Dr. Tali Shenfield holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Toronto and is a licensed school and clinical psychologist. She has taught at the University of Toronto and has worked at institutions including the Hospital for Sick Children, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, TDSB, and YCDSB. Dr. Shenfield is the Founder and Clinical Director of Advanced Psychology Services.
Being a parent is extremely rewarding, but it’s also a challenging and sometimes stressful role. Even when parents realize that their children don't intend to be difficult, they often succumb to feelings of frustration and helplessness in the wake of tantrums and poor behaviour. Over time, this can create a pattern of reacting to tense situations rather than responding ...
All relationships go through ups and downs, including parent-child relationships. Today’s parents and children face numerous external pressures that can strain their bond, including economic concerns that keep parents working long or irregular hours, children facing historically high levels of homework, and the influence of mass media and the Internet. These obstacles often prevent parents and children from spending ...
Research shows that kids who do chores grow up to be happier, more successful adults. When kids pitch in around the house, they feel competent and valuable, which facilitates the development of healthy self-esteem, confidence, and resilience. Kids also learn practical skills by doing chores, including organizational skills, time management skills, and the ability to complete tasks independently. Unfortunately, getting ...
Gifted and talented children frequently surprise their parents, teachers, and peers by rapidly mastering challenging material. However, their ease of learning belies the wide range of difficulties that can accompany asynchronous development. Gifted kids are prone to perfectionism, intense sensitivity, problems with social identity and self-definition, feelings of alienation, and anxiety. For children who are exceptionally gifted, these challenges are ...
Occasionally testing limits and boundaries through acts of defiance is a normal part of child development. Most kids break the rules to define their social role and express their desire for autonomy, which is why rebellious behaviour occurs most frequently from ages 2-3 and during early adolescence. For kids with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), however, being hostile and uncooperative isn't ...
Depression has become an all-too-common experience for adolescents. Rates of depression are also rising faster among people aged 13-19 than in any other age group: Between 2010-2023, teenage depression increased by 145% in girls and by 161% in boys - nearly 5 times the 33% increase experienced by adults during the same period. As of 2023, nearly 20% of U.S. teens experienced clinical depression, with 18.1% ...
When we think of the type of parental conflict that psychologically damages children, we envision screaming fights and physical violence. However, research shows that ongoing, poorly-resolved ongoing conflict between parents is often equally harmful. Simple everyday arguments, parents giving each other the “silent treatment,” and acts of passive aggression can significantly impact kids’ social and emotional well-being. Chronic parental conflict ...
Temper tantrums are a normal - if frustrating - part of child development. Most children begin throwing tantrums at 12-18 months of age and stop at around age four (hence why the phrase “terrible twos” is often applied to toddlers). Tantrums arise from the emotional challenges kids in this age bracket face, so they shouldn’t be misinterpreted as rebelliousness ...
Every child differs in his/her developmental capacity and pace. Some children learn to speak earlier than others. Some learn ...
Sometimes classroom behavior problems signal giftedness. Brad and Karen were at their wits end. Their grade school children once again ...
Too often, the emotional side of giftedness is overlooked; for all that we laud the intellectual complexity of giftedness, seldom ...
