1. Understand that young people, like all of us, are doing the best they know how to do with what they have to work with. When they have more options available to them, they will make better choices. You, as the adult, are the teacher, which means that your child will model you. If you are flexible and open to learning new ways of thinking and behaving, your child will be open as well.
2. Step into their model of the world. When you communicate with a young person, see the communication through their eyes and through their model of the world rather than through yours. They will be much more open to what you have to say if you do.
3. Find their WIG-FM. Find out what is important to them, what motivates them. WIG-FM stands for what’s it get for me? These are our values: the things that make us do what we do or that drive our behavior. You can find their WIG-FM by listening to your child’s language and asking questions like, “What’s important to you about that?” or, “What do you like about that?” Once you can find what is truly driving your child’s choices and behaviors, then you can begin to look with him for more positive ways to get that need met.
4. Celebrate and appreciate what makes them unique. One of the biggest hurdles that young people with learning challenges face is the belief that they are “stupid”, “weird” or just “don’t fit in”. The truth is that they are often a step away from brilliance and have the ability to see the world in ways that most of us simply can’t (think Albert Einstein, J.F.K., Cher and Robin Williams who all had learning disabilities). Consistently looking for and recognizing their uniqueness and value will go a long way in raising their self-confidence.
For more information call Success Tracks at 661-310-7981.