Have past school years been difficult? Do you feel like your child struggles with school, and you aren’t sure how to help them?
As we begin a new fall term, it’s the perfect time to talk to a therapist or school counselor about how to best support your child.
At Relate, we can address common problems that affect school performance, like symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, behavior issues, and bullying. And we can incorporate play therapy into sessions, providing a wide range of activities to make kids comfortable, including games, painting, drawing, sand trays, toys, puzzles, and more.
Our Relate therapists are friendly and great with kids of all ages, and we have evening and weekend appointments available.
Does My Child Need More Support at School?
If you’re not sure whether accommodations could help your child succeed, it can help to ask yourself:
- Does your child have ADHD, social anxiety, or fears around taking tests?
- Is your child being bullied?
- Are they left out of the crowd and can’t seem to make friends at school?
- Does your child have a hard time getting up in the morning and finding motivation?
- Are you constantly dealing with homework and how to get your kids to keep up their grades?
If so, they may benefit from therapy and additional school support. Accommodations at school may look like extra time to take tests, a change in seating arrangements, adjustments to assignments, the use of assistive technology, or other accommodations. Based on their specific needs, students may require either a 504 plan or an IEP.
- IEP (Individualized Education Program):
An IEP provides specialized education services for students with disabilities. It’s a formal, written plan with detailed and measurable goals for students who need individualized support. It is typically created by a team consisting of educators, parents, and specialists. - 504 Plan:
A 504 plan removes barriers so that students with different learning needs can be accommodated. A 504 typically doesn’t require the tracking of progress or setting of annual goals, and it can be created for the student by school personnel with input from parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals.
In summary, IEPs are more comprehensive and include specialized instruction, while 504 plans focus on accommodations in general education settings.
We understand how confusing IEPs and 504 plans can get for parents, and we’re here to help with all your child’s school concerns.
No matter what type of accommodations your child needs, remember that you’re not alone in supporting them. If they’re struggling with school in any area–social or academic–reach out to teachers, counselors, school leadership, and your child’s therapist. There are steps you can take to make school more accessible.
We also offer family therapy and individual therapy for moms and dads who need support.
Contact us at (303) 954-9809 or info@relatefamilytherapy.com today or fill out our contact form and our Referral Coordinator will be in touch!