Posts by Dawn Ilardi
Does Online Socializing Help Kids Build Social Skills?
Your teenager may spend hours texting friends, sharing videos, talking while gaming, or connecting over FaceTime. Yet, when you suggest inviting someone over, going to an activity, or spending time with friends in person, they may be less interested. So….. Does all of that online communication really count as socializing? The answer is not simply yes…
Read More“I’ve Told Them a Hundred Times!” Why Some Children Struggle with Everyday Routines
Every parent has experienced some version of this… You ask your child to get ready for bed. Ten minutes later, they’re still sitting on the couch. You remind them to brush their teeth. They wander into their room instead. You ask them to put their plate in the sink. They leave it on the table.…
Read MoreIs My Child Lazy? What Their Behavior May Actually Be Telling You
Few words worry parents more than lazy. It often starts with observations that seem difficult to explain. Your child avoids homework, but happily spends hours building with Legos. They can focus for hours on a video game but struggle to even begin a writing assignment. They promise they’ll clean their room, but somehow never get started. Or…
Read MoreMy Child Is a Picky Eater. When Should I Be Concerned?
Few parenting challenges create as much daily stress as mealtime. One child happily eats almost anything that is served (at least before a certain age…). Another insists on the same five foods every day. One refuses vegetables. Another won’t eat foods that touch each other. Some children gag when trying a new food, while others…
Read MoreHelping A Child Find Their Own Voice
We all want children who can make decisions, solve problems, express their needs, and eventually navigate adulthood without relying on someone else to tell them what to do. We want our children to become independent, but also confident and happy. But how we should build and support a child’s ability to find their own voice is…
Read MoreWhy Some Kids Forget How to Play Without Screens
During school breaks or weekends, parents report that their child is “bored” when screens are removed. They wander around the house, complain that “there’s nothing to do,” or seem unable to settle into independent play. Some children move quickly from one activity to another without staying engaged for long. Others become frustrated, restless, or emotionally…
Read MoreWhy Bright Kids Get Missed
Parents of bright children describe a similar and confusing experience when concerns arise: Their child is described to be very capable, intelligent, creative, or advanced. They may read above grade level, speak like little adults, or do well on (most) tests. But at the same time, something doesn’t fully add up. Homework may take far longer…
Read MoreIs My Child Too Young for an Evaluation?
When parents of a young child start to observe developmental differences with language, attention, behavior, school readiness, social connections, and more – they often wonder… Is my child too young for a neurodevelopmental evaluation? Let’s talk about what an evaluation at a young age actually does—and what it does not do. An Evaluation Is Not…
Read MoreShould You Tell Your Child Their Diagnosis? (explaining ADHD, autism, and learning disorders)
One of the most common questions parents ask after an evaluation is: “Should I tell my child their diagnosis?” The simple answer is, “yes”… but let’s talk through why, how and when. Sometimes the diagnosis feels helpful and clarifying. Other times it feels heavy. Parents may worry about labeling, stigma, or whether their child will see themselves differently. …
Read MoreWhat Research Is Teaching Us About Dyslexia
Over the past two decades, researchers have learned much more about how children learn to read, why some children struggle, and how best to support them. As a neuropsychologist who frequently evaluates children for dyslexia and other learning differences, I believe it is important for families to understand how this evolving research is shaping the…
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