Parenting Our Children

On a much more serious note, Judaism prescribes many rules that we follow that involve both moral and religious codes.

It’s been more than six months since The Jewish Press published an op-ed titled “Orthodox Homosexuals and the Pursuit of Self Indulgence.” In the article, the writer, while not mentioning my name, calls me shameless and self-indulgent and suggests that I learn to suffer in silence.

There is always a lot of confusion surrounding sensory processing disorder – mainly because there are many different diagnoses that fall under the catch-all phrase sensory processing disorder (SPD). Among them are three specific subcategories:

What follows is story of a regular family and a tragedy that unfolded while we were not looking.

When asked about concerns they have about returning home after their year, one of the most popular responses is something like, “I am dreading all the questions about my skirts and sleeve length."

Kids with NVLD are very verbal and often do not have academic problems until they get to the upper grades in school.

The eight stages are usually by age (though in some cases the ages are fluid).

Rachel is a bubbly and adorable 8-year-old girl. From a young age, she was afraid of the dark, but after a minimal amount of coaxing, would eventually go to bed. Outside of the home, Rachel loved school, excelled in her classes, and looked forward to going to school each day. Suddenly, one night, all of this changed. Rachel would not go to bed. She claimed she was afraid of the dark. After four hours of her mother sitting beside her bed, Rachel finally fell asleep; however, she awoke an hour later screaming, "Please don't leave me alone. I can't be alone." Rachel's mother, in an effort to calm her down, spent the night on the floor beside the bed. Even so, Rachel woke about every half-hour to check that her mother was still there.

You aren’t given a manual when you have a child and there’s no survival guide to tell you what to do.

We avoid difficult conversations, we react with anger, and we eat our feelings without knowing why.

For many children, going to school involves spending their mornings and afternoons traveling to their destination amid classmates and chatter on a large yellow bus. But for a growing number of children all around the world, the process of getting an education may involve no commuting at all.

Meet Noam, a ninth grader I worked with several years ago. Noam came to my office because he was struggling with his biology curriculum. Though Noam was extremely smart, he had ADHD, which made it hard for him to focus on all of the material presented during class. Before we even looked at the material together, I asked Noam how he learned best. His face was blank as he responded, “Um, Mrs. Schonfeld, I really am not sure.”

In any relationship, the words that people say are extremely significant, but it is the unspoken language of friendship that truly allows relationships to flourish and grow.

If you are stuck in a traffic jam, how does your date respond to the frustration of being late?

She was moody and remote, absorbed in her books. She did well in school with barely any effort but her social skills lagged far behind her academic achievement.

Explosiveness is not confined to a type or a gender. It comes in male and female children, and in all ages, shapes and sizes. Some blow up dozens of times a day, others just a few times a week. Some “lose it” only at home, others only in school, and still others in any conceivable location.

In today's world of mounting pressures and continuous change, we need to take a few minutes to reset our perspectives and figure out what matters most.

What easier method to ensure that they are really studying their brochos than by sponsoring a schoolwide brochos contest with much fanfare?

By multiple intelligences, we mean that people have different intelligences in different areas.

Twice exceptional children have a combination of exceptional intellectual power and uncommonly formidable mental roadblocks.

Only as an adult was O’Toole diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. That is when things fell into place for her.

It’s hard to believe, but friendship truly begins by believing in yourself and having the ability to accept both constructive criticism and affection.

Along with higher than average intelligence, gifted children often have stronger than average emotions.

Ultimately, the stakes will be raised even higher as the insatiable child learns he can hold his parents hostage with bad behavior until he wheedles out of them just about everything he wants.

Why should we not carry ourselves with pride and personal power?

If NVLD is misunderstood, these children can develop more serious emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, and phobias.

My approach to teaching is to take a “discussion-based constructivist approach” to learning, encouraging children to arrive at their own understanding of Torah through text-based study and a great deal of discussion. I constantly encourage them to think, ask questions and to arrive at their own insights into the Torah.

A final way to build self-esteem in your children and your family is simply to tell each other when you enjoy each other’s company.

Dear Rabbi Horowitz: As the parents of three teenage boys, we are frightened each Purim that our kids will drink heavily and, chas v'shalom, get violently ill - or worse, get hurt in a car crash.

He believes that the best way to get ahead in life is to build character.