Many times, behavioural problems are first brought to the attention of parents by teachers or school officials. Children who are easily distracted, unwilling or unable to cooperate with school rules, or are disruptive to classroom activities can make it difficult not only for teachers, but also for other students. Parents of children with behavioural problems can work with teachers, child psychologists, and their child to help formulate a plan to help children get the most benefit from the educational process.
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Getting the Correct Diagnosis
It is vital that kids with behavioural problems or disorders are properly diagnosed so that treatment can be started. Behaviour management techniques, counselling, and/or medication may be required to help children to cope with their problems, and early intervention is crucial. The sooner that children get the help that they need, the sooner they will be taught the skills that they need to control their behaviour and participate well in school and other learning opportunities.
Special Needs Students in Mainstream Schools
A generation ago, children with behavioural problems or other special needs were educated separately from their peers, but in today’s schools, all kids are likely to participate side by side. While this offers definite benefits to kids with behavioural problems, providing them with increased social contact and encouraging them to feel fully integrated into the school system, inclusion does present certain difficulties. Kids with high levels of need can be stressful for teachers to deal with, especially when they have an obligation to see that all of the students in their classed receive adequate attention. Spending an inordinate amount of time working with one or two students can make it difficult to dedicate enough time to the others. For this reason, parents of kids with behavioural problems should make every effort to closely follow their children’s recommended treatment plans, best assuring that their children, as well as other children, can get the most benefit from their time at school.
Seeking Additional Help
Sometimes, kids with behavioural problems can have a hard time staying on task for lengthy periods of time, which can make it difficult for them to achieve academic excellence. It’s not that children with behavioural problems or behaviour disorders are less intelligent than their peers (actually, quite the contrary is true – many kids with behavioural problems are highly intelligent), but their inability to follow direction and focus their attention can make it hard for them to meet their full potential. Many parents find that by working with their children after school or employing a tutor for extra assistance can help kids to better meet their school responsibilities.
Consistency is Key
All children benefit from consistency and routine, but none more so than kids with behavioural problems. Often easily frustrated and prone to emotional outbursts, kids with behavioural problems may not deal well when faced with sudden or unexpected changes. Parents can make things a bit easier for their kids by establishing and adhering to schedules for most aspects of daily life, including study time. Additionally, a system of rewards for positive behaviours and consequences for non-compliance can help kids to understand what is expected of them.
