How Educational Therapy Can Help Kids With Learning and Thinking Differences
Since your child goes to school, it may not be clear to you why you’d need to work with an educational therapist, too. After all, schools are supposed to teach kids academics. And kids with IEP or 504 plans often have special education services to help them in school.
The answer is that the instruction at school may not be enough for your child. There also may be a lack of understanding of your child’s issues. Or the school may not be helping your child with a specific skill, like studying or writing papers.
In these cases, you may want to supplement with outside services. A traditional tutor may not understand your child’s learning and thinking differences. A professional like a doctor or a psychologist isn’t trained to meet academic needs. An educational therapist can fill the gap.
Educational therapists teach skills and strategies that help kids manage their issues and improve their schoolwork. They can help kids with almost any learning or thinking difference.
The specific strategies and treatments used by an educational therapist will vary. It depends on your child’s issues. Here are just a few examples of what therapists may do:
Help identify individual social/emotional/behavioral issues that may be caused by underlying learning and thinking differences - or may have developed due to the unprecedented circumstances presented by Covid-19 quarantine/social distancing/virtual school.
Help with social anxiety
Teach strategies to improve focus and work habits
Teach time management and organization skills
Develop an educational plan by giving assessments, tracking progress and adjusting as needed
Provide a safe environment for your child to talk about school and learn how to self-advocate
Act as a link between home and school
An educational therapist can also act as a case manager. The therapist can help coordinate with tutors, specialists and teachers.