When it comes to women, work, and ADHD, it’s impossible to really dig deep without understanding the lingering biases that women and other underrepresented groups face. These biases, combined with the experience of being neurodivergent in a working world not made for them, create a perfect storm for masking, exhaustion,...
Key takeaways for caregivers Mind-mindedness is the ability of parents to accurately read and label their children’s thoughts, feelings, and wishes. Both mothers’ and fathers’ mind-mindedness in the first years of children’s lives play an important role in children developing the ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors. Parents can...
You know we love our local camps and Curious Jane Camp is one of the most original. Yes, this interview is sponsored, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to learn all about their awesome girls camp just like our audience. Shelly interviewed Samantha Razook, founder and CEO of Curious...
Q: “I’m a college junior and always feel overwhelmed. I have so much work to do that I’m always busy, but it feels like I’m not making much progress. When I try to focus, I get distracted or interrupted.” — CollegeJunior Hi CollegeJunior: Have you ever heard the expression “in...
Key takeaways for caregivers Parents who work outside of the standard Monday-Friday, 9-5 hours must strike a balance between their work schedule and the demands of parenting. Fathers’ parenting is often influenced by non-standard work schedules and some types of work, such as night shifts, may increase certain types of...
Key takeaways for caregivers Mothers and fathers show similar patterns of brain activity when exposed to stimuli from their infant. The observed brain changes occur in areas involved with reward, motivation, and empathy, and are associated with hormonal changes in moms and dads. Brain systems may reflect parental potential available...
Key takeaways for caregivers Supportive fathers influence their children in significant ways, including the development of cognitive and social skills. The positive impact of fathers is greater when fathers’ relationships with mothers are strong and supportive. Fathers can help their children’s development through supportive and involved parenting and engaging activities,...
As an educator dedicated to supporting students with ADHD and other learning differences, I’ve delivered many presentations over the years to teachers of students who learn differently. One training session, in particular, stands out. I desperately wanted to effect real change, and I remember putting immense pressure on myself to...
Some great 2023 April Easter Egg Hunts are starting April 1st! Trinity Grace Church Egg Hunt at Prospect Park. An annual outdoor scavenger hunt looking for a unique set of colorful Easter egg posters — created by artists at Trinity Grace Church — hidden throughout Prospect Park. It is free...
The word “shy” was affixed to my name in preschool, and I never fully shook it loose. It was a term that I internalized and grew to dislike. I felt that shyness kept me from forming close bonds, and people boxed me in by seeing me as such. When I...
© 2023 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_bb6eea05aa95936b6fee4fe925afb1d9 .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } Is your child afraid of the dark? Is your child’s fear severe enough to be considered a phobia? Here’s what research tells us about the signs and causes…and how to help kids to...
Key takeaways for caregivers It is important for fathers to begin bonding with their baby during pregnancy; singing, reading, and talking to their baby can support this early bond. Fathers can also talk with their partner and trusted others about their hopes and concerns for their baby during pregnancy as...
Q: “My 15-year-old daughter is doing well enough in school, but it’s always by the skin of her teeth. I know her ADHD is getting in her way. Tests surprise her. She doesn’t seem to know how to prepare or study. What solutions have helped other teens prepare for exams?”—...
© 2023 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_fe8409d616072aadbc26011da97ba94d .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } Observational fear learning, sometimes called “observational threat learning,” is what happens when we use social cues to identify something as threatening or dangerous. Can children learn in this way? Absolutely. In fact, it’s...
On an episode of an ADHD-related podcast I recently heard, the guest shared a familiar backstory — one of lifelong frustration and sweet relief after receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Diagnosed with ADHD in my early 30s, I knew this story all too well. Then, almost nonchalantly, the guest...
Do you feeling tired or drained most of the time? Do you feel like running away? Do you struggle with procrastination? Does it take you longer to get things done these days? These are all signs of burnout, a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that women with ADHD experience...
Child teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a common condition where a child involuntarily clenches and grinds their teeth during sleep. While the exact cause of bruxism is not fully understood, it is thought to be related to a variety of factors, including stress, anxiety, malocclusion (misalignment of teeth),...
© 2008 – 2023 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_cf22dfd10b244fcc6955133e0fd94322 .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } Preschool number activities often involve counting, but counting alone – naming numbers in the right order – isn’t enough. Children also need to develop “number sense,” an intuitive feeling for the...
Key takeaways for caregivers The transition to fatherhood is accompanied by changes in fathers’ brains and hormones. These changes are probably related to new activities and routines that fathers are involved in and develop. These brain-related and hormonal changes are functional: They support fathers’ sensitive responses to their infants’ needs....
© 2019-2023 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_123080fe53fd65fde3cfcb19ca46a4c3 .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } What are the effects of violent video games? Do they contribute to the development of aggression? Do they increase a child’s risk of behavior problems? Researchers have debated these question for decades, and...
