You have made the decision to have your child evaluated. Maybe your child has a learning style difference, which includes being a gifted learner; maybe a learning disability is suspected; perhaps your child has attention difficulties; concerns around adaptive behavioral problems, including autism, may be the issue, or maybe your child is struggling with a neurological handicapping condition. Whatever the case may be, evaluations are a great way to get the full picture of how your child's brain works. It will show your child’s strengths as well as any challenges, and provide a pathway for educators and parents to create individualized instruction plans to best help your child learn.
While this is an exciting time because the evaluation will help you figure out how your child learns best, it can also be very overwhelming, especially for your child. Here are a few thoughts on how you can prepare your child before evaluation day so that everyone involved has a good experience:
Leading up to the Evaluation
- Prepare your child for the appointment to help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as increase cooperation. You can do this by talking with your child beforehand so he or she knows what to expect. Your child is most likely aware of his or her difficulties and if you explain that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses it may help your child feel relieved.
