SHELTER IN PLACE: UPSIDE. CNN tells why some kids are happier right now — getting more “quality time” with family; being better siblings; becoming more independent; and other “improvements.” One parent even noticed how her daughter with ADHD started “creating her own systems” to stay structured and organized. Find the article.
SHELTER IN PLACE: DOWNSIDE. Children may become more anxious during our pandemic. Two recent resources address anxiety in children:
— A Vlog at Bright & Quirky with Dr. Kendra Read describes an approach to relieving anxiety not by avoiding the source of it but in a way that “will help your child feel empowered and better able to function.” Find the video
— An article in The Atlantic deals with anxiety in children and the importance of dealing with it directly and early. Early because anxiety can be a “gateway” to other mental health issues; and directly because anxiety is, according to experts, more effectively dealt with by learning to tolerate it. Note: This is a long-form article containing lots of information; find it.
SHELTER IN PLACE: RESOURCES. The Child Mind Institute offers this week two articles of relevance:
— “Screen Time During the Coronavirus Crisis.” Find it.
— “Strategies for Supporting Learning at Home.” Find it.
COLLEGE NEXT YEAR? The Hechinger Report says, “With decisions coming due, sleepless high school seniors worry college may not be worth it.” Got a high school senior? Find the article.
EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY. The U.S. Department of Education had been considering issuing waivers to allow schools to sidestep the requirements of FAPE and IDEA, waivers that would have affected children in the 2e community. The National Center for Learning Disabilities issued a statement saying this: “Because of your tireless efforts, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos issued her report to Congress yesterday and made it clear: she intends to protect the core tenets of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) because students with disabilities can and should continue to be served during this time.” About that same decision, Wrightslaw said, “You took action. They listened.” Find out more at Wrightslaw. We say “good going” to anyone here who got involved and expressed their opinions on the matter to the U.S. Department of Education.
RIGHT TO EDUCATION. A U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that students have a constitutional right to a decent education — a right “of access to literacy,” according to The New York Times. And Education Dive notes that participants in other, similar cases now want to see if the case is appealed to the Supreme Court.
NVLD. From Science Daily: “Nonverbal learning disability (NVLD), a poorly understood and often-overlooked disorder that causes problems with visual-spatial processing, may affect nearly 3 million children in the United States, making it one of the most common learning disorders, according to a new study by led by Columbia University Irving Medical Center.” Find the study write-up.
EVENTS
— May 7, live, free expert webinar from ADDitude, “Sensory-Smart Strategies for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD.” More information.
— May 12, free Meet the Scientist webinar from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, “Using Neuroscience to Evaluate and Guide Treatment for Pediatric Mood Disorders.” More information.
