Talk
Now it’s time to talk with people who interact with your child and have helpful insights. That includes pediatricians, educators, and caregivers. Here are ideas for how to have those conversations.
How to talk with...
Kara Ball, Teacher
“I want to help you, whether that is resources, guidance, or just simply to be a lending ear for any concerns that you might have about your child.”
Dr. Kristin Carothers, Psychologist
“Each person brings their own unique perspective and background to the table when we discuss learning and thinking differences.”
Dr. Nerissa Bauer, Pediatrician
“Pediatricians are here not only to monitor your child’s physical growth, but also their social, emotional development and their attention and learning.”
Marcia Kusnyer, Caregiver
“Your child may be sharing, dropping some clues that maybe I can pick up on that you are not seeing as easily.”
Conversation tips for talking with...
a teacher
a teacher
The more you share, the more insight you can get from the teacher. Describe your child’s behavior in detail and ask what the teacher is seeing. Say you’d like help in understanding your child’s behavior.
a pediatrician
a pediatrician
Give detailed examples of what you’ve observed. If you’ve picked up on patterns, explain what they are. Talk about how things are going at school, too. That gives the doctor a fuller picture of what’s happening.
another caregiver
another caregiver
Start by saying you’d like to get the caregiver’s take on behavior you’ve seen in your child. Make it clear that it’s not about how they interact with your child. Ask open-ended questions about what they’ve noticed.
your partner
your partner
Open the dialogue by calmly explaining what you’ve observed and asking if your partner has seen the same thing. Know that your partner may not respond the way you would and might not be ready to talk at first.
your child
your child
Your child has insights nobody else does. This may not be the time for a conversation, but if your child seems ready to share, you might mention what you’re seeing: “I’ve noticed that it’s hard for you to follow directions.” See how your child responds.
Practice: Talk
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