Learning Difficulties: What to ask teachers and therapists
In the new term meeting with professionals working with your child is a priority. It can be very daunting, especially for parents whose children may have learning difficulties. Frequently, the professionals end up talking and the parents try desperately to follow the conversation and very often only pick up on the negative information. A small […]
Managing stress in children-Hello Doctor, SABC3 show
These days many children are over-committed, and exposed to stress-inducing situations. We chat to education psychologist Anel Annandale about how children experience stress, and what parents can do to minimise the causes and impact of stress.
Is it Dyslexia or ADD?
I’ve noticed a very interesting trend in my practice in recent years. Often children – specifically boys – will present with symptoms associated with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) such as distractibility, impulsivity, fidgetiness, lapses in concentration, etc. as well as difficulties in reading. During the background interview the parents will usually note that the boy’s […]
Self-mutilation in children and teens
Self-mutilation (sometimes also referred to as self-harm or self-injury) is defined as all acts by which an individual deliberately sets out to harm his or her own body. In the majority of self-mutilation cases suicide is not the main aim and the injuries inflicted are not life threatening. I realise that this is a […]
The effects of parental stress on children
It seems to me that parents are more stressed out than ever before! The advent of smart phones has created the expectation that we should be available to respond to work queries immediately, all around the clock. When I was little it was very unusual for either of my parents to bring work home, […]
Parenting: Love is NOT enough
My hand hesitates with the cursor hovering over the “publish article” button. I know that what I’m about to say is probably going to offend you and I’m not prepared to apologise for it. Criticize away, but I feel it’s my duty to tell you that you’ve been lied to all along. The common dogma […]
Premature birth and ADHD
Premature birth and ADHD – is there a link? I’ll let you in on a trade secret. It’s not a devious type of secret. Not anything that could cause anyone harm, but simply a connection that most of us who work with small children have figured out. When a parent tells me that their child […]
The problem with the current schooling system in South Africa.
I have always been a big advocate of the benefits of education, but I have to admit that lately I find myself more and more disillusioned with the current schooling system in South Africa. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to defend a system which I feel has lost sight of its primary objective – giving […]
Hyperfocus in ADD
Say what!?! For years we’ve been telling parents that their children with ADD (and ADHD) can’t focus, but then made them aware at the same time that their children can hyperfocus. How the heck does that work? Well, our terminology is partly to blame. You’ll often hear it said that people with ADD have […]
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
It is Child Protection Week in South Africa and we should all strive to protect our children from neglect and abuse. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is very serious and common, but as common as it is, people find it a difficult topic to discuss. Most often, the offender is known by the child and parents. The […]
