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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Developmental Milestones
August 6, 2007, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, My first child just started preschool. I find myself constantly worried about whether he is developing on schedule when it comes to his ability to think and reason. Can you give me some ideas about what to expect in the next few years? From, Judy M., Chicago Read More
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Becoming an Older Sibling
July 30, 2007, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, I just found out that I am pregnant with my second child. I am worried as to how my five-year old is going to handle this. In addition to being an only child so far, he is also the only grandchild in the family, so he is used to getting quite a bit of attention! What can I do to make this easier on all of us? -Brenda C., Seattle, Washington. Read More
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Speech Problems
July 23, 2007, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, My wife had speech problems when she was a child and the memories of her struggles are really difficult for her. I'm afraid that she is overly sensitive to these issues in our own children. Can you give me an idea of what is normal and what we should be concerned about when it comes to speech development? From Joe F., Baltimore Read More
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Teen Discipline
July 16, 2007, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, My oldest child is in middle school and lately I find myself worrying about how I'm going to handle things when she's a teenager. She's a very sweet child, but I'm seeing some small signs of rebellion lately, such as refusing to do chores or homework. What can I do to make her teen years easier from this standpoint? From Barbara S., Oregon Read More
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Sports
July 9, 2007, 12:00 am
My husband and I are both fairly athletic and would like our children to be involved in sports. However, I worry that the culture of organized sports has changed greatly since we were kids – back then, it seemed to be much less cut-throat. How can I give my children the benefit of playing a sport and prevent them from having a negative experience? From Alice K., Michigan Read More
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When Your Child Wants to Run Away
July 2, 2007, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, My 13-year old daughter has a new habit of saying that she is going to run away every time we have a fight. Realistically, I don’t think that she is serious about this, but a small part of me is terrified that she will follow through and something awful will happen to her. What can I do to prevent this? ----Tony C., Texas Read More
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Negotiating with Teenagers
June 18, 2007, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, Several parents in our community allow their underage sons and daughters to drink at home with friends. On those occasions, the parents have the teenagers sleep over. Their argument is that they prefer the kids to drink in a safe environment and to not drive. We believe the teenagers should not drink at all. How should we approach this? Read More
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Shy About Middle School
June 11, 2007, 12:00 am
Dear Dr. Medoff, We just moved to a suburb of Chicago. My daughter started a new middle school and is having a hard time making friends. She is naturally shy. We do not know how to help her. Read More
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Kids and Competition
June 4, 2007, 12:00 am
My 8-year-old son is extremely competitive and in my opinion, places too much emphasis on winning. If he does not win, he will pitch a fit, cry, or get really angry. Clearly, there will be times in life when he cannot "win,” and I want him to accept that. How can I help him with this? Read More
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Childhood Fears
May 21, 2007, 12:00 am
How can you help a child deal with fears and nightmares, when as a grown-up, you think they are silly? --Nadya W., Geneva Switzerland Read More
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