New research shows that it often takes three years and visits to multiple providers before Black children are diagnosed with autism, denying them a critical opportunity for therapy when it’s likely to be most effective. Read more »
Is your child heading back to school soon? There’s a lot going on—and a lot to keep track of. Download this one-month planner from Understood with daily tips to help your child start the new school year right. Read more »
These days it can feel as if reassuring platitudes are inescapable.
“Everything will be fine.”
“It could be worse.”
“Look on the bright side.”
But as well intentioned as those who lean on such phrases may be, experts are cautioning against going overboard with the “good vibes only” trend. Too much forced positivity is not just unhelpful, they say — it’s toxic. Read more »
Lynelle Schneeberg, a pediatric sleep psychologist and author of “Become Your Child’s Sleep Coach,” offers some tips and tricks from years of helping families and children get better sleep. Read more »
Going back to school can be exciting, but it can also be scary. Kids with learning and thinking differences may have added concerns and issues with self-esteem. These back-to-school book picks from Understood‘s founding partner Reading Rockets can show them they are not alone. Read more »
Distance learning is difficult, unpopular, and returning for many students with ADHD this fall. Here, caregivers and educators share their most effective strategies for teaching and keeping students organized and focused while learning remotely. Read more »
Check out this great new free resource about supporting twice exceptional (2e) learners! Resilience & Engagement for Every Learner (REEL) just launched the Teaching 2e: Supporting 2e Distance Learners Resource Kit for educators, with top tips, strategies for key challenges, and a series of in-depth blog posts. Read more »
Dr. Vidya Krishnan, Head of Adolescent Mental Health Services and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Children’s Health Council, appeared on KTVU News to discuss strategies for coping with the anxiety and stress many families are experiencing as children head back to school remotely. Read more »
Sensitive children are keen observers of the world, but tend to get overstimulated. They often live intense inner lives and are highly creative, but they are wary of new situations and of people they don’t know.
They also easily intuit the moods of others and feel their pain. This empathy draws their peers and sometimes even adults to confide in sensitive children. Later in life, they often go into helping professions like health care and counseling, where their natural gifts are put to good use. Read more »
Expressive writing is associated with improvements in physical health, improvements in markers of mental health, and improvements in immune function. It’s also been shown to improve working memory in college students, says James Pennebaker, a professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Read more »
