come to live with us. He is a wonderful kid, and we get along very well. The only thing that worries me is that he is overweight, and seems to be getting more so as he gets older. This is more than just baby fat, and I don't want him to have health problems or get teased. Read More
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Child With Chronic Illness
March 24, 2008, 12:00 am
My nephew was diagnosed with a chronic illness that requires frequent doctor visits and a lot of missed school. My sister and her husband are having a really hard time dealing with everything. What advice should I give them? Thanks, Melissa C. Read More
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Negotiating Divorce Together
March 17, 2008, 12:00 am
My wife and I are in the process of finalizing our divorce. We still have many points of disagreement and lots of anger issues, but the one thing we agree about is that we need to work together to make this as painless as possible for the kids. Any suggestions? Read More
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