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A recent article from understood.org regarding what parents can do when our teenager is resistant to help got me thinking about my own adventures into the wonderful land of the teenage brain. Anyone with teenagers can most likely relate to some form or scenario involving a resistant teen, but this resistance can reach a whole new level when our teens struggle with thinking or learning differences.
When it comes to parenting, we often wage our own internal battle between helping our children too much and not enough- sometimes erring on the side of too much, especially when all we want for them is to find success and happiness in whatever they do. But what happens when our struggling student becomes resistant to our help or starts to assert their independence in a not so positive manner? The tension in the household can certainly build to unbearable levels.
Some general suggestions to help alleviate these issues provided in the Understood article include 1) focus on NOT arguing and 2) help build self-advocacy skills. These are most likely suggestions that you have heard before. But perhaps the most profound suggestion to come from this article...at least for me...is to “Reassure our child that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness but of maturity.” In other words, work with their need to establish independence by giving them guidance on how to be independent. I like it!
Bottom line, teaching our children how to effectively communicate their need for help will have immediate benefits as well as serving them into adulthood. For more information on how to establish positive behaviors at home, check out the upcoming workshop at Springer School and Center.
Blogger Lisa Bruns, M.Ed., Special Education, shares her expertise of students with learning disabilities. As a special educator, she has expert knowledge of interventions and accommodations that students may need to succeed in and out of the classroom. If you have questions, please contact Center Director Lisa Bruns at .
