Helping Your Child Learn Their Way: A Parent's Guide

When it comes to helping children thrive as learners, one crucial aspect involves understanding how your child learns and processes information. Recognizing their unique strengths, rather than focusing on perceived weaknesses, can unlock their full potential and foster a lifelong love of learning. This is especially necessary when traditional schooling often caters to certain types of learners, and assumptions about effective study habits don’t always take into account what would be most effective for a particular student.

Educational environments have often leaned toward certain types of teaching and learning styles as the primary model. Invariably, there have also been students who benefited from those styles and felt an easier fit in that environment. For example, lectures and note-taking work well for those who are auditory learners, and reading and essay writing come naturally to the linguistic mind. Unfortunately, a consequence of this design has been the void it created for all the others present in any given classroom. Theories such as multiple intelligences and learning styles have revolutionized education since their introduction, and they can provide meaningful guidance in how to best support each unique student.

TRADITIONAL EDUCATION VS MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES THEORY

Historically, the definition of intelligence was given a narrow definition driven by linguistic and logical-mathematical abilities. Further still, it was measured by standardized tests and general performance in classrooms that used similar types of teaching styles. However, this view was radically transformed when psychologist Howard Gardner introduced the theory of multiple intelligences, which proposes that each person possesses different types of naturally gifted strengths. Identifying these strengths can highlight which approaches to engaging with content may be most effective and meaningful, and while there are countless assessments available, this site offers a quick and easy option.

Gardner also warned against labeling learners based on their type of intelligence. Each category reflects a capacity for accessing or expressing abilities, but learning is nuanced and complex enough that rigid limitations and labels would do more harm than good. Instead, this model aims to redefine the traditional view of intelligence and make space for the many ways that this appears in academic and professional settings.

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES: EIGHT TYPES

• Linguistic Intelligence: Language-based intelligence is expressed through reading, writing, debates, verbal expression, and storytelling. 

• Logical-Mathematical Intelligence: This is the ability to reason, solve problems, and think abstractly, often reflected in a passion for puzzles, math, and scientific inquiry.

• Spatial Intelligence: This refers to the ability to visualize and manipulate multi-dimensional objects in space. Artists, architects, and those who enjoy maps and building models often possess strong spatial intelligence.

• Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence: The ability to use one's body effectively and skillfully, and one of the most common and under-utilized types of intelligence in the classroom. Children who learn best through hands-on activities demonstrate this intelligence and should avoid sitting passively during learning or studying time.

• Musical Intelligence: Reflected in a natural sensitivity to rhythm, pitch, and tone. Children with musical intelligence often enjoy singing, playing instruments, and recognizing musical patterns.

• Interpersonal Intelligence: Children who are natural leaders, good communicators, and empathetic collaborators can understand and interact with others effectively.

• Intrapersonal Intelligence: Often reflective and independent, people with this intelligence possess strong self-awareness and an understanding of their own emotions, motivations, and goals.

• Naturalist Intelligence: A deep understanding and appreciation of the natural world, often expressed through gardening, exploring nature, and classifying plants and animals.

Understanding your child's dominant intelligences allows you to tailor their learning experiences. For example, a child with strong bodily-kinesthetic intelligence might grasp concepts better through movement-based activities or building models, rather than just reading about them. For more tips on how to incorporate these into class time and study strategies, this University of North Georgia article can be a great resource.

LEARNING STYLES: ABSORBING INFORMATION

In addition to types of intelligence, we all have our preferred learning styles: the ways we best absorb and retain information. While there's overlap with multiple intelligences, learning styles are centered more around sensory preferences and the mode of delivery. 

• Visual Learners: Learning by seeing, often with a strong preference for diagrams, charts, videos, and reading. Visual aids and note-taking with colors and symbols are helpful.

• Auditory Learners: Learning by hearing, with an inclination toward discussions, lectures, and audio recordings. Reading aloud, participating in group discussions, and using mnemonic devices are useful tactics.

• Kinesthetic Learners: Learning by doing or experiencing, and best engaged via hands-on activities, experiments, role-playing, and movement. Provide opportunities for active learning and physical engagement.

HOW TO INCORPORATE INTELLIGENCE & LEARNING STYLES

Recognizing your child's unique blend of intelligences and learning styles empowers you to provide targeted support.

• Listen and Observe: Watch how your child naturally approaches tasks and what activities they enjoy - what captures their attention? How do they like to explain what they've learned?

• Diversify Learning Experiences: Don't limit learning to traditional methods, such as reading or note-taking. If your child is a kinesthetic learner with strong musical intelligence, help them study for that history test by creating a song about those events or acting out a scene from the textbook.

• Provide Appropriate Resources: If your child is a visual learner, find related educational videos, illustrated books, and concept maps - all easily found with a quick internet search. For an auditory learner, listening instead of reading the content (ie. audiobooks) can be helpful.

• Encourage Self-Awareness: Explore together with your child and collaboratively seek to understand how they learn best. This self-knowledge is an invaluable tool that will serve them throughout their academic journey and beyond.

• Celebrate All Intelligences: Actively acknowledge that all forms of intelligence are valuable. For instance, recognizing the ways different family members possess different skills and natural abilities that everyone benefits from can illustrate how this diversity is a gift worth celebrating. It also helps build confidence and a positive self-image, reinforcing that their unique way of thinking is a strength, not a limitation.

By embracing these insights, you can create an environment where your child feels understood, valued, and empowered to learn in ways that are most effective and enjoyable for them.

Written by Brandi R.

Fostering a Growth Mindset: Your Child's Secret Weapon for School Success

The new school year has arrived, and with it, fresh starts and new opportunities to support your child's academic journey. While grades and subject-specific skills tend to take center stage, one core ingredient crucial to academic success lies beneath the surface: a growth mindset. No matter the subject, skill, or context, this attitude towards learning acts as the foundation for navigating every hurdle they can and will encounter on their journey through life.

GROWTH MINDSET

A concept developed by researcher Carol Dweck in the pursuit of what determines success, a growth mindset is the belief that one’s abilities and intelligence are developed through hard work and dedication. In contrast, a fixed mindset believes that these abilities are innate or ‘fixed,’ and people are inherently good or bad at certain things. Shifting the focus to the power of effort and perseverance paves the way to accepting the gift of failure as a natural part of the learning process. It also allows children - and any learner of any age - to value progress over time rather than be deterred by instant outcomes.

Reframing discussions about effort helps cultivate this type of thinking. For example, instead of praising a student for being ‘smart,’ which implies success is merely the result of intrinsic abilities, they can be commended for their hard work and the specific strategies they used to address a problem. Or, they may be acknowledged for how far they came as writers or thinkers since they first started on a project. Celebrations that prioritize effort and determination offer critical feedback to teach children that effort drives success, not inborn luck.

RESILIENCE 

One key benefit of a growth mindset is the natural encouragement of resilience. School and life are both full of ups and downs, wins and losses, celebrations and setbacks. Challenging assignments, difficult exams, and social dilemmas offer daily opportunities to make a choice: rise to the challenge or give up. When children face these setbacks, it is essential that they recognize them as temporary obstacles that are simply gifts wrapped in frustration.

Together, try to approach each new experience with a focus on what there is to learn from it, and in reflection, collaboratively brainstorm new approaches for how to address it differently in the future. This process allows children to achieve the mental fortitude - also known as ‘grit’ from Angela Duckworth’s popular TED Talk - to thrive through adversity, not in spite of it.

