“My child’s standardized test scores are high and they qualified for advanced courses, so why are they struggling in their classes?” Does this question sound familiar? Cognitive intelligence does not always align with academic performance and emotional intelligence. Success can be defined in many different ways and is often achieved when an individual reaches a…
While interacting with the education system, you may commonly hear the term “Executive Function” used to describe mental skills and ways of thinking that help individuals plan, monitor, and successfully execute goals. Executive functions also include processes such as working memory, organization, impulse control, attention, flexible thinking, time management, and emotion control. Essential skills for school success.
We consume daily media coverage of violent acts occurring across the world. These tragic events can cause varying reactions depending on an individual’s age, background, past experiences, and identity. Individuals may also react differently depending on the format in which they receive the information such as viewing disturbing images online, watching/reading the news, or hearing information second-hand through conversation with others.
Summer is officially here: longer days, warmer temperatures, and opportunities abound for outdoor activities here in Northern Illinois. While many are enjoying these outdoor, summertime activities, an overwhelming amount of young people (and many adults) are increasingly staying inside. Between school and home, kids spend over seven hours per day on screens, and according to one…
As we approach National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week (May 8-15 this year), we are wrapping up our anxiety series with practical information to help you navigate the physical and emotional discomfort that often comes from anxiety. The term “combat” is in the title of this article because actively lowering anxiety often feels just like…
As we continue our series of articles on anxiety, which many more people are experiencing since the start of the pandemic, we need to explore one of the most basic functions of life: breathing. You cannot and will not “pass out” by holding your breath, but hyperventilate for 60 seconds or more and you can…
When people think of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), they often think of the observable compulsion, like checking locks or excessive washing. What goes unrealized is that this is just one dimension of the condition, and that the troublesome compulsion is associated with an equally troubling obsession. When someone with OCD engages in a compulsion (a…
If you’ve Googled the term “anxiety” you know there are nearly 4 billion (with a “b”) results, and with good reason: countless people are trying to understand how to navigate difficult and sometimes new feelings. Back in 2019, the CDC reported that 11.9% of adults experienced symptoms of worry, nervousness, or anxiety but since the…
