Author name: Devora Samet

(2 minute read) When “What Do You Want to Do About It?” Doesn’t Work After the last blog post on solving children’s boredom, a mom emailed me the following: I’ve been doing that in all different ways… more subtle or less—spread out, not annoyingly repetitive—and all attempts have gotten my daughters to just get annoyed. […]

(1.5 minute read) “I’m Bored!” — Why Your Suggestions Make It Worse (And What to Do Instead) Summer is meant to be a time to relax, recharge, and enjoy. But with all that downtime… comes the inevitable complaint: “I’m bored!” Actually, a mom came to our session this week, frustrated that her daughter kept complaining

(30-second read) Summer Break — Not a Break from Values Yes, school is over (or just about over), and if we needed a reminder that summer has begun, this week’s heatwave in the Tri-state area made it loud and clear. While our kids are on break from tests, homework, and early morning bus stops, they’re

(2-minute read) It’s that time of year again—camp season is here! Here’s a social story I wrote for one of my students to help her prepare for camp. You’ll notice her specific challenges reflected in the red behaviors she’s working on. Feel free to use this story as-is or modify the red and green behaviors

(1.5-minute read) How ODD Can Affect Social Skills In previous blog posts, we’ve explored how ADHD and anxiety can interfere with a child’s ability to connect with others. This week, I want to take a closer look at Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and how it can impact social development. Children with ODD frequently lose their

(1-minute read) Why Anxious Kids Sometimes Struggle Socially In last week’s blog, I addressed how ADHD affects social skills. This week, I’d like to focus on anxiety—and how it can impact social development as well. Although we all want our children to thrive socially and have friends, for kids who experience anxiety, social situations can

(2-minute read) (2-minute read) Does a Child with Social Challenges Automatically Have Autism? As parents or teachers, it can be concerning when we notice a child struggling socially. Maybe they interrupt others often, miss subtle social cues, or have a hard time managing their emotions around peers. One question I often get is: “Does this

(2-minute read) Question: Hi Devora, I’m wondering if you can help me with my question. I attended Sarah Ward’s workshop last year and gained a lot in different areas. However, while I heard all the “Do Not’s,” I’m still at a loss when it comes to the “Do’s.” I know that lists aren’t beneficial and

(30-second read) Is Our Family Normal? Are Our Children Okay? A Social Behavior Story Especially For Parents… We often imagine and wish that the time we spend on holidays and Yomim Tovim with our children and family will bring us nachas (pride) and joy — but oftentimes, it can be quite the opposite. A lot