Confidence Archives - The Ed Psych Practice Blog

How to Help Your Child Transition From Primary to Secondary School

October 4, 2022 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Adapting To Changes, Anxious, Challenges, Confidence, New Academic Structure, New Friendships, Secondary School, Social Interaction, Transitions

Takeaway: Guide your child through her primary-to-secondary school transition by gradually giving her more responsibilities, talking to her about all the upcoming changes, and suggesting practical tips to tackle common secondary school problems. Importantly, remember that you’re not alone in all this. Teachers, other parents, and trained child specialists can help guide you through challenging moments, giving you the feedback and support you need. Read More

Solve Back-to-School Anxiety For Children With Learning Difficulties

September 18, 2022 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Avoidance, Back To School, Confidence, Coping Strategies, Journaling, Mindfulness, Morning Routine, School Anxiety, School Worries, Transitions

Takeaway: Learning differences and difficulties add to existing back-to-school anxieties, creating a toxic anxiety-avoidance feedback loop. The solution? First, listen to your child’s fears so she feels heard, and then help her build a new, stronger self-identity. Read More

Why Your Child’s Future Could Depend On Her Self-Esteem

July 22, 2022 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Anxiety, Challenges, Child Development, Confidence, Early Years, Mindset, Positive Feedback, Resilience, Social Communication

Takeaway: Self-esteem describes a child’s sense of self-worth, and it plays a huge role in designing her future. Children with a strong sense of self-worth are emotionally hardy, independent, and love taking on challenges. In contrast, children with low self-esteem tend to be more anxious, withdrawn, and afraid of trying anything new. Thankfully, we can boost our children’s self-esteem by working on their negative self-talk with an experienced child psychologist as a guide. Read More

Why Are Exams So Stressful? And Can Adolescents Learn To Cope?

May 14, 2022 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Anxious, Confidence, Exam Anxiety, Metacognition, Mindfulness, Reframing, Revision Techniques, Self Care, Study Groups, Study Skills

Takeaway: Restarting exams after a two-year break affects adolescents emotionally because there are multiple factors at play. But as parents, there’s a lot we can do to help. Specifically, we can teach our children to reframe their anxieties and focus more on ‘learning’ than ‘performing.’ And for persistent emotional issues, we can consult a specialist for help.
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How to Talk to Your Child About Her Learning Differences

October 15, 2021 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Awareness Month, Confidence, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Education, Executive Functioning, Labels, Learning Differences, Learning Support

Takeaway: Talking to your child about her learning differences will help her both practically and emotionally. Here’s what to say: (1) Explain what the differences mean, (2) Share age-appropriate information, (3) Highlight her strengths, (4) Discuss key life skills, (5) Teach her to ask for help, and (6) Celebrate other people’s success stories. Read More

Talking to Teachers About Your Child’s Dyslexia [Where to Even Start?!]

October 8, 2021 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Accommodations, Confidence, Dyslexia, Empathise Strengths, Learning Conversation, Learning Environment, School, Support Needs, Teachers

Takeaway: Dyslexia is an emotionally issue, but here’s how to discuss it productively with your child’s teacher: (1) Give examples of the support your child might need, (2) Gauge the teacher’s experience with dyslexia, (3) Share what you’ve learned from your dyslexia research, (4) Discuss your child’s strengths and potential, and (5) Ask how you can help. Read More

What is Music Therapy and how will it help my child

October 4, 2021 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Confidence, Creative Outlet, Learning Difficulties, Meaningful Communication, Mental Health, Music Therapy, Social Interaction, Well-being

Music therapy is a branch of arts psychotherapy that uses music as well as talking to the therapist as a vehicle to help children and young people express, explore their emotions and the stories they have about themselves and others. Music is a universal language which can express emotions and feelings directly both with and without words. As such, music can be a very effective carrier and container for unconscious feelings and emotions. Read More

The 4-Step Guide to Mental Toughness For Your Child

September 23, 2021 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Confidence, Courage, Curiosity, Full Potential, Handle Challenges, Manage Emotions, Mental Resilience, Self-beliefs, Thrive, Transitions

Takeaway: Mental toughness means being able to follow through with a goal even when things get difficult. And it’s a coachable skill. To help your child become mentally tough, teach her to (1) Set goals, (2) Solve problems, (3) Manage emotions, and (4) Celebrate successes. Read More

The Curious Link Between Autism and Learning Difficulties

July 1, 2021 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals ASD, Attention Issues, Communication, Confidence, Educational Psychologist, Executive Functioning, Learning Difficulties, Sensory Processing Issues, Social Skills

Takeaway: Both autism and learning difficulties arise from brains that are ‘wired’ differently. This difference makes it harder to prioritise tasks and focus on the right thing for long enough. But interestingly, there’s also a social component to learning which autism affects. A trained specialist can help your child tackle these issues, but in the meantime, don’t forget your child also has strengths and passions. Encourage her to celebrate these and it’ll balance out a lot of the other frustrations she experiences. Read More

Why Do Some Children Take Longer to Process Things?

November 17, 2020 The Ed Psych Practice No Comments Referrals Accommodations, ADHD, Anxiety, ASD, Confidence, Learning Styles, Memory, Slow Processing Speed, Social Difficulties

Takeaway: Some children are slower to get things done because their brains are wired differently. This ‘slow processing speed’ can be frustrating, but with the right help, your child can learn to adapt and thrive. Read More

Tag: Confidence