My child is getting assessed. How can I prepare?
I’m so glad to have received positive feedback on my previous post about Psychoeducation Assessments. An assessment for your child can be a scary process, and knowing more information can be helpful for both you and your child! I noticed a trend of questions - how to prepare for an assessment. So here are some answers for you!
What do I say to my child?
The testing experience, at its core, is a process whereby we investigate how your child’s brain works and how it learns best. By having an assessment done, it can help the child’s teachers know how to best support her/him, and the child in knowing more information about its own brain.
- This information is typically adequate in covering any questions they have.
Let us not oversee, however, the taboo and stigma about assessments. While it is important to acknowledge this, it is also vital to normalize the testing experience; it can be helpful for your child to know that many children get assessed to help them know how they best learn.
- Avoid mentioning that they will be playing games, as this is not the case. Having this expectation will lead to their disappointment when they find out that the assessment process is far from playing games. This disappointment can also affect their performance, which is the last thing we want!
- Stay away from titles like “doctor”, “nurse” or “teacher”. These bring up reactions of fear or annoyance for some children. Psychologists are specialists who are trained in best helping people who are facing emotional difficulties or struggle in school - this is an adequate description of our role for younger children! As for teenagers, it does no harm and helps greatly if they are informed of the process, and are further encouraged to be involved.
How do I, a parent, prepare for the assessment process?
Before the first meeting, it is important that you gather documents and information that can be helpful for the psychologist. Has your child been assessed in the past? Any important speech therapist/occupational therapist/doctor documents that can be shared? Don’t forget to bring a copy of them.
Apart from important documents, do not neglect to gather your own thoughts and concerns. Sit with yourself, with your partner, and spend time with your child. Collect information regarding your concerns about your child, your fears, but also where they are thriving, what they do well, and how you are proud of them! You can write all this information down and feel free to share it with the psychologist! Having the information with you ensures that you do not forget any important information.
Some psychologists give parents forms and questionnaires, either before the initial session or during. These may take considerable time to complete and may be challenging for some parents to fill out. Give yourself the time and space to complete these, while being as honest with yourself as possible. We are all working to helping your child!
Make sure your child is well-rested, well-fed, and hydrated!
The assessment process can be quite smooth or enjoyable for some children, but even challenging for others. My priority is to have a true reflection of your child’s abilities, so we take numerous breaks during a session, to help their mind be at rest and work at its full potential. The last thing we want is for any fatigue or hunger to affect her/his performance!
Please refrain from scheduling a session after your child has taken part in physically or mentally tiring activities such as sleepovers, camps, late nights, or out of town activities. Give your child a day to rest well before coming in and completing some mentally challenging activities.
Make sure your child is well-fed and hydrated before our session. I’d encourage you to bring along a bottle of water for the session! If you scheduled longer sessions, why not have a snack that your child can munch on during one of our longer breaks?
If a psychoeducational assessment is something you are considering for your child or teenager at home, trust your instincts! Call a specialist and ask your questions. You may even hear answer that you could didn’t consider!
A final note:
Working as a psychologist can be a busy profession, so book your session in advance! And why not ask for recommendations from friends, teachers, or even your child’s pediatrician? Don’t be afraid to look around before you find the psychologist who you trust and feel comfortable with to examine your child’s learning experience!
A psychoeducational assessment can shed light and can be enlightening for you, your child, the teachers, and all professionals who may be working with him/her!