A Note From the Coach
Adults: Two Reasons Why You Should Go Back to School
Reason #1: Taking a class will help you better
understand your child and their needs.
Most parents underestimate the value of community
colleges and university academic courses in helping
them better understand their child. Read through the
class listings available this fall and consider taking
a course such as Child Development, Introduction to
Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Criminology (that
could be relevant!) or other such courses.
If you feel that you have enough on your plate or
haven’t been to school in years, audit the course.
This permits you to attend class but you do not have
to do any of the homework.
Class tips:
Reason #2: You can access materials you can't
find anywhere else.
Academic libraries offer resources that are more specific
than those of public libraries. Most allow the public
to use their materials. Libraries offer access to
search online libraries for copies of entire articles
(called "full-text") from around the world.
Some schools even provide passwords to search from
your computer at home, once you register for a library
card. Today most articles can be e-mailed to your
computer to be printed inexpensively at home. These
materials provide information about research that
has been done, parenting strategies, and diagnosis
developments.
Parents who have not been back at school for years
may find some of the articles bewildering due to the
academic language used. Keep in mind that many published
works are very readable and practical. Keep looking
for materials that address the needs of your child
and only print out the articles that you will read
again or would like to pass on to professionals working
with your child.
Professionals, remember that the field of knowledge
grows monthly. Subscribe to professional journals
and make a point of scheduling a library trip in your
day timer at least twice a year. It’s amazing
what valuable materials and research findings emerge
all the time.
Search Tips:
Best wishes as you all head "back to school"!
(Check out the free resource below to help with school
planning for your child).
– Tanya Helton, M.Sc., Parent Coach
Tanya is the parent of an adopted child, sibling
of three adopted children, an Instructor at Northern
Lights College in Fort St. John, and Parent Coach
for parents of challenging children.
FREE Resource
The first 25 people* to e-mail their request will
receive a 1-page PDF form to assist in discussing
their child’s needs with his/her school.
Just send an email to: Tanya@ForestCottageCentre.com
and put "back to school form" in the subject
line.
*Current Forest Cottage clients will automatically
receive this complimentary resource.
Upcoming Workshop
Tanya will be at:
Whistler, BC - October 4, 2003 "The Importance
of Attachment in the Early Years" (Part of the
Putting Children First Workshop)
To register: e-mail Jane at janebd@telus.net or call
604-815-9115.
Wait List
Due to high client demand, Tanya is currently accepting
names for the Forest Cottage wait list. Wait time
is approximately four months. You are welcome to continue
to send referrals and to self-refer. We will provide
a confirmation reply and names will be added to our
list for the next available opening.
