Atypical Children – Extraordinary Parenting

Autism

Recognizing and Expressing Emotions: It's Complicated

David Krauss Ph.D. on August 20, 2023

We express and read emotions using nonverbal cues. People diagnosed with autism may use these kinds of cues slowly and deliberately and experience emotion processing as exhausting.

We express and read emotions using nonverbal cues. People diagnosed with autism may use these kinds of cues slowly and deliberately and experience emotion processing as exhausting.

Internet Addiction

Healthy Internet Use and Gaming: Strategies for Parents

David Krauss Ph.D. on June 26, 2023

Most parents strive to promote healthy internet use and limit gaming. Here are six ways of thinking about screens and devices—and seven practical recommendations—that can help.

Most parents strive to promote healthy internet use and limit gaming. Here are six ways of thinking about screens and devices—and seven practical recommendations—that can help.

Autism

Privileging Positive Emotions Promotes Children's Connection

David Krauss Ph.D. on May 24, 2023

Looking to promote your neurodivergent child's abilities to connect with others? Highlighting and processing positive interpersonal connection emotions can help.

Looking to promote your neurodivergent child's abilities to connect with others? Highlighting and processing positive interpersonal connection emotions can help.

Intelligence

Embracing Uncommon Minds and Multiple Intelligences

David Krauss Ph.D. on April 30, 2023

Eccentric and out of sync? Or unique and unprecedented? Atypical minds and intelligence can be gifts. Embrace and nurture them.

Eccentric and out of sync? Or unique and unprecedented? Atypical minds and intelligence can be gifts. Embrace and nurture them.

Priming

Priming Persistent Patience: Strategies for Parents

David Krauss Ph.D. on March 28, 2023

Striving to respond to your child's or adolescent's behavior problems with more patience and care and less anger? Some social psychology strategies can help.

Striving to respond to your child's or adolescent's behavior problems with more patience and care and less anger? Some social psychology strategies can help.

Autism

De-Pathologizing the ‘Intense Special Interests’ of Autism

David Krauss Ph.D. on February 19, 2023

Intense special interests, a hallmark of Autism, can be celebrated rather than pathologized and be reframed as strengths and opportunities for connection and well-being.

Intense special interests, a hallmark of Autism, can be celebrated rather than pathologized and be reframed as strengths and opportunities for connection and well-being.

Autism

The "Uncanny Valley" Is a Lonely Place

David Krauss Ph.D. on November 29, 2022

The "uncanny valley" effect can help people diagnosed with autism better understand people's reactions to their atypical behaviors and what to do in response.

The "uncanny valley" effect can help people diagnosed with autism better understand people's reactions to their atypical behaviors and what to do in response.

Intelligence

Using the "5-Tool" vs. "2- or 3-Tool Player" Analogy

David Krauss Ph.D. on August 21, 2022

This sports analogy can help parents make more sense of their children's neuropsychological testing results and understand the multiple intelligences model.

This sports analogy can help parents make more sense of their children's neuropsychological testing results and understand the multiple intelligences model.

Wisdom

A Liberal Psychologist Learns from Burkean Conservatives

David Krauss Ph.D. on March 27, 2022

Incorporating people's unique strengths and wisdom into interventions? Some conservative thinkers and liberal clinical psychologists can agree.

Incorporating people's unique strengths and wisdom into interventions? Some conservative thinkers and liberal clinical psychologists can agree.

Forgiveness

A Defiant Daughter, or a Runaway Bunny?

David Krauss Ph.D. on February 13, 2022

Is your daughter intense? Stubborn? Temperamental? Consider legendary author Margaret Wise Brown, worry less, and prize her more.

Is your daughter intense? Stubborn? Temperamental? Consider legendary author Margaret Wise Brown, worry less, and prize her more.

One useful way of thinking about children's brain networks is to compare those involved with "bottom-up" processing versus "top-down" regulation of bottom-up processing.

Resilience

Using a Resiliency Mindset to Choose Interventions for Children

David Krauss Ph.D. on July 5, 2021

Trying to sort through the various clinical therapies available to help your atypical child? Resilience research and a "resiliency mindset" offers a framework that can help.

Trying to sort through the various clinical therapies available to help your atypical child? Resilience research and a "resiliency mindset" offers a framework that can help.

Self-Esteem

Accessing Novice-to-Mastery Experiences

David Krauss Ph.D. on April 18, 2021

Want to help your neuro-developmentally atypical child to try new things and persist when frustrated? Accessing and using their past novice-to-mastery experiences can help.

Want to help your neuro-developmentally atypical child to try new things and persist when frustrated? Accessing and using their past novice-to-mastery experiences can help.

Pulitzer prize winner Isabel Wilkerson’s ‘Caste: The Origins of our Discontents’ can be used to teach the the power of cognitions to determine emotions and behaviors.

Anger

Reducing Children's Aggression Using Observational Learning

David Krauss Ph.D. on November 1, 2020

All children can be aggressive when frustrated. Neuro-developmentally atypical children experience more frustration than most. These observational learning strategies can help.

All children can be aggressive when frustrated. Neuro-developmentally atypical children experience more frustration than most. These observational learning strategies can help.

Cognition

When Life Is Like ‘Making Left Turns Against Traffic’

David Krauss Ph.D. on July 23, 2020

Many parents of atypical children report this "making left turns against traffic" analogy helps them better understand what their child's life is like and create better supports.

Many parents of atypical children report this "making left turns against traffic" analogy helps them better understand what their child's life is like and create better supports.

Relationships

Walking Together May Resolve Conflicts During the Pandemic

David Krauss Ph.D. on May 26, 2020

Research suggests that "social walking" can strengthen relationships.

Research suggests that "social walking" can strengthen relationships.

Here are some out-of-the-box suggestions for soothing stress.

Neuroscience

Aiming for Less Self-Blaming as a Parent?

David Krauss Ph.D. on February 11, 2020

Could the "butterfly effect" cause a neurodevelopmental disorder? Perhaps. Understanding brain development can help you blame yourself less and accept your child more.

Could the "butterfly effect" cause a neurodevelopmental disorder? Perhaps. Understanding brain development can help you blame yourself less and accept your child more.

Psychiatry

Blamed by Others? Blaming Yourself?

David Krauss Ph.D. on October 29, 2019

Just as it is vitally important for parents not to blame their children for their neurodevelopmental and psychiatric problems, it is also vitally important not to blame themselves.

Just as it is vitally important for parents not to blame their children for their neurodevelopmental and psychiatric problems, it is also vitally important not to blame themselves.