Simple ways to support the development of resilience include setting and monitoring goals during the school year, integrating opportunities to celebrate growth, and incorporating problem solving as a natural part of their experiences and play.

ADAPTABILITY 

The world is always changing, and successful people have the skills required to adapt to those changes. A new school year is packed full of change: new teachers, classmates, routines, and material. When a child approaches the world with a growth mindset, it’s easier to embrace that experience from a place of curiosity and openness rather than fear or self-doubt.

Like so many other life skills, learning adaptability starts at home. As you demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to learn new things, your child sees you and learns to model this behavior. It can also help to talk through your problem-solving processes out loud with your child as you navigate new challenges together. As a team, explore how to approach uncertainty with a positive and flexible attitude.

Further, extracurricular activities and play both offer profound opportunities for teaching adaptability. Team sports, volunteering, hobbies and clubs, and collaborative endeavors all nurture the problem solving skills that help students navigate each new challenge flexibly and creatively.

CONFIDENCE

Fostering a growth mindset allows your child to gain confidence through their little wins just as much as the big ones. Unlike a fixed mindset - which views failure as indicative of weakness or incompetence - a growth mindset celebrates setbacks as opportunities for learning and progress. As a result, their confidence is not rooted in a belief that they will never make a mistake, but rather that mistakes are a healthy part of the process. They understand that when those problems arise, they are capable of handling and learning from them. A child who feels confident in their ability to learn and adapt is more likely to take on new challenges, ask for help when they need it, and see their own potential for growth.

IN CONCLUSION 

As everyone prepares for the school year ahead, it’s important to remember that parents and teachers act as partners in every child’s educational development. By intentionally cultivating and celebrating a growth mindset at home and in the classroom, children are given the gift of an attitude towards learning that will help them not only succeed academically, but also thrive as resilient, adaptable, and confident individuals. 

Written by Brandi R.

Building Positive Peer Relationships for a Great School Year – Helping Kids Navigate Friendships, Social Skills, and Emotional Intelligence

While a positive school environment has a profound impact on your child’s academic success and overall well-being, healthy peer relationships also serve as a cornerstone of their school experience. Beyond textbooks and test scores, the ability to form and maintain these relationships is a learned process that requires skills such as empathy, boundaries, communication, and emotional intelligence. 

Children’s relationships slowly evolve from the side-by-side play of preschool to the far more socially complex levels of engagement in elementary and beyond. There are shifts in friendships, new group dynamics and allegiances, and invariably, conflicts. The support and guidance of parents as children navigate this changing landscape cannot be overstated: social-emotional learning acts as a foundation for success in the classroom, the workplace, and their communities. Research even suggests that early demonstrations of social skills in primary school can be predictive of better academic achievement down the road. 

EMPATHY & BOUNDARIES

The first place children learn empathy and healthy boundaries is at home. When the adults in their lives are active listeners, calm but firm holders of boundaries, and effective communicators with their own relationships, children pick up on these cues and start to act them out in their interactions outside the home. Empathy is also modeled by how the adults in their lives respond to their childhood woes. Sometimes, adults forget that while the social problems of a child might seem insignificant from an adult perspective, they can feel like the world to that child. For example, if your child feels left out, validate and empathize with that pain, and then brainstorm ways to initiate connections or find new groups to join.

Another simple strategy for teaching empathy is to expand their capacity for perspective-taking - a form of cognitive flexibility. Together, explore how their words and actions might affect others. Help them understand that disagreements are a normal part of relationships, and they are responsible for learning and improving their conflict resolution skills. Calm communication, a willingness to compromise, and stepping away as needed are all ways of taking into consideration another person’s needs and feelings at the same time as one’s own. 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

When it comes to cultivating healthy peer-peer relationships, communication skills are an essential and complex piece of the puzzle. Children need opportunities to practice active listening, understanding social cues and body language, adapting behavior to different settings, and recognizing when to speak and when to listen. Create space in their daily lives - extracurricular activities, sports, community groups - where they can refine these skills in varied environments. It is especially helpful if they are able to interact with a diverse range of individuals, participate in teamwork, and learn to navigate various social hierarchies.

If you notice communication behaviors that are not socially appropriate, try to provide the feedback in private to avoid shame or embarrassment. Acknowledge they are learning these skills, and then offer alternative ways of communicating that would be more socially accepted. For instance, if your child struggles with eye contact, you might make that a daily habit of intentional practice and collaborative reflection. Or perhaps it’s about building higher levels of gratitude and connection, and the goal is to regularly express gratitude or provide at least one sincere compliment to someone they encounter. Small things like these help teach children that not only are these behaviors important, but they are also learned and mastered over time. 

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

In addition to communication skills, emotional intelligence is perhaps one of the most crucial elements in building positive peer relationships. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as knowing how to recognize and influence the emotions of others. As a parent, this can be supported by offering a safe space for emotional expression without judgment, helping them label their emotions and explore healthy methods of self-regulation, recognizing triggers, and guiding them toward constructive solutions.

Ultimately, academic achievements are not all that is required for a school year to be successful: the richness of a child’s social experiences and connections plays a critical role. As parents and educators actively support the development of strong social skills, foster emotional intelligence, and guide them through complex social dynamics, children are empowered to thrive both in the classroom and the world at large. A sense of community and belonging among their peers is an integral part of helping young people become confident, well-rounded adults.

Written by Brandi R.

Four Simple Strategies for Raising Independent, Responsible, and Motivated Children

As parents and educators, we have the opportunity to witness children as they make the journey from helpless infant, to the “I can do it myself” toddler, to a fully independent adult. Each new level comes with subtle shifts that gradually build on their growing sense of autonomy and identity. Regardless of age, encouraging independence includes fostering four core elements in their daily lives: responsibility, agency, organization, and self-motivation.

RESPONSIBILITY, EARLY

Independence is inextricably linked to a sense of responsibility: to ourselves, to our environment, to our families, to each other. If children are to one day be responsible for themselves (or others), the road there is paved with the many little ways we nurture their capacity for accountability. Further, allowing that capacity to grow in weight and difficulty is a natural part of the progression towards an empowered adulthood.

For instance, encouraging young learners to put away their toys, help set the table, or choose their outfit for the day are not merely chores; these are early lessons in responsibility and decision-making. Responsibility might be reflected in being in charge of their alarms, caring for a family pet, monitoring their grades, or tracking daily chore completion. These seemingly mundane tasks all work together to develop a sense of responsibility to their family, home, and community - a connection that lays the groundwork for building and sustaining a family and community of their own one day.

THE POWER OF CHOICE

When it comes to cultivating independence in children, the importance of choice and self-determination in their daily lives simply cannot be overstated. Providing intentional, age-appropriate choices helps build a sense of agency, allowing children to feel in control of small aspects of their world. From the moment a child starts throwing fits in response to “No,” the tension of trying to keep them safe and allowing them opportunities for decision-making can feel like walking a tight-rope. Intentionally harnessing the power of choice can serve as an antidote to this challenge: creating independent, self-determined leaders by providing multiple acceptable options and then allowing children the freedom to select from them. In this way, parents and educators can ensure their needs and safety are met while encouraging age-appropriate self-direction.

