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Written by Dr. John Carosso What does it mean to “increase structure” Parents are often told about the importance of structure, that they need to increase structure, and that structure is vital to helping children who need “more structure.” However, what does that mean? Simply put… The simplest way to explain structure is that ‘more structure’ equates to more rules, […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso To compare or not to compare? Parents often quickly correct themselves after making comparisons between their kids, saying “I know we’re not supposed to do that…” It’s generally taken for granted that comparing our children is wrong. Is it really wrong? In reality, we compare all the time. In fact, comparing helps us to understand […]
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From Dr. John Carosso For many parents with kiddos struggling with any number of behavioral health or developmental issues such as ADHD and Autism, the Holiday Season can be an extra stressful time. Watch this Morning Minute Special below on how to prepare your child for the season. You can also find more information on my blog here.
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Written by Dr. John Carosso The discipline trap How beneficial is time-out, taking away the TV, or ‘grounding’ a child from going outside? Of course, as most parents have come to find, all of these discipline strategies can be effective. However, what happens if you rely too heavily on these strategies? Well, first, your household can become like a gulag; […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso How it all began Many years ago, starting out as a Psychologist, I came across a Principal who established a ritual with his teachers. At the conclusion of every morning meeting, he would huddle the teachers together and lead a chant “softer and closer” repeated four to five times, before sending the teachers off to […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso Subtle difference? Well, it’s really not so subtle. It’s the difference between labeling your child, or simply describing an annoying and transient behavior. What’s the big deal? When we call our kids “lazy,” “rude,” “liars,” “thieves,” or whatever, we are defining their character, and suggesting that this is their enduring quality. Okay, so now you’re […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso Yes, it’s that time It’s that ‘back to school’ time. Yes, it’s sad to see the summer coming to a close and definitely time to get back to the school routine. Summer vs. School Routine Need I mention the difference between summer and school-year routines? If you start about 2-3 weeks out, it’s much easier […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso What are some of the primary treatment modalities for Autism? One of the biggest challenges facing a parent of a child with autism is, what’s the most effective form of treatment? The choices seem endless and differentiating one from another can be a daunting task. Parents often rely on therapists to know and carry-out these […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso Focus in Treatment? Children with mild autism are treated with a very specific approach that involves clearly delineating the problem behaviors and tendencies. In that respect, we need as much detailed information about what goes wrong, and what goes well, in what situations, to what extent, for how long, and how frequently? Detailed written descriptions […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso Let’s set the stage The process of diagnosing autism is rather straightforward, such that it’s a wonder that so many kids are misdiagnosed. It may come as a surprise to you that, from my clinical experience, the issue is under, not over-diagnosis. In that respect, time and time again I have kids in my office […]
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