Happy New Year to all my readers. Here's wishing you all the very best for you and your family in 2013. With the ringing in of the New Year often comes resolutions, hopes, and promises - those we make to ourselves and our children. Yesterday, I received a question from a mother in my practice [...]
The tragic event that took place on December 14th at Sandy Hook Elementary claimed the lives of 26 individuals, 20 of whom were children. Most of us, especially those of us who are parents, may experience a variety of emotions, from shock, disbelief, and confusion to, grief, loss, fear, and anxiety. Although such feelings are [...]
Moderated by child psychologist Dr. Deborah Pontillo, this workshop features a panel of teachers from the Bill and Sid Rubin Preschool at Congregation Beth Israel, The Children’s School-La Jolla, and a Montessori school who will discuss different curricular approaches, including Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and Jewish values-based schools. This workshop provides an excellent opportunity for parents to [...]
Dr. Deb addresses an ‘icky situation’ – Pooping on the Floor! Dear Dr. Deb, What do you do when your 4-year-old tries to exert control over you? Today while taking a bath my 4-year-old daughter decided she wanted to poop and pee on the floor of the bathroom. She began a yelling screaming fit when [...]
Dr. Deb’s Top 5 Myths About ADHD – Debunked! My child is not hyperactive, therefore he/she can’t have ADHD. This is a very common misperception. There actually are 3 subtypes of ADHD – children who mostly show symptoms of inattention, children who mostly show symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity, or children who have a little of both [...]
5 (PLUS!) Quick Tips to Ease Preschool Separation Anxiety Dear Dr. Deb, My 3 1/2-year-old just started preschool, and she is having a very tough time separating from me. She whines and complains on the ride in to school that she doesn't want to go, and then clings to my leg and cries at drop-off. [...]
ASD In 4 Year Olds Dear Dr. Deb, I have been reading a lot about Asperger's Disorder and autism spectrum disorder, and I'm worried my 4-year-old might have some of the signs. How do you know if a child has one of these disorders at such an early age? I know that autism itself is [...]
How to Manage ADHD Effectively WITHOUT the Use of Medication (Part 1 of a series) Dear Dr. Deb, Our 7-year-old son was just diagnosed with ADHD. Our pediatrician has recommended that we start him on medication, however my husband and I are hesitant to put him on medication this young. We are hoping that maybe [...]
My Top 5 Classroom Strategies to Help your Child Focus and Pay Attention! There are dozens of strategies that are easy to implement in the classroom that help to improve attention and focus in young children. By parent request, here are my top 5 recommendations I make in my practice for children struggling with focus [...]
