Posts

What’s Wrong With My Child?

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Have you ever asked yourself this question?  I have.  In my experience, children that struggle do so in cycles.  It’s like being on a rollercoaster.  Things can seem really bad for a while and then even out.  It is during the low points when parents think, “What is wrong with my child?” and “What else can I do to keep from losing my mind?”

I worked with a second grade boy because he was frequently in trouble at school.  He explained, “I’m in a bad habit right now.  I just can’t break the habit.”  This young man’s parents were wise enough to realize they could not stop his downward spin either and they contacted me.  Sometimes parents feel hopeless, like they have tried it all, and nothing works.  We worked together and developed a plan to break the negative cycle and turn things around.  It involved the child, parents, and teacher.

The parents were also considering retaining their son in second grade again.  My evaluation and insight helped them make the right decision for their family.  It was a decision based on data rather than their ever changing emotions.  Parents want what’s best for their children and consulting with a psychologist gives a holistic picture from a neutral expert.

There is always hope. There are good days ahead.  Raising a challenging child is not easy.  Be steadfast and consistent and you can turn from being discouraged to encouraged.  A listening ear and support are available.  I know because as a parent, I’ve been there!

Teach Your Child To Read

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Parents want the best for their children and it is frustrating when they struggle to learn to read. Summer is a time when many parents work with their child(ren) to enrich or strengthen their reading or math. For children struggling to read (decoding, fluency, or comprehension), the summer is a valuable time to try some different approaches to reading.
One book I recommend to parents is Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Englemann (ISBN# 0-671-63198-5). This book provides a step-by step guide of lessons that parents can use with their child for 15-20 minutes per day. The book is written in understandable parent friendly language so it is straightforward to use.  In fact, the instructions for each lesson are complete and tell parents exactly what to say and do. When compared to other commercial programs, this one was rated as doing the best job in teaching reading.  The authors state the book is appropriate for preschool children and for children who have been in school but who have not learned to read. If you teach your child using this direct instruction program, there is a very high probability they will learn to read.
 
Another book that can help parents reinforce their child’s reading development is Games for Reading: Playful Ways To Help Your Child Read. This book is written by a former reading teacher and contains games for learning words, sounds, understanding, and has a chapter on reading every day. I have used many of the book’s games with my 5-year-old son and we both enjoy them. 

Parents should find both of these books helpful.