In this conversation, clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Thompson and Chance Seales delve into the redshirting movement in American schools, exploring the developmental differences between boys and girls, the implications of ADHD and learning disabilities, and the socio-economic factors influencing educational decisions.
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Highlight Reel from visit to Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii by Michael Thompson and Rob Evans
Dr. Michael Thompson and Dr. Rob Evans just returned from a week-long trip to the Kamehameha Schools. They visited all three campuses, including the campus on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Here is a video from their trip.
Why “Free Play” Is So Important For Kids’ Development
Best-selling therapist Dr. Michael Thompson feels strongly that boys shouldn’t be required to sit still all day. He also wants parents to let go so their kids can play on their own. Ah, for the good old days.
The Lisa Wexler Show Podcast is accessible here: https://shows.acast.com/6398bb70ee249200127c1182/episodes/raising-boys-vs-raising-girls
Can Teachers And Parents Get Better At Talking To One Another?
Michael Thompson was interviewed by Jessica Winter. The article appeared in the September 5, 2023 edition of the New Yorker Magazine.
Families are more anxious than ever to find out what happens in school. But there may be value in a measure of not-knowing and not-telling.”
The story can be read here: https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-education/can-teachers-and-parents-get-better-at-talking-to-one-another
Teaching Young Men A Culture Of Consent
Dr. Thompson was interviewed on teaching boys consent by Boston’s local NPR station, WBUR – Boston Radio.
Phone-Sick at Camp
Dr. Thompson was recently quoted in Jill Harris’ “Phone-Sick at Camp” column in the New York Times. [Read more…] about Phone-Sick at Camp
How to Tell If Sleepaway Camp Is Right for Your Kid
Dr. Thompson was recently interviewed by Rachel Peachman for Parents Magazine on summer sleep away camps, homesickness and how time away from home can foster a child’s sense of freedom. [Read more…] about How to Tell If Sleepaway Camp Is Right for Your Kid
Interview from the American School of Dubai
Dr. Thompson flew to Dubai on February 5th to conduct faculty workshops and speak to students at the American School of Dubai. Over the course of three days he spoke to every student from fifth through twelfth grade in assemblies, he conducted three faculty workshops, and made three presentations to parents. He was also a guest on the student television network, hosted by Alexa, a terrific (and well-prepared) interviewer.
Visit to the Ontario Camp Association conference in Toronto
In mid-January I flew up to Toronto to speak to the Ontario Camp Association annual conference from my book Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grown. The combination of the words “camp” and “Ontario” has special significance for me because it was at a canoe tripping camp in that Canadian province that I first achieved a measure of the independence for which I yearned as a boy. The summer after I turned fourteen I attended Camp Keewaydin, a legendary camp on Lake Temagami, three hundred miles north of Toronto.
[Read more…] about Visit to the Ontario Camp Association conference in Toronto
American School of the Hague and ISA
I have been traveling a lot this fall: three trips to California, three trips to North Carolina and one journey to the Netherlands. My trips have raised some interesting questions that I would like to share with my readers over the next few weeks.
[Read more…] about American School of the Hague and ISA
Workshop for School Administrators in Honolulu, Hawaii
In late July, Rob Evans and I traveled to the Punahou School in Honolulu to run a workshop for school administrators from all over Hawaii along with a couple from the West Coast. Because of Punahou’s annual Student Leadership conference was underway at the same time, Ruth Fletcher, the director of professional development for Punahou, invited their chaperones, all educators from India, China and Japan, to join our workshop. It was a challenge for us to make our examples of administrative problems from U.S. independent schools relevant for, say, a public school principal from Japan, but in the end the realities of school administration, the developmental stages of students and the nature of teachers allowed us to find common ground.
[Read more…] about Workshop for School Administrators in Honolulu, HawaiiVisit to Chautauqua
I just spent two packed and exciting days at Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York. I had been hoping for an invitation from Chautauqua for four or five years, ever since Kathy and Jim Pender of Cleveland suggested that I would be a good fit for the audiences there. Chautauqua more than lived up to my expectations. Is there any more enthusiastic summer learning community anywhere in America?
Separating Parent & Teen College Dreams
Dr. Thompson was interviewed by Randi Mazzella for her article about college-bound teens and their parents, and the way in which the parents have to think about their dreams and their teens’ college dreams. [Read more…] about Separating Parent & Teen College Dreams
Do Fathers Matter?
In January, Dr. Thompson was the keynote speaker for the “Do Fathers Matter?” parenting conference at the 92nd Street. He participated in a panel discussion focusing on new research on fathering which included sociologist Dr. Michael Kimmel, the author of “Guyland,” Paul Raeburn, the author of “Do Fathers Matter?” and Columbia Professor James Curley, a neuroscientist studying brain changes associated with parenting. [Read more…] about Do Fathers Matter?
