Many parents are shocked by the idea that one might be able to “test” for creativity; how, they wonder, can such a magical and intangible quality possibly be measured and quantified? The answer, of course, is “imperfectly”, but emerging neuroscientific research has given us a fairly accurate glimpse into both the regions of the brain responsible for producing creative thought ...
In recent years, critical thinking has replaced rote learning as the priority skill in most classrooms; gone are the days when simply regurgitating information regarding historical facts and figures, geography, times tables, etc., was sufficient to be deemed an exemplary student. Instead, today's students are valued as much—or more—for their ability to engage in rational analysis of the ...
It's natural for parents to desire that their children be driven to achieve; given how obsessed our culture has become with rigorous testing and tough competition for college admissions, this capacity for high levels of self-motivation may seem essential to a child's long-term success. What many fail to realize, however, is that when a driven attitude is allowed to progress ...
Most human beings have a tendency to assess things from the outside in, using measurable external factors such as performance and achievement to ascertain how intelligent (or “gifted”) a person is. Indeed, the standardized psychological tests used to detect giftedness entirely overlook the behavioural and emotional aspects of giftedness. This sets up a damaging precedent, one that leads to gifted ...
Not every relationship works out. This is true whether the relationship in question is a friendship, romantic relationship, or the ...
You may have been approached by your child’s teacher or you may have noticed yourself that your child is ...
As children grow older, their behaviours change dramatically. While a hysterical tantrum over something minor is completely normal at two ...
For the past few months, I am asked almost daily about the new sex education curriculum introduced by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and how it is going to affect sexual orientation and gender identity in young children. There is not much research on this topic, most relevant is a six year study of 12000 adolescents conducted by Dr. Ross O'Hara from ...
Anxiety disorders are found in children much more often than many people realize; ten to twenty percent of all children will suffer the symptoms of a full-fledged anxiety disorder prior to the age of 18, making this the most common mental health issue in young people. It's often overlooked, however, as it's difficult for parents to ascertain the difference between the ...
It's natural for parents to get somewhat desperate when faced with a stubborn child, and to escalate the severity of rules and punishments in the hope of provoking obedience, but as most parents know, this approach is hit-and-miss at best. It's ultimately more effective to have a ready supply of clear, enforceable rules memorized beforehand, so that one can apply ...
We want our children to be successful. And we want them to be happy. That goes without saying. But what exactly does that mean? For most parents that means doing well academically at a great school. It can also mean following in a parent’s successful career. Doctors want their children to become doctors. Restaurant owners assume their children will ...
