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Greetings!
"Those Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer" was Nat King Cole's summertime hit during the summer of 1963. For those of us who are baby boomers, we remember those days. Summer stretched from early June through Labor Day. Summertime meant freedom from school, no bedtime, no time when we had to get up, day after day of time with friends, and family vacations in the car. Only a lucky few went to summer camps. Although we could safely walk or ride our bikes most anywhere, mothers were usually around to drive us wherever we wanted to go. Unlike today, I can't remember anyone who worked with tutors or went to summer remediation programs. But those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are a thing of the past. Summers look very different for today's youth. Summer vacation is much shorter now - usually only 10 weeks. Most children have two working parents, which means that the adults have arranged for some type of child care and structure during the day. Weeklong summer day camps abound, allowing elementary age children to have a variety of experiences and improve their skills and abilities in sports, the arts, computers, and most every other imaginable area of interest. There are fewer options for teenagers. Middle school and high school students are usually able to remain at home without adult-provided structure, but parents have many more worries about their safety. The neighbors aren't always watching out for each other's children, walking and riding bikes for a distance is not as safe, and youth come into contact with many more strangers via the internet and texting. Many students have had difficult school years and are in need of academic remediation. Here are some tips for parents as they venture into the Summer of 2012: - Try not to over-schedule your child this summer. If they are going to summer day camps, that may be enough structure and activity for them. Allow time to go swimming in the evenings, take a walk, ride your bikes, or just watch a movie together.
- Have family dinners - maybe a bit later, but still together.
- Go get ice cream - as a treat, not a reward.
- Be realistic about how much academic work your child can be expected to do or you can be expected to work with them on. If possible, have them work with a tutor during the day so you don't feel obligated to do it in the evening.
- Realize that, unless your child is in some form of intensive remediation program, summer tutoring will help him/her maintain skills but not close the gap.
- If you have teenagers, don't allow too much freedom. Give them strict rules and boundaries. Arrange for random check-ins from a neighbor, relative, or friend. Consider putting GPS on their phone so you know where they are - not where they say they are.
- Make sure to take a family vacation, even though the teenagers will protest. Family vacations create memories that will last forever. Somehow children forget the long car rides, the family bickering about who gets what seat, the long lines, and the cramped hotel rooms. They remember the time together and idealize that as adults.
CRG launched this e-newsletter last summer. The year since then has flown by! We thank you for your interest in our work as we expand efforts to serve the community with the best professional diagnostic, therapeutic, pharmacological, and educational services we can provide. In this Summer issue, we hope you will enjoy a range of timely topics, including: - IRead-3: How to support your child and work with your school if low scores require you to take some additional steps.
- Summer Groups at CRG: We are pleased to offer a range of groups for children, adolescents, and adults this summer. They are filling quickly so don't delay in calling CRG to register or gather more information.
- From our Physician's Corner: New information about nutritional supplements for your children.
- College Search Tips: How to organize effective campus visits when your student has LD, ADHD, or another disability.
- Book Review: "IMAGINE - How Creativity Works"
- "Igniting the Passion" - Read more about one CRG provider's passion for the November bullying prevention symposium which she is helping to spearhead.
- Meet the Provider: Welcome Dr. Sandy Burkhardt.
- Meet the Staff Member: Let's hear from Sam Baker.
Sincerely, Julie T. Steck Psychologist and Founding Partner |
| IREAD-3: Something New for Parents to Worry About | | |
Julie T. Steck, Ph.D., HSPP
Psychologist
 Parents of elementary school children have one more thing to worry about now: Will their child pass the IREAD-3 Assessment? This new standardized test was designed to measure whether a student has acquired the foundational reading skills needed to progress to Grade 4. The assessment springs from Public Law 109, which requires the evaluation of reading skills for students who are in 3rd grade beginning in the Spring 2012 semester. In response to Public Law 109, educators from across the state worked with the Indiana Department of Education to develop a test blueprint and to review test questions that have now become the Indiana Reading Evaluation And Determination (IREAD-3) Assessment.
Continue reading about the first administration of the IREAD-3. |
| 2012 Summer Groups at CRG | | |
David Parker, Ph.D.