ORGANIZATION

When it comes to organization, designated spaces for belongings and clear schedules can create predictable routines that support emerging independence. The best part is - children can and should be part of the process in creating these spaces and schedules. As they engage in those decisions collaboratively, they recognize not only the value of being organized, but also a feeling of ownership as they create that organization through intentionally curated study spaces, binder systems, daily routines, and more. They learn how to trial and error what is working and what isn’t, make adjustments, and self-monitor. They learn personal accountability for the outcome, and as they get older, start to take over these systems with greater independence and clarity about how to implement and sustain them. 

INTRINSIC MOTIVATION

Ultimately, independent adults are able to determine their own meaningful goals, take steps to achieve them, and adapt from behaviors or obstacles that hinder their progress. In order to become independent adults, then, children need to learn how to lead themselves through that process as well. Their goals and efforts also need to be intrinsically motivated and positively reinforced through natural consequences. When movement forward is fueled by their own commitment to success, they are less likely to give up when the going gets tough. They won’t need external validation to chase their dreams, allow peer pressure to make their decisions for them, or let distractions keep them from meeting their responsibilities. 

Intrinsic motivation is further developed as children become increasingly confident in their problem-solving abilities. When a child faces a challenge, resist the urge to immediately provide the solution and instead guide them to think through possibilities. Arriving to a concussion themselves builds self-reliance and critical thinking. Recognizing effort and progress, rather than solely focusing on perfect outcomes, nurtures self-motivation during these formative years.They learn to enjoy the process, face mistakes and challenges head-on, and stay confident in their ability to tackle whatever comes their way.

IN CONCLUSION

Throughout all these stages, the role of parents remains paramount in creating an environment that encourages growth without rigid control. Providing consistent expectations, offering patient guidance, and celebrating small victories along the way are key. The aim is not to remove challenges but to equip children with the skills and confidence to navigate them independently. By strategically fostering age-appropriate responsibility, agency, organization, and self-motivation, parents are actively preparing their children to thrive academically and personally, developing independent thinkers and capable individuals ready for the world.

Written by Brandi R.

Raising Confident Kids: How Small Wins Build Big Self-Esteem

A core tenet of both parenthood and holistic education is the desire to see children flourish into well-rounded, confident, and connected adults. While one important element of that objective is academic success, another is a firmly rooted sense of self-esteem. Taking opportunities to celebrate achievements - large and small - builds lasting confidence over time and reinforces a foundational belief in their own abilities.

When even the small successes are seen and celebrated, they start to create a positive feedback loop, encouraging children to attempt new challenges with curiosity and optimism, rather than apprehension or self-doubt. Not all recognition needs a party, either; subtlety can be a highly effective strategy. Positive reinforcement is a tricky thing, and it’s critical that motivation remains intrinsic, rather than hinging on a need for external validation.

SMALL MOMENTS, BIG OPPORTUNITIES

From the very beginning, a child’s world is filled with new challenges: memorizing the alphabet, mastering basic arithmetic, and making friends. Many of these challenges feel small from the perspective of an adult. However, each one accumulates and builds not only their knowledge of the world, but also their deeply-felt belief systems about that world and about themselves.

With young children, the sentiment might be the obvious importance of looking both ways when crossing the street. With older ones, perhaps the hidden wins appear as quiet moments of greater independence, as they become responsible for their morning alarms and getting ready without reminders. But as minor as these may seem, they offer a potent opportunity to recognize and acknowledge a child’s capacity for self-determination, accomplishment, and success.

YOUNGER AGES

Each hurdle overcome represents a significant victory in a young child’s eyes. A kindergartener ecstatically announces that she tied a shoelace for the first time. An elementary student finally solves that tricky math concept and proudly presents the result. These are not simply day-to-day tasks they completed; they are historic moments of triumph that affirm a child’s confidence in their ability to learn and to grow.

For younger ages, saying “Good job” is not the only method of recognition, and in many instances, it isn’t always the most effective, either. Instead, it can be helpful to embed recognition as a natural part of daily life. For example, on a phone call with a grandparent or family member, allowing your child to overhear a casual mention of how exciting it was to see their improved drawing skills or handwriting can make them beam with pride. Integrating more opportunities for choice cultivates a greater sense of self-determination. Encouraging independence and self-advocacy gives them the experience and language they need to see themselves as capable of handling each new challenge, fueling their growing confidence.

MIDDLE SCHOOL & BEYOND

For middle and high school students, the stakes for success start to feel higher across the board. The academic landscape becomes more demanding. The social arena is more complicated, messy, and emotionally charged. Identity and self-perception become tantamount elements of their daily lives. More than ever, confidence plays a powerful role in how they manage these new challenges.

In the face of bigger challenges, and increasingly impactful failures and successes, it helps to focus their attention away from grades or external measures of success. Instead, try to place greater emphasis on the role of effort and the outcome of growth. Integrating checkpoints for goal setting and monitoring, mid-year celebrations, and end-of-year recognitions can create a predictable rhythm and naturally illustrates the power of hard work. Often, the invisible but most important win comes long before the tangible end result: hidden in the late-night dedication to growth, unspoken courage to make mistakes, and willingness to go beyond their comfort zones.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

• Celebrate the Small Stuff: Small wins reinforce the belief that children can find mastery and success.When children experience the positive emotions associated with overcoming challenges, they are more likely to seek out new ones. This internal drive, rather than external rewards, becomes the primary engine for continued growth and learning. 

• Offer Choice & Space for Independence: Confidence is intricately connected to a sense of agency, and self-efficacy is a powerful predictor of future achievement and overall well-being. While subtle, these moments accumulate into a growing faith in their abilities to match each new challenge life has to offer.

• Emphasize Effort & Progress: At its core, building confidence through small wins is about recognizing and valuing effort as much as outcome. Creating an environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning, and where progress, no matter how incremental, is celebrated, radically defines what ‘earns’ that confidence in the first place. Through this process, they learn that perseverance yields results, and that their efforts will lead to better outcomes.

Written by Brandi R.

The Power of Play: Fostering Creativity, Problem-Solving Skills, & Self-Efficacy

When it comes to supporting children's academic success, common strategies often include academic enrichment, extracurricular activities, and educational toys. Interestingly, however, one of the most profoundly beneficial tools - not found in a book or on a screen - is regularly overlooked: the simple act of play.

As parents and educators seek to strengthen the academic and executive functions of children at any age, play offers a unique opportunity for keeping those reading, writing, and math skills fresh over summer. There are also certain benefits that can only come from unstructured and self-led play; in this space, imagination runs wild and rules are invented (or nonexistent). Plus, research has found that when play is directly supervised by adults, children’s behavior becomes more expected and less creative.

As play improves a child’s physical, social, and emotional development, those gains translate into particularly valuable benefits related to academic performance, cognitive flexibility, and executive functioning skills. Although there are countless others, three key outcomes associated with play - and fundamental to learning success - are creativity, problem-solving, and self-efficacy. 

CREATIVITY 

Left to their own devices, children are more willing to innovate, make mistakes, and modify their approach. This process nurtures the critical thinking skills essential for creativity and imagination, whether they are inventing a new game or tackling a complex academic essay.

