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Safety & Success
Articles
Helping Teenage Boys Live up to Their Potential
By Meghan Vivo
When a child is struggling in school, every parent hopes the teachers and counselors will provide their child with the attention they need to get back on track. But the current state of the public school system, with a lack of funding for after school and summer programs, teacher cutbacks and larger class sizes, prevents many students from getting the personalized help they need.
Some parents in search of alternative schools for their teens have found the kind of academic environment that best suits their child at a therapeutic boarding school. These private schools assist children and teens with learning disabilities and emotional and behavioral issues to address the obstacles standing between them and academic success.
Is an All-Boys School Right for Your Son?
By Meghan Vivo
A growing number of boys are not succeeding in school. This news has left parents questioning the source of the problem – is it my son, his school, his teachers, or something else altogether?
Research shows that part of the problem may be related to co-ed schooling. Though there are many wonderful public schools and private day schools, there is a growing body of research that suggests co-ed schools may simply be unable to meet the unique needs of both boys and girls.
Motivating Boys with ADHD: The Benefits of a Token Economy
By Meghan Vivo
Teenagers are notoriously bad at following the rules, but boys with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have unique struggles with managing their own behavior, even with tasks as seemingly simple as basic hygiene and getting ready for school. The very nature of ADHD makes it difficult for teens to exert self-control, pay attention, and listen to and follow instructions.
For many families, a typical day goes as follows: teen misbehaves, then parent yells, argues or gives in. But these responses, which draw attention and engage the teen in a discourse, reinforce the negative behavior and encourage more acting out.
Boys with ADHD Can Find A Cure By Going Back to Tom Sawyer Era
Boys with ADHD can quickly become video game addicts because of how their disorder affects their brains. According to a report in Nature magazine, when a boy plays these games, the basal ganglia portion of his brain becomes very active and his body releases dopamine, a chemical that gives him a sense of well-being. Ritalin, the drug used to treat ADHD, also works in the basal ganglia and increases dopamine. In this way, video games function like a drug to boys with ADHD.
Dr. Daniel Amen, foremost expert on ADHD, says, "The more a boy with this disorder plays video games, the worse he'll do in school and the more irritable he will be when asked to stop playing." Experts at the University of Illinois have documented this view after asking parents of ADHD children to keep diaries of their behaviors. The more their children played the games, the worse their behaviors got.
Resources & Links
- Parent Checkin - www.parentcheckin.com
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SUWS of the Carolinas www.suwscarolinas.com and
SUWS Seasons www.suwsseasons.com
- Talisman Summer Camps - www.talismansummercamp.com
- Aspen Education Group - www.aspeneducation.com
- Family IQ - www.familyiq.com
- Parenting Newsletter - www.parentingnewsletter.com
- IECA - www.educationalconsulting.org
- StrugglingTeens.com - www.strugglingteens.com
- CHADD - www.chadd.org
- ADDitude Magazine - www.additudemag.com
- Parents Speak Out Video -
www.aspeneducation.com