environment Archives - Dr Jennifer Smith

Kids are genetically similar! No, all kids are genetically different!

March 25, 2019

The argument Here’s John at consultation, father of 14 year old Jade, and 10 year old Mathew, with reference to Jade: “Teenage girls are all genetically the same. They behave the same, they look the same, they sound the same, and they all change friends as frequently as they change their clothes.” Here’s my next client, Emily. She’s the mother of Lance, 8 years, and James, 10 years: “Everybody’s different. No two humans are genetically alike. I like the fact…

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Child sexual abuse in Australia: By definition, a glass mostly empty

April 4, 2018

Most Australians would be highly distressed by the outcomes of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2017). The most trusted and revered of institutions like the Church and a few esteemed schools have been exposed as participants in the crime against children. It’s not surprising then, that non-institutional child sexual abuse (NCSA) is currently on the public’s radar. With the horrified look of dreaded uncertainty, a number of parents have recently warned me about their…

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Sibling Rivalry is a Triple-Edged Sword

March 28, 2017

Guardian.co.uk, Thursday 7 April 2011. The Milliband siblings It’s a long time ago now and the world is a very different place, but does anyone remember the 2011 newspaper photograph of the hugging brothers, David and Edward Milliband (above)? Their congratulatory embrace occurred just after the younger Edward defeated David in the election for leader of the British Labour party. There is something admirable about the Milliband brothers’ generous gesture of sibling support – the older David so gracious in…

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A Tribute To The Unsung: Dina, her ilk and autism

May 17, 2016

We invited Dina, a tall, elegant Special Education teacher, to our peer-supervision meeting where we psychologists- teachers must discuss clinical cases to ensure that we stay on track. We sat around a table loaded with delicious snacky food: sushi and finger-size sandwiches and sliced vegies waiting to be dipped. After about ten minutes of eating and small talk, I asked Dina about her work. Rewarding rapport She smiled broadly. “I love teaching kids with autism. The rapport’s huge and every…

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OVERWEIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE: FOOD, EXERCISE, AND THE THIRD FACTOR

October 13, 2015

OVERWEIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE: FOOD, EXERCISE, AND THE THIRD FACTOR Wide girths are widespread Over the past three decades, child and teenage overweight and obesity levels have tripled in the developed world. The data is sobering. Current estimates are that about 15 percent of American children and teenagers are overweight, and about 17 percent of young people are obese. Puppy fat is tenacious The prevalence is of medical, social and – Michelle Obama might add – political concern because puppy and…

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From whence kids’ difficult genes?

September 14, 2015

QANDAKIDS PARENT: “My daughter [thirteen year old Chloe] is just like her father and her grandmother. She has their difficult, temperamental genes!” Chloe’s mum was confident that she’d nailed the source of her daughter’s volatile behaviour. QANDAKIDS COMMENT I had to smile. I’ve thought and said similarly about my children with reference to their troublesome traits. Many of the mums that I see in my practice have voiced comparable sentiments, eyes rolling, heads slowly moving from side to side: “Jusssttt…

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Are kids leopards? Or hydrangeas?

August 8, 2015

Linda plonked herself down with a weight of dejected sadness. “A leopard can’t change its spots! Do you really think a child can change his spots? To be honest, I’m not sure why I’m here. There’s no point. He’ll never change.” Her ‘leopard’, 13-year-old Sam, “had always been difficult”. Linda made the appointment because his inflexible, explosive behaviour had deteriorated progressively, together with his oppositional defiance, and “the family can no longer stand it”. “At the moment I don’t like…

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Why hurried teens crack

July 30, 2015

QANDAKIDS CONSULTATION Sixteen year old Jessica is ‘hurried‘ to the point of cracking. She was originally referred to me by a general physician for an assessment and treatment of her anxiety and Oppositional Defiance Disorder. At session, her parents unwittingly described her hurriedness. They place an extremely high premium on her school achievement, her homework commitment and her success in her extracurricular pursuits. She spends every afternoon after school engaged in an activity and she completes all her homework at…

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6 things you need to know about Minion madness.

July 29, 2015

QANDAKIDS QUESTION : “My quite aggro alpha male four-year-old is obsessed with the Minions, but I worry that they aren’t a good role model for him? QANDAKIDS REPLY: I totally get your concern. For those who don’t have young children, the photograph above is of a Minion; a popular children’s movie character. Minions are essentially impulsive pranksters. Like over-tired kids at a chaotic birthday party, their behaviour is often aggressive, rowdy, giggly, annoying and – sometimes endearing. So, they’re probably…

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Children’s temper tantrums: time-in or time-out?

July 23, 2015

Children’s temper tantrums: time-in or time-out? A response to Dr. Siegel QANDAKIDS QUESTION: “My 7-year-old, Zoe, is an absolute angel at school. We know she’s smart but our jaws drop when her teacher tells us she’s an ‘absolute pleasure’ We tell her we love her all the time and we give her hugs and kisses whenever we can. We’re honestly very loving parents. But, seriously, every day, over literally nothing, she can go from zero to a hundred in a…

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