How to Handle Homesickness
Dr. Thompson was interviewed by Lisa Flam in a piece titled Those Tear-Stained Letters Home: How to Handle Homesickness for ABC News. [Read more…] about How to Handle Homesickness
The Importance of Summer Camp for Kids and Teens
Dr. Thompson was recently interviewed by NYMetroParents about the value of summer camp for children. [Read more…] about The Importance of Summer Camp for Kids and Teens
How to Tell If Your Child Is the Class Bully
Dr. Thompson was interviewed by Barbara F. Meltz of SafeBee.com about how to deal with the question of whether your child is a bully. [Read more…] about How to Tell If Your Child Is the Class Bully
Maternal Separation Anxiety: It’s Hard to Let Go
As part of a discussion about maternal separation anxiety on the Kars4Kids Blog, Dr. Thompson was interviewed about summer camps and “childsickness.” [Read more…] about Maternal Separation Anxiety: It’s Hard to Let Go
Harnessing boys’ strengths and passions to improve academic achievement
Dr. Thompson was interviewed by Gwen Ifill as part of a PBS NewsHour segment on Parenting titled “Harnessing boys’ strengths and passions to improve academic achievement.” [Read more…] about Harnessing boys’ strengths and passions to improve academic achievement
Hank Azaria’s Fatherhood Documentary Series
Dr. Thompson appears in episodes of actor Hank Azaria’s 12-part documentary series “Fatherood” in which Azaria “navigates the touching, enlightening, and humorous journey of becoming a father, collecting advice from pals, experts, and ordinary dads-on the-street as he goes.” [Read more…] about Hank Azaria’s Fatherhood Documentary Series
“The Pressured Child” at Marymount of Santa Barbara
Dr. Thompson’s talk "The Pressured Child" at Marymount of Santa Barbara was reported in the local paper, Noozhawk. [Read more…] about “The Pressured Child” at Marymount of Santa Barbara
Teen Kid News segment on “Surviving Middle School”
Dr. Thompson was featured in a Teen Kid News segment “Surviving Middle School” which has been nominated for an New York Emmy Award for Best Education Feature/Segment [Read more…] about Teen Kid News segment on “Surviving Middle School”
Overscheduled Children: How Big a Problem?
Dr. Thompson was recently quoted in Bruce Feiler’s "This Life" column in the New York Times. [Read more…] about Overscheduled Children: How Big a Problem?
Parenting Workshop in Romania
At the end of September, Dr. Thompson traveled to Romania at the invitation of Otilia Mantelers to conduct a two-day parenting workshop for Hand to Hand Parenting and Totul Despre Mame, a Romanian parenting website [Read more…] about Parenting Workshop in Romania
While Kids Are at Camp, Parents Get a Guilt-Free Break
Dr. Thompson was quoted in a piece in the Wall Street Journal titled “While Kids Are at Camp, Parents Get a Guilt-Free Break” by Alina Dizik [Read more…] about While Kids Are at Camp, Parents Get a Guilt-Free Break
Summer Camp: where kids grow up on their own and parents back home stay the same
John Dickerson, Political Correspondent for Slate.com, mentions Homesick and Happy in his article “Summer Camp: where kids grow up on their own and parents back home stay the same [Read more…] about Summer Camp: where kids grow up on their own and parents back home stay the same
Homesick and Happy on the Ask Stefanie Show
Stefanie Weiss interviewed Dr. Thompson for the Ask Stefanie Show on The Coffee Klatch #Blogtalkradio Network on the subject of summer camps and homesickness [Read more…] about Homesick and Happy on the Ask Stefanie Show
Messages for an Anxious Camper
The American Camp Association “Parents Place” blog featured an article from Audrey Monke that offers some practical advice for anxious campers [Read more…] about Messages for an Anxious Camper
Sleepaway Camp: A Remedy for Overparenting?
Rachel Pomerance of US News & World Report interviewed Dr. Thompson for a piece titled Sleepaway Camp: A Remedy for Overparenting? [Read more…] about Sleepaway Camp: A Remedy for Overparenting?
Best Friends Forever?
Dr. Thompson was quoted in a recent article that appeared on New Jersey Family titled “Best Friends Forever”. The article explores the importance of bonds between best friends. An excerpt [Read more…] about Best Friends Forever?
Boys Behaving Badly
Dr. Thompson was interviewed about “Boys Behaving Badly” by Erin Janda Rawlings of the Mommy on the Spot Blog [Read more…] about Boys Behaving Badly
Avenues School – The Pressured Child
Dr. Thompson spoke at the Avenues School in New York in December covering topics from his book “The Pressured Child.” Below is a video excerpt from the event [Read more…] about Avenues School – The Pressured Child
Camp Champions Talk
In November, Dr. Thompson was invited by Camp Champions of Marbles Falls, TX to speak at three events in Austin, Dallas and Houston. The following video includes highlights from the events. [Read more…] about Camp Champions Talk
Upcoming Event: The Willows Community School
Dr. Thompson is scheduled to speak at The Willows Community School in Culver City on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 7pm. [Read more…] about Upcoming Event: The Willows Community School
Camp Champions Event at the Episcopal School of Dallas
Dr. Thompson spoke at an event sponsored by Camp Champions at the Episcopal School of Dallas on Monday, November 12. [Read more…] about Camp Champions Event at the Episcopal School of Dallas
Summer Camp: Great for Kids, Even Better for Parents
Homesick and Happy was recently featured in a piece on Time Magazine’s Healthland Blog. Here is an excerpt from the piece: [Read more…] about Summer Camp: Great for Kids, Even Better for Parents
Appearance on KPBS Midday Edition
Dr. Thompson appeared as a guest on KPBS Midday Edition to discuss the importance of experiencing independence at camp in a child’s development. An excerpt: [Read more…] about Appearance on KPBS Midday Edition
Appearance on Vermont Public Radio: What I Learned at Summer Camp
I was a guest on Vermont Edition on Vermont Public Radio recently to discuss how camp helps children grow. You can listen to the full discussion and join the discussion [Read more…] about Appearance on Vermont Public Radio: What I Learned at Summer Camp
CNN Profile on Raising Independent Children
Dr. Thompson was recently interviewed by CNN’s Michael Schulder on the topic of raising independent children. [Read more…] about CNN Profile on Raising Independent Children
2012 Aspen Festival of Ideas
Dr. Thompson was a panelist for the seminar titled “Raising Boys, Engaging Guys & Educating Men: What Works?” at the 2012 Aspen Festival of Ideas hosted at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colorado. [Read more…] about 2012 Aspen Festival of Ideas