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Parenting

Do Video Games Exacerbate ADHD?

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Do Video Games Exacerbate ADHD?

written by Colin Guard, Dr. Liz Matheis & Randy Kulman PH. D, published on  www.attitudemag.com

Resistance is futile; the future is digital.

Statistics from Common Sense Media show that more than 30 percent of children in the United States play with mobile devices while still in diapers. More than one-third of third graders own a phone. Tweens spend up to an hour a day texting. High school students spend 8 to 11 hours each day with digital technology, if you include multitasking. And, according to Pew Research Center, nearly 75 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds have smartphones they use “almost constantly.”

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Guide to Life Insurance for Parents of Children with Disabilities

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Guide to Life Insurance for Parents of Children with Disabilities

written by Mary Van Keuren published on bankrate.com July 27, 2020

Caring for a child with special needs can be both a great joy and a challenge. You want your child to live to their full potential, in whatever form that takes, for their entire life. That may take additional resources, especially if you should die while they are still in need of care.

Securing your child’s future will take a great deal of planning, and much of that revolves around the need to ensure that your child has the financial resources they need, both now and as an adult. One part of that equation may include a life insurance policy — or policies — to provide for your child’s needs after you’re gone.

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Your Child Probably Has ADHD. Now What?

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Your Child Probably Has ADHD. Now What?

by Dr. Liz Matheis, published in www.attitudemag.com

Your child is in elementary school. For the last year or so, you’ve heard in parent-teacher conferences and occasional emails that your child is ‘fidgety.’ He has difficulty keeping his hands to himself. He gets up out of his seat often. This is happening consistently; no one is beating around the bush anymore: It’s time for an ADHD evaluation. But where do you go from here? With whom should you consult? Who can recognize the symptoms of ADHD in children and diagnose ADHD? And most importantly, how can you use a diagnosis to help your child?

 

 

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Parenting Teenagers with Depression During COVID-19

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Parenting Teenagers with Depression During COVID-19

by Dr. Liz Matheis – Published in Psychology Today, 3/28/2021

Our teens are suffering. They have been suffering for the last year and as a parent, it is heartbreaking to watch our (bigger) babies hurt so badly. Our teens are grieving the loss of so many milestones such as graduations, dances, proms, field trips, athletic games and tournaments, school plays and theater, and the spontaneous social interactions that they crave and need.

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Stress, PTSD and Parents of Kids with Disabilities

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Stress, PTSD and Parents of Kids with Disabilities

by Dr. Liz Matheis – from PCWSN 2021: Volume 11, Issue 2 by Parenting Children With Special Needs

As a Psychologist, I am in the business of receiving phone calls from parents worried about their kids with disabilities. During that initial phone call, parents give me a quick run-down of their child’s symptoms, the struggles the family at large is facing, and the specific goals they would like to work towards. During that initial phone call, I’m often left thinking, “How are you, as the parent, doing?” Parents are often surprised when I ask that question during the intake. Several parents have responded with silence, a confused, “Fine,” or “No one has ever asked me how I’m doing.” As a parent of a child with disabilities, the process of gaining a diagnosis and then figuring out life and supports and medical conditions can be overwhelming and often traumatizing. In my experience, many parents of children with disabilities and other medical needs are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

 

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Provider Spotlight: Kiana Davis – Tutor Kids n’ More

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Provider Spotlight: Kiana Davis

Kiana Davis is a K-6 certified teacher in New Jersey with over thirteen years of educational experience. Her business, Tutor Kids n’ More, offers individualized tutoring and instruction to grade school age children both virtually and in-person. Kiana also provides various childcare services including: babysitting, group babysitting and children’s party hosting. Tutor Kids n’More has been providing these services to families since September of 2017. Please check out Kiana’s website below!

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How to “Unbreak” Yourself

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College Students Guide to Ergonomics

by Jeff Brushie 3/20/2021 https://unbreakyourself.com/students/

We often discuss a sedentary lifestyle in the context of adults who work in jobs that require them to spend long periods of time sitting, but there’s a demographic less often discussed but perhaps just as impacted by being sedentary.

What Is a Sedentary Lifestyle?

A sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest public health issues our nation faces, as well as an increasing number of other countries around the world.

The recommendation for adults is that they get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week.

Yet only around 21% of adults meet this recommendation, and less than 5% of adults in the U.S. perform 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

When you’re sedentary, it puts you at risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and the likelihood you’ll die prematurely.

If you spend a lot of time sitting, it can make it hard for your body to control blood sugar, break down fat, regulate your blood pressure and maintain a healthy metabolism level.

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"The various psycho-educational testing Dr. Liz conducted on our son gave us critical clues about where his learning strengths and weaknesses lie so that his needs could be better addressed at home and school. Moreover, because of their warm, kindhearted personalities, both Dr. Liz and her associate, Stephanie, formed an immediate bond with my son. He eagerly looks forward to his weekly therapy sessions. We are so lucky Dr. Liz came into our family's lives when she did! For stressed-out families trying to help their children as best they can, she is a calming voice of reason!"
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"Dr. Matheis has an amazing ability to read kids and connect with them. She has been an invaluable resource for our family over the past several years and has helped us with everything from educational consulting, to uncovering diagnoses as well as family therapy. Working with Dr. Matheis never feels clinical and most importantly, our children love and trust her. We can not thank you enough Dr. Liz!"
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"My teenage son had been seeing Dr. Matheis through his senior year of high school, as he was only diagnosed with ADHD at 16 years old.  Dr. Matheis came highly recommended from our pediatrician and she has done wonders for our son as well as our family, navigating new ways for him to deal with his diagnosis without the use of medication.  She taught him ways to organize himself and even when something did not work for him, she patiently continued teaching him new ways to keep himself on track.  She has also helped us as parents to understand how his mind works so that we did not continue to blame his lack of focus on him, rather on his unique way of thinking.  Thank you Dr. Matheis!!!!"
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"Dr. Liz is the best! Our family was directed to her by our Pediatrician to assist with figuring out severe mood changes, severe anxiety, strange new fears and food aversion that had come onto one of our children literally overnight. After just a couple of visits, she suggested that the issues may actually be rooted in a physical issue and suggested we immediately take our child to be swabbed for strep, because Dr. Liz suspected PANDAS (a pediatric autoimmune disorder brought on by strep). The same Pediatrician that suggested Dr. Liz would not do the swab (they do not believe in PANDAS and we no longer go there) but I took my child to my doctor who did the swab and it was positive for strep. When our child went on antibiotics, within 24 hours all symptoms went away and our child was back :-) Dr. Liz then recommended a PANDAS specialist who helped us and our child is in complete remission and is happy and healthy. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Liz for her knowledge of all things, even the most remote and unusual and for helping us so much! Thank you!"
- Anonymous
"The various psycho-educational testing Dr. Liz conducted on our son gave us critical clues about where his learning strengths and weaknesses lie so that his needs could be better addressed at home and school. Moreover, because of their warm, kindhearted personalities, both Dr. Liz and her associate, Stephanie, formed an immediate bond with my son. He eagerly looks forward to his weekly therapy sessions. We are so lucky Dr. Liz came into our family's lives when she did! For stressed-out families trying to help their children as best they can, she is a calming voice of reason!"
- Anonymous
"Thank you, Dr. Liz. Although we have told you countless times, it will never feel enough. You have listened when J could barely speak and continued to listen when he was sad, angry and confused. You've challenged him and directed us in our roles as parents. You've helped J face his fears while the list evolved and changed, and yet you've stayed committed to 'the course.' We pray that your children realize that time away from them is spent helping children learn and that vulnerability is a sign of strength and bravery."
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"My son was admitted to an Ivy League school when only 2 years ago, you assessed him and saw his struggles, his Dyslexia. We are grateful that he no longer has to carry that deep feeling of inadequacy or shame that must have kept him so self conscious and from reaching his potential. He has the PERFECT program for him. He has A's in high math and economics. He became a Merit Scholar, a Boys State legislature, the HEAD captain of the football team and help a job ALL while studying and managing his classes and disability. I am PROUD of you, a young doctor, who knows and sees the vulnerability of children and helps them recognize "it's NO big deal" God bless."
- Anonymous

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