For example, building a living room fort from blankets and pillows doesn’t come with an instruction manual or step-by-step tutorial video. Instead, it gives children the opportunity to problem-solve in real-time, actively exploring how to make the edges stay up, balance a chair or couch cushion for support, and engineer a more lifted ceiling. While this may appear to just be a cute afternoon of free play, it offers a powerfully dynamic exercise in divergent thinking and spatial reasoning. Better still, a fort is only one small example of how unstructured play provides a safe environment for experimentation. A child’s capacity for creative invention is infinite, when given the opportunity.

PROBLEM-SOLVING

Imaginary worlds, with their invented creatures, detailed plots, and surprisingly complex rules, serve as a completely free and highly effective masterclass in problem-solving. When children engage in dramatic play with others, they also learn how to navigate social relationships, negotiate roles and ideas, and collaboratively turn their vision into reality.

Further still, when children participate in this form of play, obstacles are an expected part of the process. When playing together, conflicts in opinion and vision often clash. Without adult intervention to save the day, children instinctively craft their own solutions. This iterative process builds resilience and fosters confidence in their abilities to address what lies ahead. Both of these qualities directly translate to tackling academic challenges and, later, complex real-world scenarios in daily life. 

SELF-EFFICACY

More than fun, free play is a vital, scientific process fueling their growth, building their brains, and laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning and success. Another key aspect of this foundation is self-efficacy, or the belief in oneself to be successful when faced with difficulty. Agency to self-direct and then find success, free from external pressure or excessive guidance, is fundamental to the development of self-efficacy.

When children are given the space to become the architects of their own experiences, they naturally start to set their own goals. For example, they may choose mastering a new jump trick on the playground, building their tallest-yet structure with blocks, or taking off on an imaginative expedition to the backyard. Because each victory - however small - occurs as a result of their own initiative and effort, this sense of achievement reinforces a child's belief in their capabilities.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the powerful role of play in every aspect of child development and learning allows parents and educators to be more intentional about protecting time specifically for unstructured play. It also helps to ensure access to open-ended materials that can be incorporated into that play – blocks, art supplies, dress-up clothes, or simply a patch of grass and a few cardboard boxes – and then step back.

By resisting the urge to over-schedule every minute of a child's day with structured activities, there appears a new, blank space of imagination and possibility. It’s healthy - and arguably essential - to let them get bored, because that's often when the most creative play emerges. 

Written by Brandi R.

Summer Learning Made Easy: Fun, Simple Tips for Parents

Summer has arrived in Phoenix, and kids across the valley are ready for all the fun that comes with a break from the school-year routine. While a chance to reset and reconnect is essential, parents and educators know how critical it is to balance a well-deserved break with opportunities that nurture and sustain their learning from the past year.

The "summer slide" is a real concern for many families, but keeping their academic skills fresh doesn't have to involve mind-numbing flashcards and boring drills. There are countless exciting and engaging ways to reinforce reading, writing, and math skills, so students of all ages can jump back into school feeling confident, not burnt out. If nurturing those executive function skills is also on your radar, there are ways to make that a part of the summer fun as well.

READING: FOR THE LOVE, NOT THE REPORT!

Summer is the perfect time of year to foster a love of reading without any assigned pages or book reports. Even the most reading-resistant kid can get excited! Here are some quick ways to embed reading into your family’s ‘vacation mode’:

• Library Adventures (and not just for books!): Our local Phoenix libraries are treasure troves of free programs, story times, and summer reading challenges. Let your child choose any book, comic book, or magazine that captures their interest - no judgment. The goal is to get them reading something that they chose for themselves.

• Audiobooks on the Go: Whether it’s for long car rides, hanging out by the pool, or even during quiet playtime or bedtime, audiobooks are a fantastic way to make reading a natural part of your child’s day. They effortlessly expose kids to new vocabulary and share stories without the visual strain.

• Family Read-Alouds: Children of all ages - even teens - generally love being read to. Try taking turns reading chapters from a longer book, or explore a collection of short stories or poetry together. Even better, talk about what you read during and after reading; these conversations help strengthen comprehension and create shared experiences.

• Real-World Reading: Point out signs, browse recipe books, or ask your child to read the instructions for a new board game. By taking advantage of the ways that reading naturally occurs in the world around them, they discover that reading is a valuable life skill, not just a school subject.

WRITING: FOR CREATIVITY, NOT AN ESSAY!

Writing doesn't have to mean academic essays and formal assessments. Even if your child says they ‘hate writing’ during the school year, summer opens the door to rekindling their enthusiasm. Here are a few to get you started:

• Summer Journaling: Give your child a fun notebook and encourage them to jot down their daily adventures, thoughts, or observations. No pressure for perfect grammar – just get those ideas flowing!

• Creative Story Tellers: This can be prompted (with numerous story-starter ideas available online) or given free rein - simply provide a notebook with space for pictures and written text, and see where their imagination takes them.

• Recipe Writers: Have them help you write down a family recipe, or even create their own silly concoction. This can help enhance math skills while navigating measurements as an added bonus.

• Thank You Notes: There are so many benefits to practicing gratitude, penmanship, and writing skills in one go! If your child is an artist, have them create a drawing as an accompaniment to their written expressions of appreciation. 

MATH: FOR REAL LIFE, NOT THE TEST!

Math is everywhere, and summer is the perfect time to highlight its practical applications. This is especially true if you can connect math and play as the powerhouse couple they are!

• Cooking and Baking: Measuring ingredients is a fantastic way to practice fractions and understanding quantities. Doubling a recipe? That's multiplication!

• Shopping and Money: Encouraging math skills through money is a highly effective way to connect their learning to the world around them. Have your child help with the grocery budget, calculate discounts, or figure out the change you should receive.

• Board Games & Card Games: Many classic games like Monopoly, Uno, or even simple dice games involve counting, strategy, and basic arithmetic.

• Time Teller: Help them keep track of time for activities, calculate how long until dinner, or understand schedules.

• Sports Statistics: If your child loves sports, explore batting averages, points per game, or other fun stats.

The goal of summer learning isn’t to ‘school’ children during their much-needed time away - it’s to keep their curiosity, critical thinking skills, and thinking brains active and engaged. The more natural and enjoyable these experiences are, the better!

This fun and low-pressure approach reinforces essential reading, writing, and math skills while also encouraging a positive attitude towards learning. If you ever feel like your child could use a little extra support or a more structured approach to maintaining those executive function skills, Peak Academics is always here to help.

Written by Brandi R.

Celebrating Growth: 6 Ways to Honor Your Child's School Year Achievements

As the school year comes to a close, this moment offers a powerful opportunity to pause and look back at how much hard work and growth have taken place. Parents play a critical role in supporting each child's unique journey, and celebrating their wins along the way is crucial. This type of celebration positively reinforces their efforts, strengthens your bond, and nurtures core executive functioning skills like metacognition and goal monitoring.

Taking the time to truly celebrate tells your child that their progress was not just noticed, but significant enough to deserve your focused time and attention. Verbal praise is a tricky phenomenon with mixed results on children’s motivation and performance. Cognitive psychology suggests that praise should be centered around progress and process, not results, so this moment of recognition will ideally go far beyond grades and focus on the incredible progress they've made in their learning and development.

