Talking To Your Child About Testing
You’ve decided that an assessment will be critical for your child’s future: to better understand your child and get them the help that they need. But how do you communicate this to your child? How do you help your child become as excited and invested in the process as you are? While every family may have a different variation on this conversation, here are some ideas and tips to get you started.
The Basics
The purpose of an assessment is to learn about how you learn. This helps teachers know how to teach you, it helps parents know the best ways to support you, and helps you know how to advocate for yourself.
A basic way to explain the assessment to your child may sound like this:
I’ve noticed this year seems tough for you. Even though you’re doing so well in ___, I notice ___ is getting really hard, but I’m not sure why. I’ve been thinking that if we knew more about how you learn, your teachers and I could do a better job teaching you. Last week, we met with a person who could help us find a way to make school easier for you. We’d like you to work with her for a few sessions to help us figure out what we can do differently.
A Different Kind of Doctor’s Appointment
Children may have all kinds of ideas of what “going to the doctor” looks like. It’s important to let them know that they are not sick, and there is nothing wrong with them. Rather, this is a place where you get to learn about your brain and how it works! Also, there will be no shots and no gross medicines at this doctor’s office.
Here’s what will happen:
Dr. Banda will do different activities with you to figure out how you learn best, where your strengths are, and why some things are hard right now. Some will be fun, some will be easy and some will challenge you. If there is anything that you are worried or concerned about, we should let Dr. Banda know so that she can help us find a solution.
What if my child doesn’t want to be assessed?
If you are worried your child will resist coming in for an assessment, you are not alone! The assessment will be most powerful if your child is engaged and interested in the process. So how do we get them there?