• September 13, 2018

    Teenagers with School Challenges: Flexibility

    Flexibility

    Flexibility is the ability to change and shift plans, tasks and approaches to solve a problem, complete a task or activity or maintain open communication.

    Flexibility can be understood in a few different contexts. It helps us adapt and manage a variety of situations and expectations. Flexibility can be important in problem solving, in routines, and in social interaction and relationships.

    Flexibility Challenges Can Occur in Multiple Settings

    Inflexibility can pose challenges for a teenager in school, at home and in social settings.

    Some teens may be inflexible in all areas of life, and others may be inflexible in one context and not in another. Teens who are struggling significantly with flexibility may have anxiety or Autism Spectrum symptoms.

    Problem Solving

    The first context is flexibility in problem solving.

    Can a teenager explore different approaches and consider perspectives from the teacher/ classmates/ group work partners to solve a novel problem?

    Some teenagers get stuck. They see a task from only one angle, failing to think flexibly about how to solve the problem.

    Helpful Strategies

    These teens may need to be taught specific strategies to try at least 3 ideas for solving a problem.

    Another strategy is for the teen to teach another student how to solve the problem, and then that student teaches the teen a different way to solve it. They take turns being a teacher and being a learner.

    Flexibility in Routine

    The next related context for flexibility is flexibility in routine.

    This concern may be evident at home when you have a teenager who must always follow the same routine after school.

    For example, he must always do his math homework at the kitchen table, have a snack, and then take a break.

    If you have a doctor’s appointment or a school program, this change is met with stress and sometimes refusal because the schedule is changing.

    Encourage Flexibility

    Encouraging some flexibility in a teenager’s routine is good.

    Certain activities, like getting ready for school or bedtime, benefit from a predictable routine. Find time to vary it up, encourage spontaneity and try new things with your teenager.

    Flexibility Challenges at School

    Inflexibility in routines and schedules can also cause challenges at school if changes occur. For example, an assembly, a fire drill, or a substitute teacher may alter the flow of the day, the routine, and the expectations.

    These changes can cause frustration and stress in a teenager who is inflexible.

    At school, it can be possible to create choices for a student who struggles in these situations. Allow a student to select preferred seating at an assembly or to leave the class early for a fire drill. Provide notice that the teacher is out sick, and have the student choose to stay in the classroom or take his reading to the library.

    Provide Choices

    A very inflexible teenager may need choices built into the day when schedule changes or other differences in the day may provoke anxiety.

    Some schools will be accommodating no matter what. Others may require a Section 504 plan noting the presence of a disability, like anxiety or autism, to provide accommodations for these changes in routine.

    Social Interactions and Relationships

    The third type of flexibility is important in social interactions and relationships.

    An inflexible teenager may feel misunderstood by a certain teacher and may refuse to work on the relationship. Some teenagers struggle to see the perspective of others, to take the time to understand differences of opinion. Teens who are inflexible in relationships tend to feel they are always right.

    Teenagers with autism especially need to feel like a teacher understands and respects their point of view; otherwise they often discount a teacher and don’t try to learn from them. These teens may also have conflict with others who have differing opinions and perspectives.

    Teaching Life Lessons

    Flexibility to be able to listen to teachers, classmates, friends and parents and to consider other perspectives and opinions helps build relationships. Helping teenagers see the value in hearing all sides of an issue will improve their ability to build relationships.

    If your teenager struggles significantly with social interactions and relationships, a counselor or school psychologist-led social group may be helpful. Teenagers must practice being collaborative and learning from each other; learning social flexibility is an important life lesson.

    If your teenager has considerable difficulty with any or all aspects of flexibility, try some of these strategies. See CLEAPE for other free ideas and strategies: https://cleape.com/organizing/flexibility/ https://cleape.com/behaving/rigid-behavior/ https://cleape.com/socializing/perspective-taking/.

    Connect with CLEAR

    If you need more support or believe your child might have a disability, like autism or anxiety, CLEAR Child Psychology can help. Call or email today to schedule a consultation.

