Maron C. Bloch, PsyD
Many of us are beginning to get ready for the new school year, as parents, educators, or both. Over the summer we have been able to appreciate all aspects of our children, not just those abilities that schools measure. As a school psychologist I spend a lot of my work time figuring out what’s wrong with children, documenting what it is that they can’t do, and hopefully, why and what can be done to improve the problems. At the same time, I always also emphasize the child’s strengths, what they can do well. I have found that this is particularly important when children have difficulty learning to read. As reading is such an integral part or all academic learning it is yet more important to acknowledge a child’s social adeptness, physical prowess, or manual dexterity.
It is also important to keep in sight all of a child when the disability doesn’t affect academics. I tested a young girl, just in kindergarten, a few years ago. She did well overall, especially in academic skills. However, her parents focused only in her limitations. She did have some difficulty with social skills; she was more of an observer than a participant is many social activities. She also focused as much on the names of animals as that of her peers. A child, who may have been described as shy or introverted, was not diagnosed as having sensory integration difficulties. This diagnosis was certainly a benefit, in that she was allowed to fulfill her need for certain textures and pressure, but it was far from her most defining characteristic. She was a beautiful girl who recognized all of her letters and numbers, understood her family well, loved animals and had one or two children in her class that she liked. Sensory integration difficulties were just a small part of her personality, not the primary aspect of her personality.
As you spend the rest of your summer with your children, appreciate all that they do well, and all that they struggle with and work through. Remember the fullness of each child’s self as school begins and small parts of them are judged and valued.
