A+ Solutions has done it again! We had a fabulous night with Courtney Evenchik, speaking about “How To Promote Positive Social Skills In Your Child With Learning Differences”
I learned so much. Here is just a sampling:
We spoke about social challenges of children with learning problems:Courtney started off by asking everyone to introduce themselves to the person next to them. She explained that most of the people in the room knew intuitively how to make appropriate eye contact, maintain personal space, and keep the conversation light and not to intimate. Many kids do not know to do that. Kids with learning issues do not pick up on social cues. They don’t get it- they don’t just intuitively know how to socialize.
Children with Learning Differences are:
- More likely to choose socially unacceptable behaviors
- Less able to solve social problems
- Less likely to predict consequences for their social behaviors
- Less able to adjust to their listener’s reactions during a conversation
- More likely to be rejected or isolated by peers
- More likely to be targets of teasing and bullying
She mentioned this quote that I loved:
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn” Benjamin Franklin
Courtney gave some great examples of assertive statements that kids can use to deflect bullies. She also spoke about how we can also decrease “mean kid’ behavior in our own children:
- Encourage empathy by labeling and acknowledging feelings
- Offer your child a new view of himself
- Avoid power struggles
- Avoid using threats
- Avoid asking “Why” questions
- Have fun
The best quote of the night:
“The best gift that you can give your child is to acknowledge their feelings. When they come home and throw their backpack angrily on the floor the most helpful thing you can say is “Wow, you look so frustrated…”
We hope to have a video of the class available soon.
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