When Something Feels Off, Start Here.

Practical guidance to help you understand your child’s learning, attention, executive functioning, and emotional needs, and recognize when it may be time to look more closely.

Written by Dr. Duhning, a Long Island neuropsychologist specializing in children and adolescents.

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Why Is My Child Suddenly Hating School?

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What to Do This Summer If Your Child Struggled All Year in School

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Don’t Wait Until Next School Year

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Why Does My Child Guess Words When Reading?

If you’ve ever sat next to your child during homework and thought “that’s not the word…” You’re not alone.

Many parents notice the same pattern:

Your child looks at the first letter… and guesses.
They substitute a word that kind of makes sense.
They skip small words like “the” or “of.”
They turn “horse” into “house.”
They read quickly but inaccurately.
Or they read slowly and still guess.

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Why Did My Child Fall Apart in Middle School?

If you’re asking this question, you’re probably feeling blindsided.

Your child may have done fine in elementary school. Homework wasn’t a battle. Teachers didn’t raise major concerns. School felt manageable or maybe even easy at times.

And then middle school hit.

Suddenly, your kids grades dropped. Homework started taking hours. Anxiety showed up where it never had before. Your child became overwhelmed, irritable, exhausted, or withdrawn. School went from “fine” to emotionally charged almost overnight.

Parents often say: “Nothing big changed…”

But the truth is: a lot changed, even if it wasn’t obvious.