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Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.

Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.

New York Times Bestselling Author and International Speaker

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News

Michael Thompson interviewed on All Boy Podcast

web360 · May 7, 2025 ·

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.

Highlight Reel from visit to Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii by Michael Thompson and Rob Evans

MT · Dec 8, 2023 ·

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

MT · Nov 3, 2023 ·

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?

MT · Sep 5, 2023 ·

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

MT · Jun 10, 2016 ·

Dr. Thompson was interviewed on teaching boys consent by Boston’s local NPR station, WBUR – Boston Radio.

[Read more…] about Teaching Young Men A Culture Of Consent

Phone-Sick at Camp

MT · Jun 7, 2016 ·

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

MT · Mar 7, 2016 ·

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

MT · Feb 11, 2016 ·

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

MT · Feb 1, 2016 ·

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

MT · Nov 25, 2015 ·

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

MT · Aug 5, 2015 ·

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, Hawaii

Visit to Chautauqua

MT · Jul 9, 2015 ·

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?

[Read more…] about Visit to Chautauqua

Separating Parent & Teen College Dreams

MT · Apr 15, 2015 ·

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?

MT · Mar 15, 2015 ·

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

MT · Feb 3, 2015 ·

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

MT · Jan 30, 2015 ·

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

MT · Jan 3, 2015 ·

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

MT · Jul 16, 2014 ·

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

MT · May 8, 2014 ·

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

MT · Apr 28, 2014 ·

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

MT · Feb 9, 2014 ·

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”

MT · Feb 6, 2014 ·

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?

MT · Oct 22, 2013 ·

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

MT · Oct 22, 2013 ·

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

MT · Aug 30, 2013 ·

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

MT · Jul 23, 2013 ·

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

MT · Jun 17, 2013 ·

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

MT · Jun 8, 2013 ·

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?

MT · Jun 6, 2013 ·

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?

MT · Apr 3, 2013 ·

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

MT · Feb 22, 2013 ·

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

MT · Feb 11, 2013 ·

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

MT · Dec 9, 2012 ·

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

MT · Nov 19, 2012 ·

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

MT · Nov 12, 2012 ·

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

MT · Aug 6, 2012 ·

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

MT · Jul 31, 2012 ·

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

MT · Jul 12, 2012 ·

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

MT · Jul 6, 2012 ·

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

MT · Jul 1, 2012 ·

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

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Copyright © 2025 Michael Thompson, Ph.D.. All rights reserved. Photo of Michael Thompson, Ph.D. by A. Blake Gardner/Binnacle.

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