Parents who have a child with learning or emotional differences frequently want to know what they can do to help foster growth and success for their child. Interventions that have been found to be effective where the parent can provide the actual technique will be highlighted in this section.
To get started with interventions that parents can do themselves, below is a strategic learning coaching for emotional and behavioral development template that can be used in helping students reflect on their behavior and the choices they make in a systematic way. Young children and even those that are older often need a tool to help them see the consequences of their behavioral choices. It is recommended that this template, or one like it, be used frequently – especially in the beginning, to help the student learn to think about the best course of action before responding.
I recommend that you use this template not only in situations where the student “chose the wrong course” but also to provide praise and attention for when the student “made a good course decision”. Be sure to do this in a quiet time, after the event of concern, and either have the student write in responses or dictate responses to be written by the parent. Have the student reflect on exactly what they chose to do, what the event actually was (when), identify the feeling that they have and reflect on the consequences of making that decision.
You can also use this as a teaching strategy by having the student who chose the wrong course, go back to the smooth sailing side and come up with a better response to the event (something goes wrong); how they would feel in that situation and the positive consequences that could then occur.
By repeatedly using this template, the student can pull this picture up in their mind and start to reflect before making decisions or reacting impulsively.
Parents: this is the first of many different techniques and strategies that will be offered to you through this website. Please check back so you can see them as they are added. Some upcoming interventions will include how you can help your child who has any reading issues, including Dyslexia, with fun but specifically researched and targeted strategies you can do at home. There will be many other school-related strategies as well as behavioral and emotional techniques.