Check out these six fun and meaningful ways you can honor your child's accomplishments:

1. GROWTH CHART CELEBRATION

Remember those height charts? Create a "Growth Chart" for the school year! First, work together to brainstorm all the areas your child has grown in. Maybe it's the organization of their now-clean backpack, proactive planning for long-term projects, increased confidence in asking questions and self-advocating, or even mastering a tricky math concept they were struggling with. Write all of their achievements on bright, colorful sticky notes and place them along a vertical line. The visual representation of their progress will be a powerful reminder of just how far they’ve come.

2. “EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS” SCAVENGER HUNT

Turn celebrating into a game! Ask your child to create a scavenger hunt where each clue relates to an area of progress or reflects a skill they've developed. For example, a clue might be: "I used to be disorganized and confusing. Now, I’m all clean and following a clear system!" (Answer: Their folder and/or notebook(s), highlighting their organizational skills). Other examples may be happy memories in their yearbook, grade reports, specific assignments, etc.

3. “2024-2025 HIGHLIGHTS” CREATIVE PROJECT

Creativity plays a key role in boosting learning and children’s well-being, so a self-led project can encourage your child to express their wins in their own unique way. Ask your child to create something that represents what they feel most proud of from the past year, such as a scrapbook, a short video, a drawing, or even a song.

4. “PROUD MOMENTS” FAMILY DINNER

Plan a special family dinner where everyone shares one or two moments from the school year they are particularly proud of – either for themselves or for another family member. This fosters a supportive environment and highlights the collective effort.

5. THEN-AND-NOW VISION BOARD

This moment doesn’t have to be frozen in time; celebrate the past by recognizing its place on the way towards the future! Create a then-and-now vision board together, capturing the beautiful highlights of the past year alongside their goals for the summer or even the next school year. This subtly reinforces goal-setting, encourages self-monitoring of those goals, and keeps that growth mindset alive.

6. REFLECTIVE JOURNALING

As a family, spend some quiet time together reflecting on the year. Use prompts like: "What are you most proud of learning this year?" "What was a challenge you overcame?" "What skills do you feel you've gotten better at?" This encourages self-reflection and deeper understanding of their progress. (See this Peak blog for more on journaling.)

Ultimately, celebrating wins should go beyond a quick “good job” and a pat on the back. This moment can be a shared adventure in acknowledging effort, recognizing growth, and strengthening your connection as a family. Positive reinforcement has the greatest impact on encouraging desirable behaviors, and when celebrating students’ progress, it helps build resilient, self-aware individuals. Plus, taking ownership of their achievements does so much more for building confidence than verbal praise or validation. So, make these end-of-year celebrations fun, creative, and truly meaningful!

Written by Brandi R.

How to Self-Monitor the Progress of Your Goals

Setting goals increases motivation and helps children develop a sense of self. Children who practice reflection are more likely to self-monitor and adjust, increasing their potential to meet their objectives. Self-monitoring techniques combine reflection, mindfulness, and strategy, allowing students to analyze their progress toward a specific goal and plan their next steps.

Self-monitoring can be a multi-step process, which may cause children to feel overwhelmed or stuck. But with the right tools and guidance, children can learn to self-monitor on their own!

Create a Goal

An attainable goal is the foundation of self-monitoring. Without a goal, children have nothing to evaluate, compare, or monitor. This goal could focus on executive functions like organization, academic skills, or behavior-based objectives.

Define Mastery

How will your child know they’ve mastered this goal? What should they know, and what should they be able to do independently? What does success look like—and sound like?

For example, if a student’s goal is “to keep their room clean,” how often does it need to happen for mastery to be achieved? What exactly does a “clean room” mean? Adding specific, measurable details can help avoid vague expectations. For example: “I can keep my room clean 6 out of 7 days each week.”

Break It Down

Break the goal into smaller steps or chunks. Ask questions like:

• “What skills do you need to reach your goal?”

• “How do you complete this process?”

• “What needs to happen first, next, and last?”

For example, writing CVC words includes multiple skills: letter formation, segmenting words, letter-sound correspondence, and understanding vowels and consonants. Breaking the goal into smaller pieces helps students see where they are in the process of meeting their objective.

Monitor Goals

Once children have created a goal, defined mastery, and broken it down into steps, they’re ready to start self-monitoring. Try a combination of these strategies to see what works best for your child’s needs and independence level:

• Create a checklist using “I can” or “I will” statements for each sub-skill within the goal. Children can refer to these to see where they are in the process.

• Reflect each day for 10–15 minutes by writing or thinking aloud. Guiding questions like “What went well?” “What still needs improvement?” and “What is your focus for tomorrow?” can help direct their thoughts and encourage adjustment.

• Check in with your child daily to help them stay accountable for their progress and growth. Ask goal-focused questions, offer reminders, and revisit their goals at different times throughout the day.

• Use visual aids and supports to help your child remember the steps involved in reaching their goal. Let your child participate in designing the visual to increase ownership.

• Celebrate small successes along the way to keep motivation high and highlight their progress toward the goal.

Goals can measure a variety of skills, behaviors, and abilities. It’s important to recognize that each goal involves a process with multiple steps so children can reflect on their achievements and plan their next moves. Teachers can play an important role in setting academic goals and may be a helpful resource when developing sub-objectives for your child. As your child masters their goals, continue setting new ones to expand their understanding, responsibility, and growth!

Written by Ami Z.

Stop the Writing Wars: How To Help Your Child Enjoy the Written Word Again

Most parents and educators have heard a child make the tragic declaration: "I hate writing!" Often, the instinct is to reason with that resistance, usually by defending the importance of putting one’s thoughts onto paper (or screen) to communicate effectively. Unfortunately, much like the challenge of reading resistance, forcing the issue can worsen that child’s aversion. 

Yet, the ability to write well is foundational. It drives communication, improves critical thinking, fosters creativity, provides a safe space for emotional expression, and plays a vital role in every aspect of academic success. So, what is the most effective way to gently guide children from that overwhelming and discouraging "hate" to a more positive relationship with their writing? Instead of getting tangled up in a power struggle, here are some effective strategies to help them rediscover the joy and power of the written word.

UNDERSTANDING THE ‘WHY’ BEHIND ‘I HATE WRITING’

When a child says, "I hate writing," what do they truly mean? Before parents and educators can create meaningful solutions, it’s important to understand how that particular child perceives the experience of writing and why it fuels their frustration. Common culprits often include:

• Overwhelmed by the empty screen or page and ‘writer’s block’

• Difficulty organizing ideas and structuring their writing 

• Frozen from the fear of making mistakes and a sense of pressure to produce perfect work on the first try

• Lack of confidence in spelling, punctuation, and grammar 

• Disengagement and boredom with assigned or uninspiring topics

• Physical struggles with handwriting/typing and fine motor skills deficits

• Lack of enjoyment or sense of accomplishment toward writing in general

With a clearer picture of what a child feels towards writing, solutions can be tailored to their unique needs and feelings. A child who struggles with the physical task of handwriting or typing doesn’t need more exciting topics to improve engagement, and the child who is overwhelmed by a blank screen won’t feel any better after additional instruction in writing conventions.

For instance, if your child struggles with getting started or organizing their ideas, it can be powerfully effective to break down these tasks into smaller, more manageable steps that work to build towards a final product. It can also be helpful to encourage them to talk through their ideas first; sometimes verbalizing thoughts helps to better articulate them before trying to translate them to the physical page. Finally, sentence starters or story prompts can also gently nudge them past the blank page's emptiness. Small victories build confidence and help ease anxiety. 

