Primary school and the new “normal”

learning disabilities tag cloud image

Let’s put it right up front: we’ll be talking about learning disabilities. There are four categories of learning disabilities that are commonly seen as having gender differences. Let’s take them one by one: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): This is what used to be called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). ADHD diagnoses have been in three … Read more

Boys and elementary school: Part 1

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If your little fellow is headed to first grade in the fall, you’ve been spending over five years getting him ready. You’ve helped him learn how to interact and socialize with other people – kids and adults. You’ve read to him, talked with him, sung songs and played games that have helped light up the … Read more

Q & A: Real moms of real boys

Over on the Facebook page for the new book, I’ve been having some great conversations with moms from around the world about engaging and raising boys who love to learn. I thought I’d share some of that dialog here, so here goes: Mom: My son is 11 years old and I am a young single … Read more

Preschool: Getting Ready for the Classroom

bed pillow fight

You’ve navigated infancy and the terrible-twos. Your little boy plays with other kids, and is actively exploring the world. One of the lessons that both of you will have to learn is this: roughhousing is critical to your son’s development. You’ve likely had at least a few instances of play-dates that involved someone getting hurt … Read more

It’s Never Too Early to Start: Infants & Toddlers

mom and baby reading

“I can’t do math, I’m not left-brained.” “I’m an artist, I’m right-brained.” At birth, the left side of a little girl’s brain is developing faster, while the right side is developing faster in a little boy’s. The left side of the brain is considered to be the language center, and the right side is where … Read more

Are boys different?

All kidding aside, they really are, and in more ways than just the obvious, physical ones. If your family includes both little boys and little girls, you’ve already witnessed this difference first-hand. Why those differences exist has been a topic of discussion for centuries. Is it nature? Is it nurture? Both come into play. When … Read more

Q: My 7 year old really has struggled in handwriting this year

He complains writing hurts his hand.  You mentioned a condition where the physical nature of writing by hand is difficulty–I think you said your son’s writing was aiding by switching to keyboarding. Could you send me the name of the condition or a link to more information about this. A: The condition is called dyspraxia … Read more

Can my teenage son be a sex addict?

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Q.  OK, so I’ve heard of sex addicts, the entertainment news is full of guys who have sought therapy for it. Are you saying that could be made worse by combining it with an internet addiction?  Certainly you don’t mean that could be true for my adolescent son!  I mean, he can’t be old enough … Read more