Postsecondary Disability Specialist
 Based on parent requests, CRG is pleased to offer several groups this summer for a range of age groups and purposes. A minimum of three (3) participants is necessary to start and sustain a group. As many families have learned over the years, CRG groups provide a safe and structured way to develop better social skills and learn more about yourself from interacting with peers who share similar needs and interests. All CRG groups are run by highly trained and experienced professionals who charge a reduced rate for group activities. Make CRG a part of your summer plans. Call (317) 575-9111 now to register - spaces are limited.
Click here to view CRG's Summer Group offerings. |
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The Physician's Corner:
Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplements | |
Jason Rowland, M.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Summer can provide more time for parents to interact with and even observe their children or teenagers. Since most students are out of school in the summer, the summer months can also be a low-risk time to consider the use of food supplements as a supplemental way to treat symptoms of attentional or mood disorders. This article will speak to these considerations with a focus on omega 3 fatty acid supplements.
Omega 3 fatty acid supplements such as fish oil, krill oil and flaxseed oil have gotten much attention in the past few years for their reported benefits, including reported improvements in mental health and brain functioning. As with all claims for benefits of nutritional supplements, it is important to look at the data supporting these claims with a critical eye.
Click here to explore the potential benefits - and side effects - of Omega 3 fatty acids.
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| Campus Visits on the College Search Trail | |
 David Parker, Ph.D.Postsecondary Disability Specialist
For older high school students and their parents, summer is a wonderful time to visit colleges of interest. The months after a student's sophomore or junior year are an ideal time to do this. Websites provide a wealth of information, but nothing replaces the experience of soaking up campus sites and sounds in person. That said, time and travel expenses can limit a family's ability to carry out an extensive search. This article offers suggestions for maximizing the benefits of any trips you can make.
Click here to learn Dr. Parker's strategies for a successful college search. |
| Book Review: IMAGINE - How Creativity Works | | |
Postsecondary Disability Specialist
Back in the day, summers involved leisurely vacations, lazy afternoons at the pool or beach, and sufficient time to savor a good book. These days, we are more likely to read or listen to digital publications while commuting or working out at a gym. Regardless of your current multitasking habits, treat yourself to a well-written and energizing read this summer by Jonah Lehrer. His new book, IMAGINE - How Creativity Works (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012), is a delight. With a user-friendly writing style and fascinating explanations of the origins of many well-known inventions, Lehrer helps us understand how our brains solve problems in ways that can enrich the world.
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| Igniting the Passion: Prevention of Bullying and Peer Aggression | |
 Nancy Lindhjem, Ed.S., NCSP School Psychologist
Passion is a funny thing. Sometimes it lies dormant like the perennials in my garden over the long, cold winter months. Other times, it's as evident as a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Currently, my passion falls into this latter category.
Last fall, several of us at CRG decided to address an issue that has been a concern to us for quite some time - bullying and what steps we can take to prevent it. We see students of all ages in our practice, many of whom have fallen into one of three typical categories in regard to bullying and peer aggression: bullies, victims, or bystanders. It is clear that a new category needs to be developed. It is incumbent upon all of us, as mental health professionals, parents, school personnel, medical providers, law enforcement, community members, etc., to help create a cadre of upstanders, people who will not just look the other way, walk off, or join in when others are being victimized. Instead, we need to help our children demonstrate compassion, strength, and courage in helping to put an end to these harmful behaviors. It is this cause that has ignited my passion.
To read more from Nancy, click here. |
| Provider Spotlight: Sandra Burkhardt, Ph.D., ABPP | |
David Parker, Ph.D.
Postsecondary Disability Specialist
DP: What is your role here at CRG? Please tell us more about your specialty areas and the types of services you will be providing at CRG.
SB: It is my sincere pleasure to join the professional staff of CRG as a clinical psychologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that impact healthy development of children, teens and adults.
My area of specialization is Autism Spectrum Disorders, including the assessment of pervasive developmental disorders and the formulation of positive, comprehensive treatment plans for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families.
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Meet the Staff:
Samantha Baker, Front Office Supervisor | | |
Sarah Kelly
Accounting Assistant
Samantha (Sam) Baker has been part of CRG's front office team since July 2008 when she began as a Front Office Coordinator. Her empathetic, helpful, and responsive attitude toward our clients quickly made her one of the most popular faces in the office! I briefly interviewed Sam so everyone could get to know her a little bit better.
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