If the struggle lies in organizing thoughts, this could potentially signal a different learning style or an executive functioning skill that needs additional support. Visual tools like graphic organizers, mind maps, and even simple outlines can provide a much-needed framework. With a structure built out, the screen is no longer blank, and the organizational system exists before they start building out the rest of the written content within that framework. 

INTEGRATE WRITING INTO DAILY LIFE

The more writing feels like a natural part of life, the less it will feel like a chore. Here are some effortless ways to embed writing into daily routines:

• Keep a variety of engaging writing tools easily available and visible, such as fun notebooks or colorful writing tools

• Create a comfortable, uplifting, and distraction-free writing space

• Let them see you writing for pleasure and practical purposes – drafting grocery lists, journals, emails, etc.

• Encourage writing in different genres that speak more to their interests: journals, stories, poems, comics, song lyrics, letters to loved ones, captions for photos, or even creating their own games with written instructions

• Encourage imaginative play that asks them to write scripts for their toys, menus for a pretend restaurant, maps for made-up lands, or journals for their adventures

• Write or verbally weave stories together, taking turns adding sentences or paragraphs

• Differentiate the act of writing and the act of editing as separate tasks with their own objectives, praising effort, creativity, and ideas as the priority when it comes to writing

• Explore innovative tech support - such as engaging writing apps, voice-to-text software for those who struggle with handwriting, or collaborative storytelling platforms

Ultimately, helping a child who "hates" writing to re-engage requires empathy, patience, and a willingness to invent creative, uniquely customized solutions. By understanding the roots of their resistance and creating an environment where writing feels less like an impossible demand and more like a joyful means of expression, they can rediscover the power and satisfaction of putting their unique voice onto the page. 

Written by Brandi R.

The Final Push: Ending the School Year on a Positive Note

Warmer weather may be signaling to your child that the school year is winding down, often stirring up a mix of emotions. These feelings can be tough to navigate—and sometimes, they impact students’ engagement and motivation as the year draws to a close. It’s important to understand the factors that may influence your child’s ability to persevere through the final stretch of the school year:

• Many classrooms prioritize state assessments during this time. After completing these cognitively demanding tasks, students may feel mentally drained or unmotivated to continue learning through the end of the year.

• Some students may feel overwhelmed by the idea that they won’t reach their academic goals, while others who have already met theirs may begin to disengage.

• Academic pressure, final exams, increased workload, social stressors, upcoming transitions, and lack of support can all disrupt a student’s ability to stay focused and consistent during the fourth quarter.

• A common misconception is that the last part of the school year is simply review and less valuable than previous quarters. In reality, this final stretch is crucial—it helps solidify key knowledge, prepares students for the next grade level, and provides an opportunity to reflect and grow through a season of transition.

Despite the natural dip in motivation, students can avoid the end of the year burnout and finish strong when equipped with the right strategies.

Reignite Focus with Goal Setting

Setting clear, achievable goals can be a powerful motivator—especially for students who’ve already accomplished earlier benchmarks or feel discouraged by unmet ones.

Whether adjusting original goals to make them more attainable or creating new short-term objectives, having a visual and specific target helps students stay focused through the final weeks.

✨ Incentives can also play a motivating role. Rewards might include:

• Extra electronics time

• A special meal or treat

• A sticker chart or small prize

The key is to connect the reward to effort and follow-through, rather than just outcomes.

Celebrate & Reflect

As the year wraps up, creating space to honor progress and reflect on growth is essential. Many schools host academic, social, or athletic celebrations—but meaningful recognition can also happen at home.

Encourage your child to reflect on:

• A challenge they worked through

• Something they’re proud of

• What they’re looking forward to next

Reflection gives kids the opportunity to process their feelings and recognize how far they’ve come.

Support Their Emotional Wellbeing

Students of all ages face unique end-of-year stressors—especially those transitioning to new schools or grade levels.

Older students may benefit from:

• Checklists

• Deadline reminders

• Extra grace as they navigate change

Younger students often need:

• Reassurance

• Routines

• Emotional check-ins

No matter the age, now is a good time to reaffirm expectations, maintain routines, and prioritize mindfulness and connection at home. These small actions can help your child put forth their best effort and finish the year feeling confident and supported.

Written by Ami Z.

Beyond Bribery: Real Ways to Get Kids Excited About Reading

When a child says they “hate” reading, parents and teachers naturally push against that frustration. Although the fight is well-intentioned, forcing them into it via conflict can unfortunately worsen that resistance. To make matters worse, parents facing this challenge are far from alone, as the percentage of children who read for fun continues to drop and is now at its lowest since the 80s.

Rebuilding a positive attitude toward reading for a child with negative associations is both challenging and essential. It can also be particularly tricky, as encouraging reading differs from other forms of behavioral change. For example, incentivizing reading can have the opposite of its desired impact. Despite an initial increase in frequency, it is associated with a reduction over time and even decreased reading comprehension.

Reading improves cognitive development, critical thinking, emotional well-being, and academic success, so its loss is deeply felt in the classroom and at home. Instead of falling into the power struggle trap, here are some effective but subtle strategies that can re-introduce a love of reading without pressure or bribery. 

ADDRESS THE ROOTS OF RESISTANCE

Firstly, what is it about reading that children seem to ‘hate?’ Knowing and responding effectively to your child’s unique reasons can make a world of difference. Common answers often include boredom, difficulty understanding, pressure to read what they don’t enjoy, lack of interest, struggles with focus and attention, and a general sense of frustration rather than enjoyment. Once the ‘why’ is clearer, so are the next steps.

For example, if a child feels that reading is too difficult, they may have had to work with content too far above their reading level. Repeated experiences with this may have unintentionally ‘taught’ them that reading is ‘too difficult’ and inaccessible, so they have chosen to avoid it instead. A reading assessment to determine their current level can make it easier to identify material appropriate for their unique needs. Generally speaking, content should be at or just above the current level to promote skill growth; however, if the goal is to reverse the damage of negative emotions and limiting beliefs, it can help to start at or just below until they demonstrate a renewed sense of confidence and optimism.

If they struggle with focus or attention during reading, this could indicate a different learning style or executive functioning skills deficit. Understanding what these are can help inform the most accessible and supported ways for a child to engage with a text. For instance, some children do better with audiobooks (and don’t worry - audiobooks aren’t “cheating,” they produce nearly identical benefits to reading visually). On the other hand, children who struggle with executive functions and attention may prefer to own physical copies so they can annotate and engage more interactively with what they’re reading. 

MAKE READING PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The more unobtrusive and natural reading feels, the better. Fortunately, there are some very easy ways to make this a natural extension of their everyday lives:

• Make weekly trips to the library, giving them the freedom to browse independently 

• Visit multiple bookstores and choose a favorite (thrift stores often have robust book sections with books for $1-3)

• Bring books for long lines, car trips, plane rides, and vacations 

• Keep books everywhere: in the car, around the house, and always within reach

• Model reading for pleasure as often as possible

• Create a dedicated reading space with favorite blankets, special lights, and extra pillows

• Establish specific times, such as the drive home from school, the last hour before bed, or Saturday mornings (this should ideally apply to the whole family!)

