Tri-State Developmental Pediatrics

This is for all my awesome friends!

When you have a neurotypical child, you feel reasonably assured that class participation and decent study habits will result in good grades. These kids have close friends. They get invited to participate in social things like birthdays, play dates and weekend gatherings. They make the teams, auditions and are always busy doing something fun with their friends.

But when you have a child with certain differences, this is often not the case. Learning may take longer, both academically and socially. Despite their tremendous efforts, results are often a fraction of their peers and social acceptance is fleeting, setting them up for painful comparisons and bitter frustration. Instead of a fun and fulfilling experience, school can become a breeding ground for depression and anxiety, and homework a battle ground at home. It is exhausting for parents and child alike.

This is the week of SPED (Special Education), Autism, Dyslexia, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) awareness. For all the children who struggle every day to succeed in a world that does not recognize their gifts and talents, and for those who are walking beside them, please let this be a gentle reminder to be kind and accepting of ALL people.

Recognize that the "playing field" is not always a level surface.
Children who learn differently are not weird. They are merely gifted in ways that our society does not value enough. Yet they want what everyone else wants: To be accepted.

Please help me share awareness of this. Copy and paste (by touching and holding the text) onto your profile in honor of all children who are deemed "different". Our world would be far less beautiful without them.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Weekly Parenting post:
The Marble Jar

The marble jar is a fun idea for encouraging good behavior in children. I got this idea from my children’s awesome grade school teachers. Teachers would randomly place marbles in a community jar when they observed a student doing something kind or helpful toward another student. Once the marble jar filled, the class earned a fun activity or reward.

I use this concept frequently in when advising families about behavioral challenges. Make a list of behaviors that you would like to encourage in your children, such as brushing teeth without being reminded, going to bed without an argument, etc, etc.
Remember to be on the look out through out the day for reasons to give marbles. As one of my pedatric mentors used to say “catch them being good”. Kids love the positive feed back, they love seeing the marble jar filling up, and love making up a list of prizes they can earn once the jar is full.