Resources For Families and Educators

Children and Stress in NYC

The stress response in children represents an opportunity to teach healthy, adaptive coping strategies. Responding to stress is different than reacting to it. A stress reaction is when a child encounters a combination of internal and external stressors that trigger stressful reactions. The latter is usually automatic and based on habits of the past. A response, such as a mindful one, is a healthy proactive positive approach and alternative to reacting.

In young children this stress reaction can be a "melt down," a tantrum, or emotional dysregulation. In middle school aged or teenage children, it presents as sadness, anger, depression, and certainly anxiety. The automatic habit-based stress reactions are less healthy and we know this from a physiological perspective as studies have proved the effect stress reactions have on the heart, the brain, the circulatory system, pain management, etc.

Interventions for Executive Functioning Challenges: Children, Teens, and Young Adults

Questions often arise in consultations or assessments about strategies and interventions for children and young adults when executive functioning weaknesses are evident. Sometimes these challenges are in isolation, or they very commonly also overlap with other factors like anxiety and learning disorders. Interventions in school settings, such as preferential seating arrangements where both auditory and visual stimuli are optimal are essential. Extended time on tests, usually defined as time and a half on testing, is also a common recommendation as is a separate, quiet testing location either in small group or individually.

Executive Functions and Attention: A Neuropsychological Assessment Perspective

Neuropsychological performance can be considered as comprising five domains of functioning: Cognition, Memory & Learning, Verbal Functions, & Visuospatial Functions. Overlap among all 5 aspects should be assumed since the brain is integrated with neural connections across all areas of functioning. The prefrontal cortex (frontal lobes) of the brain houses the executive system. The executive system links up with all the brain systems and regulates them as needed in the service of goal-directed behavior. All cognitive systems are sensitive to frontal lobe pathology and that is why it is referred to as an important overseer of development and functioning in children and young adults.