• Read together as a bonding experience - taking turns reading aloud or snuggling with separate books (here are some additional tips to also improve comprehension)

• Encourage rereading of favorite books, which helps strengthen speed and accuracy while also building more confidence 

WHAT COMES NEXT: GAINING MOMENTUM

Once the reasons have been thoughtfully addressed and reading has become a more positive experience, here are a few ways to foster even greater levels of engagement:

• Make connections between things you’ve read and your child’s unique ideas, passions, and experiences

• Explore genres to discover their favorites: nonfiction, fantasy, sci-fi, graphic novels, etc.

• Find a series that captures their interest, which can promote a sense of comfort and familiarity, enthusiasm to read more, and opportunities to buy more as gifts

• While at the bookstore, collaborate to find a few books to give as gifts for someone else (ie. a recipe book for Dad to use with the new grill, or a book themed around an upcoming holiday to share with a younger sibling)

In conclusion, by addressing the reasons behind a child’s resistance and cultivating an environment where reading feels like a natural extension of their day, parents and educators can help them rediscover the joy of books. It is critical to approach the journey with empathy, acknowledging that every child is unique and will require different strategies. While it can be challenging and require a great deal of patience, the ultimate goal is for our children to hopefully embrace reading as a lifelong passion.

Written by Brandi R.

Finding the Pause: Strengthening Response Inhibition in Children

As many schools approach spring break, students will have time to pause from their busy academic, personal, and extracurricular lives. This is a great opportunity to reset, plan for the upcoming weeks, and reorganize. Spring break can also serve as a meaningful time to reflect, set positive intentions, and find balance. However, reflective thinking shouldn't only happen during long school breaks. In fact, daily reflection can help children find moments of pause in their routines and strengthen executive function skills like self-control and response inhibition.

What is Response Inhibition?

Have you ever blurted out an answer or interrupted someone mid-sentence? You can thank your response inhibition for that. Response inhibition is the ability to control behaviors or responses to a task. Similar to a cause-and-effect relationship, it helps individuals react appropriately to different situations, stay focused, and resist impulsive behaviors. For some children, these skills develop naturally as they learn school rules and routines. However, others may benefit from intentional practice to strengthen these abilities.

Playing Games

Games that require critical thinking, such as chess, encourage children to take their time when making decisions rather than choosing the first move that comes to mind. Multiplayer games that involve turn-taking can also enhance response inhibition. Activities like Simon Says, Red Light/Green Light, Freeze Dance, board games, and card games all support the development of this skill.

Charts and Reminders

Visual cues can help children remember to think before responding until they develop this habit independently. These cues should be tailored to your child’s needs. For example, a solutions wheel can assist with problem-solving, while a THINK poster can encourage appropriate responses.

Avoiding Distracting Areas

Keeping workspaces clean and organized can limit distractions and help children stay focused on their tasks. A clutter-free environment also promotes a healthy homework routine, maximizing their attention and productivity.

Timers and Counters

Timers are useful for encouraging task inhibition, practicing skills within a set period, and minimizing distractions. Additionally, timers can help students regulate response inhibition by setting limits on off-topic discussions. Counters, or designated objects, can be used to regulate behaviors. For example, a child may receive three counters during a discussion, turning one over each time they speak. This method can help with turn-taking, staying in designated areas, and minimizing off-topic storytelling.

Positive Reinforcement

When a child independently controls their response, positive reinforcement encourages them to repeat that behavior. Recognizing their progress helps them reflect on their actions and continue improving.

Wait Time and Wait Periods

Providing wait time allows students to consider multiple responses rather than the first idea that comes to mind, which is especially beneficial for writing and speaking activities. It also strengthens listening skills by encouraging students to fully process what was asked. Wait periods—longer increments of time—can help children make thoughtful decisions, such as choosing a new hobby or extracurricular activity. These pauses can prevent impulsive commitments.

Social Scenarios

Practicing social scenarios allows children to reflect on behaviors, navigate social situations, and differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate responses. These exercises encourage them to think of alternative solutions and positively impact their social and emotional learning.

Conclusion

Response inhibition can be a challenging skill to develop without the right strategies to guide impulsive thoughts and behaviors. By incorporating these techniques at home, children will become better equipped to regulate their responses independently. Encouraging them to find moments of pause in their daily lives will make breaks even more enjoyable, with less to reorganize and catch up on!

Written by Ami Z.

Breaking the Cycle: How to Redirect Undesirable Behaviors in Children

Have you ever wondered why children act the way they do or why certain behaviors persist despite efforts to redirect them? Sometimes, despite trying various strategies, it may feel as though “nothing is working.” However, taking a step back to explore the motivations behind these behaviors is key to effectively changing them.

One reason for persistent behaviors is that the processes driving them are often subconscious. Children may not be able to express what they need or how an adult’s response is meeting or not meeting those needs. As a result, the responsibility falls on caregivers to explore the root cause of these behaviors and adapt their responses.

REINFORCEMENT

Reinforcement plays a crucial role in behavior modification. However, caregivers sometimes unintentionally reinforce undesirable behavior with their responses. For example, if the adult’s approach meets the need from which it originated, giving negative attention (yelling, lecturing, engaging) or granting avoidance (grounding, sending away, delaying a task) could lead a child to repeat the behavior even more. To break this cycle, it’s essential to reevaluate how the behavior is currently being responded to.

Instead of punishing problem behaviors, well-constructed positive reinforcement systems focus caregivers’ attention on the habits and attitudes they want to encourage rather than what they want to eliminate. This simple but powerful shift in perspective can help parents and educators encourage children to make healthier decisions, strengthen adult-child relationships, and promote self-esteem. 

When it comes to any repeated action that derives from a subconscious need, the bottom line is this: the behavior will likely continue until the need is met in some other way. After identifying a potential cause, the first step is to create an alternate pathway that still meets that need (ie. becoming the “class helper” and receiving frequent praise to meet the need for attention), and then consistently reinforce the new, desirable behaviors.

ATTENTION AS A MOTIVATOR

Children’s intrinsic need for attention is natural, expected, and healthy; however, they are learning how to express this need in prosocial ways. Sometimes, problematic attention-seeking behavior is immediately evident, such as disruptive noise-making in class or constantly interrupting others’ conversations. On the other hand, defiance, aggression, and running away may appear to be motivated by a desire for escape, but they could also be driven by a subconscious pattern that recognizes negative attention as preferable to no attention at all. 

For example, if a child is struggling with defiance and a need for attention may be the cause, the first step a caregiver can take is to stop the unintentional reinforcement of that defiance by no longer acknowledging or engaging with it as much as possible. However, an alternate pathway for meeting the need must be consistently presented and heavily reinforced before, during, and after. This generally includes giving frequent and immediate attention to all non-defiant behavior, until the defiance is replaced with a newly learned pathway that addresses the original need.

AVOIDANCE AS A MOTIVATOR

Avoidance behavior is generally recognized as any action taken to escape a particular task or situation. Examples include outright defiance, shutting down/withdrawal, leaving the room, ignoring directions, disruptive tantrums, and being off-task. Understanding the "why" behind the avoidance behavior (e.g., sensory overload, fear of failure) is crucial for customizing interventions to each unique child and situation. Anxiety and discomfort both play a role in avoidance behavior, so an intervention for this motivator will look very different than what is required for attention.

