The Real Lessons for the School Year

It’s that time of year again. You are buying clothes and school supplies for your children. You are thinking about how you are going to juggle different school schedules with your commitments to work or charitable organizations. You are wondering how you will ever have dinner together again as a family when each of your children plays a different sport and has a different schedule. You are trying to figure out what guidelines to give your child in terms of the grades you expect from him or her … [Read more...]

Inspiration: Some Thoughts on Resilience

Justus Uwayesu is a freshman at Harvard. “So what?” you say. Just another smart young man headed for a successful future. What is so unusual about that? But Mr. Uwaysu is more unusual than the average 22 year old. Orphaned at age three when his parents, illiterate farmers, were killed in the Rwandan genocide that exterminated 800,000 people in 100 days, he was living in a burned out car in a garbage dump at the age of nine.  He scavenged and begged for food during the day, had not bathed in … [Read more...]

Workshop: Smart But Scattered: Helping Students Cope with Executive Function Challenges

Freehold Regional High School District Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) Presents Smart But Scattered: Helping Students Cope with Executive Function Challenges a Workshop by Alison Block, P.h.D. Tuesday, February 18, 2014 Doors Open 6:30/Presentation: 7:00 pm Colts Neck High School 59 Five Points Road Colts Neck, New Jersey 07722 Do any of these describe your child? • Disorganized desk and a messy backpack • Often loses things • Forgets to finish or turn in … [Read more...]

Back-to-school, Back-to-Busy?

Back-to-school: It’s exciting (New clothes! New notebooks! Structure! Childcare!), but stressful too, because it brings with it: homework, the sleep schedule adjustment and, of course, an overwhelming array of afterschool activities. I believe that parents should expose their children to a broad range of activities, so that a child can develop a passion. But I warn parents to be on their guard, especially in the new school year, that they don’t let their children become involved in too many … [Read more...]

Tips for Stress-free Summer Fun with the Kids

School will soon be out for summer. Many moms are exhausted just thinking about that final ring of the school bell that marks the last day of uninterrupted days. For the kids, however, the bell signifies freedom from schoolwork and rigid schedules. It’s been a few months since spring break and they’re feverish for activities with friends and family. Mom, are you mentally and emotionally prepared to switch up the routine? The pressure is on and expectations may be high. You are responsible for … [Read more...]