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Very often parents tell me that they have spent thousands on programmes that have not met their expectations where learning outcomes are concerned.
The focus today, is to understand some of qualities necessary for an effective intervention programme. This will help you make better decisions with regards to programme selection. Price and word of mouth alone are not enough as many parents, having spent huge sums of money, experience some placebo effects of intervention.
Timing
If the level of difficulty seems too high for you at the onset on a programme, as parents, you know your child best, then it is probably too much for your child. If a programme has initial aims that seem to good to be true, it probably is just that! Select programmes that follow logical progressions.
What are these progressions?
Typically, if a child has learning difficulties and you have finally acknowledged that it is more than laziness, lack of interest or even stupidity(!), then, use these as starting points. The progression must be simple to begin with. It must have a logical progression towards complexity. Do not be over ambitious and fall for programmes that claim that your child will be able to accomplish something like reading, within 6 weeks or three months!
One cannot teach a child of primary age to read at age appropriate levels within that short time frame. Can you train for a 25 km marathon in 6 weeks or 3 months? Advertisements are often economical with the truth and play on the fine line between truth and untruths. It takes at least 8 -9 months to go from no reading to some knowledge of reading. Reading at age appropriate level will take years to achieve as reading is not a process that can be rushed. That is why experts advocate early intervention. The earlier a child is identified and provided with specialist help, the sooner the problem can be sorted out.
Level of Complexity
Then, there is the issue of complexity. Typically, "box programmes" or "umbrella programmes" have much lower rates of success. They also do not have a long term progression built in - increasing in difficulty levels. The professionals who run these programmes probably do not have the skill set necessary to take learning to higher levels as well.
Most learners, will experience some progress at the early stages of a programme and then, the progress ceases/stops.
There are many reasons for this. It may be that the learner was diagnosed wrongly or not diagnosed at all. Second, it could be that the combination of facet of difficulties vary so much and lies outside of the "box programme" capacity. A one-size fits all approach does not have the qualities to be effective. So, not surprisingly, these programmes tend to be cheaper.
Motivational Factors
If a learner is facing issues such as poor self esteem or lacking in confidence, then, this can compound the difficulties in developing and effective intervention programme. Very often this issue is overlooked. A person who is lacking in motivation is less likely to internalise new knowledge than, someone who is emotionally balanced. Remember to always identify strengths as well. Often, we look at what the child can't do and ignore what it is they do well.
Every child has at least one thing that they are good at. Identify it. Encourage it, It will go a long way in keeping morale levels up. The child may be good at bulding Lego, colouring, drawing, playing sports, singing, cooking, caring for the elderly/ young, or even playing a musical instrument. Identify that one strong area. Train it, enhance the skill area.
Check & Balance
How do you if your child is really making progress or you are simply believing what you are being told due to lack of knowledge in the area? This is where, carrying out formal assessments becomes crucial. Have someone else run these tests once every 6 months. Most psychologists here are not able to test young children or children who are not verbal.
Sri Rafelsia is able to offer these services and more.
This will help you understand what is going on and you can know for sure that your child is getting what you are paying for. So many times, I have met parents, who say, after going from one place to another they just don't know what to do. They have been lied to and cheated. The only way is to make sure that you keep up with the assessments.
If the psychologist who claims to be able to assess is using rating scales screening tests or only an IQ test, then you must run!!! Testing and assessment has evolved so much over the last 5 years. The American Psychological Association and the British Psychological Association recommend that all psychologists attend and undergo professional development once every 18 - 24 months, in order to keep up with the latest techniques and update their assessment batteries.
IN Malaysia and elsewhere in the region, they do not adhere to this in order to maximize profits! Going for training costs money...here..it is about MAKING money not spending it to provide clients with high quality services.
The focus today, is to understand some of qualities necessary for an effective intervention programme. This will help you make better decisions with regards to programme selection. Price and word of mouth alone are not enough as many parents, having spent huge sums of money, experience some placebo effects of intervention.
Timing
If the level of difficulty seems too high for you at the onset on a programme, as parents, you know your child best, then it is probably too much for your child. If a programme has initial aims that seem to good to be true, it probably is just that! Select programmes that follow logical progressions.
What are these progressions?
Typically, if a child has learning difficulties and you have finally acknowledged that it is more than laziness, lack of interest or even stupidity(!), then, use these as starting points. The progression must be simple to begin with. It must have a logical progression towards complexity. Do not be over ambitious and fall for programmes that claim that your child will be able to accomplish something like reading, within 6 weeks or three months!
One cannot teach a child of primary age to read at age appropriate levels within that short time frame. Can you train for a 25 km marathon in 6 weeks or 3 months? Advertisements are often economical with the truth and play on the fine line between truth and untruths. It takes at least 8 -9 months to go from no reading to some knowledge of reading. Reading at age appropriate level will take years to achieve as reading is not a process that can be rushed. That is why experts advocate early intervention. The earlier a child is identified and provided with specialist help, the sooner the problem can be sorted out.
Level of Complexity
Then, there is the issue of complexity. Typically, "box programmes" or "umbrella programmes" have much lower rates of success. They also do not have a long term progression built in - increasing in difficulty levels. The professionals who run these programmes probably do not have the skill set necessary to take learning to higher levels as well.
Most learners, will experience some progress at the early stages of a programme and then, the progress ceases/stops.
There are many reasons for this. It may be that the learner was diagnosed wrongly or not diagnosed at all. Second, it could be that the combination of facet of difficulties vary so much and lies outside of the "box programme" capacity. A one-size fits all approach does not have the qualities to be effective. So, not surprisingly, these programmes tend to be cheaper.
Motivational Factors
If a learner is facing issues such as poor self esteem or lacking in confidence, then, this can compound the difficulties in developing and effective intervention programme. Very often this issue is overlooked. A person who is lacking in motivation is less likely to internalise new knowledge than, someone who is emotionally balanced. Remember to always identify strengths as well. Often, we look at what the child can't do and ignore what it is they do well.
Every child has at least one thing that they are good at. Identify it. Encourage it, It will go a long way in keeping morale levels up. The child may be good at bulding Lego, colouring, drawing, playing sports, singing, cooking, caring for the elderly/ young, or even playing a musical instrument. Identify that one strong area. Train it, enhance the skill area.
Check & Balance
How do you if your child is really making progress or you are simply believing what you are being told due to lack of knowledge in the area? This is where, carrying out formal assessments becomes crucial. Have someone else run these tests once every 6 months. Most psychologists here are not able to test young children or children who are not verbal.
Sri Rafelsia is able to offer these services and more.
This will help you understand what is going on and you can know for sure that your child is getting what you are paying for. So many times, I have met parents, who say, after going from one place to another they just don't know what to do. They have been lied to and cheated. The only way is to make sure that you keep up with the assessments.
If the psychologist who claims to be able to assess is using rating scales screening tests or only an IQ test, then you must run!!! Testing and assessment has evolved so much over the last 5 years. The American Psychological Association and the British Psychological Association recommend that all psychologists attend and undergo professional development once every 18 - 24 months, in order to keep up with the latest techniques and update their assessment batteries.
IN Malaysia and elsewhere in the region, they do not adhere to this in order to maximize profits! Going for training costs money...here..it is about MAKING money not spending it to provide clients with high quality services.
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