    Contact CLEAR today by calling 303-222-7923 or visiting our website at www.clearchildpsychology.com.

     

  • July 31, 2018

    How www.cleape.com Can Help Educators

    What is CLEAPE?

    Cleape, Knowing What’s the Matter, is a free tool developed to help parents and educators understand a child’s learning needs.

    Developed by clinicians who have worked in schools and who have expertise in areas like school psychology, speech and language pathology, behavioral analysis and occupational therapy, CLEAPE helps parents and educators collaborate and address learning needs.

    What will I find on CLEAPE?

    www.cleape.com has 99 articles on specific concerns a teacher or parent may have for a child. All the articles are free. Each article contains research-based tips and strategies an educator can try in the “What to do” section.

    CLEAPE provides references at the end of each article with up-to-date research.

    References also include books and resources a teacher could use and share with a family or parent to help meet the learning needs of a child.

    Why was CLEAPE developed?

    The MTSS (Multi-tiered Support System) process can feel daunting, which is why CLEAR Child Psychology offers this free resource to encourage collaboration and the use of research-based strategies to meet the needs of a child.

    Reliable information at your fingertips to meet professional requirements

    As classroom teachers know, when parents and/or teachers have concerns for a child, they are required to implement interventions in the classroom that are research-based to address a specific learning need.

    Teachers are required to progress monitor to see if interventions are helpful and to determine if additional supports like a Section 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are necessary to help a child succeed.

    Access targeted strategies, web-based interventions, and resources

    At times, parents and teachers will find that a child has needs that require a special plan or other team members like a Speech Pathologist or School Psychologist. Share https://cleape.com/professionals/ with parents.

    At other times, teachers and parents will find that a few targeted strategies make all the difference. See https://cleape.com/moving-sensing/handwriting/ for children who have sloppy handwriting. This article provides many strategies a parent and teacher can use to address this issue and help children improve their writing.

    If a child is struggling to learn to read, this article provides helpful web-based interventions and strategies to try as well as resources for parents to seek outside tutoring if reading challenges persist https://cleape.com/learning/basic-reading-skills/. We know from the research that early intervention from parents and teachers for reading leads to the best outcomes. A combination of school support and home support can help a child make faster progress.

    Sometimes a child has a few social challenges that are not evident until he or she is expected to be successful in a classroom. A teacher can provide a parent with great resources to practice social skills by providing this article https://cleape.com/socializing/parallel-play/. Social skills are another example of a skill that responds best to early intervention and strategies from parents and teachers.

    Together, we can improve student outcomes!

    We hope this free resource will lead to early interventions and better outcomes for your students. Please share www.cleape.com with your colleagues.

    Collaborations with parents can improve student outcomes. Please share www.cleape.com with parents at your school.

    Last but not least… Connect with CLEAR

    You are not alone. Be in touch with the clinicians who created www.cleape.com by visiting our sister site www.clearchildpsychology.com. We are available to provide professional development to educators, in addition to other supportive services.

  • July 26, 2018

    Toilet Training Trouble?

    Just the mention of toilet training brings anxiety and exhaustion to the minds of many parents.

    Toddlers are stubborn. They are still developing emotion regulation skills. They are still developing coordination and body awareness.

    Toilet training can be a nightmare for some children.

    In other instances, children may have learning or developmental needs that lead to further delays in toilet training.

    Whether your child is 3 or 7 years old, toilet training can be hard and stressful.

    You may feel tied to your kitchen or backyard because going anywhere means a messy accident and lots of judging eyes.

    What can you do?

    Turn to www.cleape.com, a free mental health framework for parents and professionals.

    CLEAPE provides useful information on toilet training, authored by developmental psychologists who work with typically developing and developmentally delayed children.

    Most children can learn to use the toilet, even children with delayed language or very rigid behavior.

