From Emotions to Advocacy
The Special Education Survival Guide by Pam & Pete Wright
|Home > Success Stories > Battling the Dark Cloud: Helping Your Child Build Success by Betsy Murdock, M.S., L.P.C.|
Consequently, these kids may suffer from a lack of attention to what is RIGHT about them. As a result, they are more likely to have low self-esteem, low expectations for themselves, and to act out.
Parents need to be aware of the “dark cloud” that may surround a child with learning or emotional difficulties. This is an area where you can be a powerful advocate for your child.
Help Your Child Build Success Stories
for instance, your child draws well, be sure that art class is included in his
or her schedule. If singing is a passion, find a choral group for your child to
Yet finding opportunities for success needs to be high on the to-do list. These opportunities for success will pay off as your child develops healthy self-esteem. This is crucial for children who learned early in life that they can’t do anything right!
Taking Away Good Things
Get Help For Problems
a good book or two about behavior management. Remember to notice and reward good
behaviors, and try to give less attention to bad behaviors. Attention rewards
behavior, whether it is good or bad.
Betsy Murdock, M.S., L.P.C.
Betsy Murdock is the Director of Education and Training at Harbor House Law Press, Inc. She also serves as Managing Editor of The Beacon: Journal of Special Education Law and Practice, published by Harbor House.
Betsy is a psychotherapist who has worked extensively in private practice and in the public schools. As a K-12 Guidance Counselor and School Psychologist, Betsy served on Eligibility and IEP committees, and has also done psycho-educational testing and triennial special education evaluations.
is a Certified Virginia Supreme Court Mediator. She provides private and court-appointed
mediations for the Juvenile & Domestic Relations courts across eastern Virginia.
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