Croll: Selective Mutism—Not Just Quiet and Shy
By Chris Croll This column about a 15-year-old girl with selective mutism is one in a series of columns that profiles children who
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Croll: Your Child’s Friend-Making Skills May Matter More Than You Think
We all know a good friend can lift our spirits when we are down, but did you know that strong social connections can also help you live longer? Studies show that feeling isolated from others not only elevates blood pressure, increases depression and disrupts sleep but new research suggests that a lack of social connections can be deadlier than smoking cigarettes. Don’t believe me? Ask Dr. Google.
Read moreCroll: Choosing Humility Over Perfection for Our Children
I believe these lyrics describe the crux of the issue around the spiking levels of anxiety we are seeing in children today. Many parents demand perfection from their kids—in academics, sports, hobbies and behavior. A lot of us over-monitor, over-program and over-protect our children. It’s hard to watch kids fail or experience the discomfort of defeat. Yet at the same time, we set the bar for them at “perfection” and we accept nothing less. We hope high expectations will motivate our children but, instead, our unrealistic expectations can make children feel like they can’t measure up.
Read moreCroll: Public Schooling Isn’t for Everyone; Consider Some Alternatives
We are fortunate here in Loudoun County to have one of the best school districts in the state (ranked #2 by Niche.com). If your child is thriving in public school—learning, socializing, enjoying the experience—you probably never considered an alternative education model. But if you have a child who isn’t doing well in public school, for whatever reason, you might consider one of the myriad unconventional education programs offered in our area.
Read moreCroll: Beyond the Bell Curve, The Challenges of Raising Twice-Exceptional Children
Did you know a child could be both gifted and autistic? A percentage of children, some estimates are as high as 5-10 percent, have more than one exceptionality such as being intellectually advanced (gifted) plus having a physical, neurological, emotional, processing or developmental challenge. These “twice exceptional,” or 2e, children may score very high on intelligence tests while also having ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, sensory processing disorders, autism or another learning disability.
Read moreCroll: Are Parents’ Performance Expectations Making Our Kids Anxious?
Performance defines success here in Loudoun. Incomes are high, competition is fierce for everything from government contracts to seats at Academies of Science to admissions to in-state schools. Being busy has become a status symbol. Saying, “I’m triple booked,” is akin to saying, “I’m incredibly important.”
Read moreCroll: Have Fun with Your Kids Over Winter Break
For most of Loudoun’s students, winter break is in full swing. Our kids will be out of school a total of 18 days (or about 425 hours … not that anyone is counting). This is a long time to spend with our little cherubs, especially when we are also juggling out-of-town relatives, shopping for gifts, travel, cooking, baking, cleaning, wrapping, filling advents and overseeing an elf that flies around our house at night.
Read moreCroll: Is Labeling Children Good or Bad? A Parent’s Perspective
Special Education. Gifted. English Language Learner. Economically Disadvantaged. These and other labels are routinely assigned to children so they can qualify for special services at school. But do these labels actually help our kids to receive a better education or do they place limits on what others believe the child is capable of accomplishing?
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The Truth About ‘Gifted’ Versus High-Achieving Students
While some parents go to great lengths to try to have their children identified as “gifted,” I would like to shed some light on the reality of what raising a gifted child really means.
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