    These articles may help parents navigate the challenging task of toilet training.

    https://cleape.com/daily-living/toilet-training/

    https://cleape.com/behaving/toileting-accidents/

    Need some guidance in moving forward? Not sure what to do next?

    CLEAR Child Psychology can help.

    From the authors of CLEAPE, based in Colorado, CLEAR is a primarily web-based clinical psychology practice making clinical expertise accessible and reliable (CLEAR).

    CLEAR launched this summer with the mission to help 1 million families take a clear leap forward and find the right help for their kids’ mental health, developmental and educational needs.

    Call or email CLEAR today to schedule a web-based consultation with the licensed clinical psychologists who developed www.cleape.com.

    Consultations can be scheduled quickly, sometimes within the same day. The cost is $99 for an hour of personalized time with experts focused on helping your family succeed.

    CLEAR can help. Receive help for your child quickly and from the comfort of your own home.

    CLEAR Child Psychologists can help you with strategies and resources to help your child use the toilet!

    Call: 303-222-7923

    Email: dr.harrison@clearchildpsychology.com

    Website: www.clearchildpsychology.com

  • July 19, 2018

    SLEEP PROBLEMS?

    Is your child not sleeping?

    If your child isn’t getting a solid night’s rest, chances are you aren’t either.

    But what can you do?

    Information abounds for parents of babies and toddlers who are not sleeping through the night.

    But what about for parents of 8-year-olds, 10-year-olds, middle schoolers, and high school kids?

    Where can we turn for help?

    When one child in the home is not sleeping, it can wreak havoc on the whole family.

    You may be bleary-eyed and exhausted. Your other kids may be grouchy and short-tempered. Your kids may be falling asleep in language arts class.

    It can all start because one family member just can’t seem to get any Zzzzz’s.

    Turn to www.cleape.com, a free mental health framework for parents and professionals.

    Written by licensed clinical psychologists, www.cleape.com guides families to the resources needed to get help for their kids!

     

    You will find no ads, no pop-ups. Just free, reliable, and accessible information.

    Check out the Sleep Problems page to help your child (and the rest of the family!) get some rest.

    https://cleape.com/daily-living/sleep-problems/

    Need some guidance in moving forward? Not sure what to do next?

    CLEAR Child Psychology can help.

    From the authors of CLEAPE, based in Colorado, CLEAR is a primarily web-based clinical psychology practice making clinical expertise accessible and reliable (CLEAR).

    CLEAR launched this summer with the mission to help 1 million families take a clear leap forward and find the right help for their kids’ mental health, developmental and educational needs.

    Call or email CLEAR today to schedule a web-based consultation with the licensed clinical psychologists who developed www.cleape.com.

    Consultations can be scheduled quickly, sometimes within the same day. The cost is $99 for an hour of personalized time with experts focused on helping your family succeed.

    CLEAR can help. Receive expert strategies and direction to resources for your child quickly and from the comfort of your own home.

    CLEAR Child Psychologists can help you with strategies and resources to help your child get some Zzzzz’s!

    And that’s something we can all rest easy about!

    Call: 303-222-7923

    Email: dr.harrison@clearchildpsychology.com

    Website: www.clearchildpsychology.com

     

     

  • October 24, 2017

    Rigid child

    Would you describe your child as unyielding, inflexible, or relentless? Is your child a ‘my way or the highway’ kind of kid? If plans are changed, does your child throw a fit? Psychologists call this ‘rigidity.’ Learn what to do here.

    Rigid Behavior

     

  • October 23, 2017

    Is your child throwing tantrums?

    Is your child throwing fits and melting down? Was your child difficult to soothe as an infant?

    Some children are more challenging to raise. However, if tantrums last over an hour or occur more than a couple times per week, your child may have an issue worthy of clinical attention. To learn more about these symptoms and for free information on strategies to address tantrums, go to cleape.com under ‘Behaving.’

    Here you will find no ads, no pop-ups. Cleape tells you “what’s the matter”.

     

    https://cleape.com/behaving/anger/