when do i Consult with professionals?

You should never be disappointed when asking for professional help. It’s a sign that you are committed to being your child’s best teacher. See examples below, for situations where you might seek out professional help

Stumbling blocks. Stumbling blocks are moments when you do not know what to do. Maybe your is not working. Maybe you feel like you are just not getting anywhere. Be curious about stumbling blocks. There’s an important message in them. Always, there’s room for your own growth. If you feel that you cannot get past a stumbling block, professional help might be worthwhile. See other examples of stumbling blocks, below.

Frustration in your role as a teacher. You have a complex task. Being a parent for your child is hard, let alone being a teacher. If you do not believe that you are being a good teacher, ask your child’s other parent. Ask your child’s teacher at school.

Frustration with your child. Your child has a disability. The disability might be making it hard for you to teach. Or, it might make it hard for your child to learn. Make sure you have a really good understand of how your child’s disability is getting in the way of learning. You will not be a good teacher for your child if you do not also have good information about how your child learns. If you are having difficulty overcoming your frustration, speak with your partners or consider asking for professional help.

Your child is frustrated with you. Your child has a disability. They get frustrated with learning demands too. For example, children with limited language skills can get frustrated more often. Children who have difficulty managing their emotions, who are forgetful, or who are disorganized can sometimes show more frustration in their relationships. Make sure you can see things from your child’s perspective.

Talk with your child’s other parent, family members, or friends about your situation. Sometimes, it can be hard to talk with family members or friends about your relationship with our child. Consider talking with a professional. Professionals can help you to figure out how to talk with your child, how to create realistic expectations for your child, and to notice small successes. Ask your child’s pediatrician, or a child specialist, about what might be getting in the way of you and your child. Professionals who can help you include a child psychologist, a child therapist, a family therapist, a parenting coach, or another professional. Professionals at school might also be able to help you.