As we start into a new school year, consider whether or not your child(ren) has the best skills to be successful in school environments.

School life can be highly stressful nowadays for a variety of reasons. Bullying has increased. Testing is imminent. Expectations are often high or non-existent, depending on the child or the school situation. How can you arm your child(ren) to be successful in the ever-increasing social and educational stresses of school life?
- Know your child and their needs.
- Does your child need extra support academically, behaviorally, or emotionally?
- Resources such as 504s for behavioral support – anything from anxiety to disruptive outbursts – can be arranged.
- Does your child need to be assessed to determine deficits that can be supported medically, emotionally, academically, or in some other way?
- Be brave enough to stand up for what is best for your child.
- Provide your child with the necessary skills.
- Due to our current technology-focused culture, many children and even adults are missing invaluable skills needed to be successful.
- Communication, social cue recognition, the ability to interact socially and engage emotionally, and the ability to carry on a conversation with peers and teachers are all skills highly lacking in many of our youth today.
- Many games of all types teach important social skills such as turn-taking, sharing, strategies, point of view, problem-solving, listening, following instructions, and being a good loser or winner. Play games with your kids and help them practice these types of skills in a safe environment.
- Be the safe space your child needs to share challenges, disappointments, and successes.
- Life can be hard, even for kids. We all need a safe person to share with sometimes.
- Listen. Don’t judge or criticize. Offer counsel when asked or if needed.
- Have their back! Even if that means letting them experience the earned consequences of poor choices. This is how we learn to make better choices.
- Be sure to let your child(ren) know you believe in them.
- Share in the joy of their accomplishments. Celebrate their successes!
Model for your child how to meet challenges, overcome disappointments, and celebrate successes in healthy ways.
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