Every September, it's the same hopeful ritual. New backpack. Color-coded folders. A planner with a satisfying blank grid, waiting to be filled in with good intentions. There's a real optimism to it — this year will be different. This year, homework will get done without a fight, mornings will run smoothly, and nothing will get lost in the bottom of a backpack.

 And then week three happens.

Let's be honest: back-to-school shopping usually means a list of pencils, folders, and the same three-ring binder you've bought every year since forever. But if you or your student struggles…

When the structured guardrails of the school and work year finally drop away in June (or earlier!), everyone breathes a sigh of relief. But by mid-summer, a familiar panic sets in. Parents are weary of constant screen-time negotiations, adults are wondering how it’s already July, and…

I love the anticipation of summer break. Counting down the days is akin to New Year’s Eve, when we have a built in opportunity to reflect and plan for the future. Despite this natural transition, many families opt to “wait until the fall” to start new routines when it comes to organization and time management. This is actually an amazing time to finally jump on creating that family calendar…

When people talk about the “summer slide,” they’re usually thinking about elementary school students practicing reading and math facts. But the truth is that skill loss over the summer doesn’t stop at third grade. Middle schoolers forget routines, high school students lose…

Choosing a school for your child used to feel like a simple choice: the local public school or the private school nearby. Today, the "menu" of educational options has expanded…

The stretch between winter break and spring break can feel unbearably long for students. The novelty of the new year has worn off. The weather is often gray and cold. Academic expectations ramp up. For many kids, especially those with executive functioning (EF) challenges, this time of year can be one of the most difficult to navigate. Considering…

If you’ve been following our monthly blog, you know that part of our focus over the Thanksgiving holiday and Winter Break has been on comfortable communication in family and school settings. Much of our advice has been geared towards teaching our children to communicate effectively. But sometimes, particularly…

The new year is traditionally a time for reassessing past goals and setting new ones. For those who are still in school, goals for each new year often look the same as the old: sharpen study skills; practice executive function strategies; succeed in school. So why haven’t they worked? Maybe…

Are you welcoming home a college freshman this winter break? It’s an exciting time, and also a time for adjustment. For sure there will be adjustments in transitioning your relationship from parent/child to parent/young adult. And depending on how successful or how challenging the first semester of college was…

What comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Is it turkey? Or maybe travel? No matter what you eat or where you go, Thanksgiving brings families together at the table. And that can bring some uncomfortable conversations to the forefront.

It’s hard to believe that we’re over a month into the new school year, isn’t it? By now, you’ve taken quizzes and tests in most if not all of your classes. Are your grades what you hoped they’d be?

            If not, the good news is…