Red-shirting Kindergarten, Introversion, Changing Schools, More

SAD SUGGESTION OF THE DAY. “The Answer Sheet” at The Washington Post offers this observation: “Bulletproof backpacks are a big back-to-school item.” The article was written before the events of this past weekend. Read it if you have the heart.

GIFTED CHALLENGES addresses the question, “When should your gifted child start kindergarten?” Gail Post provides three big factors to consider, with detailed explanations of each. (We liked the option to “red-shirt” the four- or five-year-old.) Find Gifted Challenges.

TED gave us a couple interesting pieces in last weekend’s “playlist.” One was an interview with the author of the book The Power of Introverts on topics such as how shyness and introversion are different; the talents of introverts; misconceptions; and introverts at work. Find the interview. The second piece was an article titled “7 things everyone should do in college that can help them in the future.” For example: “find your five,” five people “you like and admire and seem to be on a trajectory to make their mark on the world.” Or, “start something.” Find the article.

POPULAR AT ADDITUDE. ADDitude says its most popular article in July was on changing schools — something that apparently every caregiver in the ADHD community has considered and two-thirds have done. Read more.

DEPRESSION. From MedPage Today: “Adding a common antidepressant to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was no better than placebo at reducing symptoms of major depressive disorder for adolescents and young adults, an Australian randomized trial indicated.” Find the study write-up at MedPage or at PsychCentral.

ASD-FRIENDLY ARCHITECTURE is the topic of an article at The Conversation — how schools can be designed to provide a better learning environment for children on the spectrum. Examples explored: “pause spaces”; multiple entrances; “taster spaces”; and more. Check the article if a couple of those terms are new to you, as they were to us.

MORE SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
— On ASD, from Science Daily: ” A new paper that challenges widely held ideas about autism has attracted comments from more than 30 scholars across the disciplines of psychology, anthropology, education, and neuroscience.” Read more.
— On depression, from NewsWise: “It’s possible that a lock of hair could one day aid in the diagnosis of depression and in efforts to monitor the effects of treatment, said the author of a new study examining cortisol levels in the hair of teens.” Find the study write-up.
— On genetics and mental health, from Science Daily: “A group of international doctors has uncovered the genes that contribute to the development of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia.” Find the study write-up.

Summer’s Almost Gone!
Okay, so maybe you blew it by not ordering The 2e Reading Guide, from our Spotlight on 2e series, to help edify yourself, or Bob Seney on Books to help your child have some good reads. There’s still time to buy a copy of Understanding Your Twice-Exceptional Student to give to this year’s teacher. Find out more.