This month we are featuring insights from Dr. Liz Angoff of ExplainingBrains.com. If you haven't listened to podcast, you should! Dr Liz' approach transforms the assessment process into one that celebrates the strengths and recognises the challenges of your child's brain in an empowering way.
Dr Liz urges parents to hear from their children: Wait, why didn't we think of that?
Dr. Liz highlights the importance of inviting children to express how they experience their own brains. Children are often aware of their differences, and our assumption that we shouldn't talk to them openly about these differences can be unhelpful. Engaging in conversations where you ask, "What's getting in your way?" can unlock valuable insights.
What story is your child believing?
It’s crucial to understand the narrative each child has about their differences. Do they believe that being different is bad? Do they think something is wrong with them? We want to frame our exploration as a curiosity about how they learn differently rather than as a way to label them or put them in a box.
Balancing Strengths and Challenges
Dr. Angoff emphasises that kids can hold the tension between finding certain things challenging and recognising things they are strong in. We don't need to minimise their differences but rather use leading words like, "I've heard your teacher say this about how you function in class; how would you describe it?" Our goal is to unlock children's words about their own brains, which is crucial for respecting our kids and having them buy into the diagnostic process.
Action Step:
Visit explainingbrains.com/back/script for effective wording to initiate these conversations with your child. This resource provides practical scripts and tips to help you start these important discussions.
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