One approach to dealing with avoidance is harnessing the power of choice to restore a sense of autonomy and encourage self-led task completion. Two other common strategies are gradual, repeated exposure to the task or situation with support and reinforcement (also known as desensitization) and teaching the communication skills needed to express discomfort without turning to avoidant behaviors. No matter the method, positive reinforcement plays a major role in encouraging the completion of whatever is being avoided. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Identifying the root cause of a behavior can help guide children to make healthier decisions. 

• Reinforcement given to undesirable behaviors that could be unintentionally meeting the need for attention or avoidance should be withheld. 

• Alternative ways to meet the need (ie. the need for attention must be met with attention) should be clearly provided and continuously reinforced.

• For avoidance behaviors, some common effective strategies include providing choice, using positive reinforcement, desensitization, and strengthening communication skills.

Written by Brandi R.

The Power of Communication: Receptive and Expressive Language

Our lives rely on communication to interact and co-exist within a community. Communication encompasses a variety of skills used to convey and receive information. Before advances in technology, communication was primarily relayed through word of mouth and written documents. As our world has evolved, communication has expanded to include emails, texts, social media, adaptive technology, videos, podcasts, and more. These advances have provided many individuals with opportunities to communicate that may not have otherwise been possible. While these developments offer numerous benefits, there is an increasing need for young learners to develop strong language skills to communicate effectively as members of their communities.

What is Language?

Language is a structured system of communication composed of receptive and expressive skills across four key areas: reading, listening, speaking, and writing/grammar. Receptive communication includes listening and reading, while expressive communication involves producing language through writing/grammar and speaking.

Many schools monitor language development using the English Language Arts Standards (ELAS). The ELAS are often misrepresented as “Reading Standards”; however, they are designed to evaluate both receptive and expressive language skills. Therefore, it is important to understand the key components of language.

• Reading – Combines foundational skills with reading comprehension. A variety of informational and fictional texts may be used to assess these skills in school. Students should practice these skills while reading independently or listening to a read-aloud.

• Listening – Practiced through discussions, read-alouds, audio activities, oral and multi-step directions, and social interactions. Children should focus on listening to both understand and respond.

• Writing/Grammar – Assessed through foundational writing skills, the process of writing specific texts, and grammar application. Grammar is often categorized as a language skill but can also be considered an extension of writing standards.

• Speaking – Like listening, speaking skills are developed through discussions, social conversations, and various speaking activities. Speaking practice should emphasize using complete sentences and academic language.

Language Challenges

As you can see, language development relies on receiving, processing, formulating, and communicating information. These skills can be challenging for many students, especially those with processing delays, poor executive functioning, language disorders, or neurodivergence. Common challenges and solutions include:

• Struggling to produce complete sentences – Try using sentence stems, sentence frames, or sentence formulas.

• Limited vocabulary – Keep a vocabulary journal, discuss unknown words, or use vocabulary four squares.

• Reading and/or writing difficulties – Discuss concerns with your child’s teacher, increase phonological working memory, practice reading for 15–20 minutes per day, journal for 10–15 minutes per day, revise existing writing, and use complete sentences.

• Difficulty following multi-step directions – Have students repeat directions back to you, tell them how many steps are involved, give them time to process/think, and provide a written list if needed.

• Comprehension struggles – Ask questions before, during, and after reading/listening. Use a variety of comprehension activities (e.g., read-alouds, TV, YouTube, music). Encourage your child to summarize what they read/heard and create a work sample. For example, after reading a book, they could write a short story predicting what will happen next, or after watching a YouTube video, they could give a brief presentation.

• Difficulty applying grammar rules – Use sentence formulas, grammar workbooks, or play grammar games.

• Ineffective communication strategies – Practice social-emotional learning, model effective discussion techniques, and work on conflict resolution skills.

Conclusion

Communication is an essential skill for both academic and social success. Throughout their education and daily lives, children are exposed to various language structures, norms, and expectations. Developing strong receptive and expressive skills empowers children to embrace the full potential of communication.

Written by Ami Z.

Positive Discipline: How Optimism Can Revolutionize Your Parenting Approach

If discipline has felt like a negative experience and you’ve longed for an alternative approach, you may want to try disciplining like an optimist. That phrase might sound odd, but consider it this way. An optimist hopes for the best and focuses confidently on forthcoming success. A pessimist does the opposite: plans for the worst and reacts when it happens. So how does optimism play a role in discipline, and why are so many common approaches “pessimistic”? 

POSITIVE VS NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

It can often feel like so much of parenting is reminding children what not to do. Rules might even be presented in the negative, starting with words like “don’t” and “no.” Unfortunately, this method is ‘pessimistic’ because it plans for the worst and reacts when it happens: the child enacts some sort of undesirable behavior, and the parent responds with negative reinforcement (removing a stimulus, such as electronics time or ‘grounding’). To make matters worse, punishment often feels centered around shame, guilt, and conflict. It's rarely a positive experience for anyone involved. 

In contrast, positive reinforcement flips that paradigm upside down by rewarding the behaviors we want to see. When it comes to changing behavior, this approach yields far better and faster results than punishment (National Library of Medicine). By celebrating desired behaviors, families can also help their children cultivate a sense of personal accomplishment, pride, and belonging. 

SETTING CLEAR TARGETs

First, brainstorm a list of behaviors that make a happy, healthy, and kind home. Choosing the ones that matter the most to you, write these as “I will” statements. Depending on your preferences and priorities as a family, this list may range between 5 and 15 statements.

Be sure that the wording is something you and your child could easily identify taking place, such as “I will wait my turn to speak” or “I will keep my hands to myself.” Abstract ideas such as “I will be kind” may be too ambiguous, and a measurable alternative will be more effective and clear.

Some examples include:

1. Wait my turn to speak

2. Listen the first time I'm asked

3. Keep a positive attitude

4. Help take good care of our home

5. Respect our furniture and belongings

6. Finish a task (like homework or chores) without being reminded

7. Keep my hands to myself

8. Tell the truth

9. Use appropriate/kind language

10. Keep my room clean

DAILY REVIEW

At the end of each day, review the list with your child. After hearing their thoughts, try to affirm or gently modify their assessment. Focus on acknowledging the presence of a behavior, without any shame or punishment associated with its absence. For each statement that was true, add a sticker to a weekly tracking sheet. 

It’s important to review them daily and not weekly, however, because daily stickers provide more immediate positive reinforcement through verbal praise and tangible reinforcement. This is especially true for children who struggle with executive functions, for whom immediate reward systems are substantially more effective than those that are overly delayed. 

WEEKLY REWARDS

In addition to the list of behaviors, work together to make a list of long-term rewards to associate with accomplishing a certain number of stickers by the end of each week. These rewards can vary widely, but they should be big enough to motivate and small enough to prevent an over-reliance on extrinsic motivation. Some examples might be baking together, staying up a little past bedtime on the weekends, going to a movie, etc.

Choosing positive reinforcers can be a delicate and important task. For example, using food as a reward has been linked to potentially negative effects, but activities might focus more on time spent together, such as baking a new recipe or drinking hot chocolate while reading a new book. Wherever possible, it can also help to link them as natural consequences of the behavior itself. For example, your child’s ability to keep their room clean throughout the week may result in extra time over the weekend for a preferred activity. 

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, the optimistic approach to discipline intentionally prepares for desirable outcomes by setting goals in advance and celebrating each success as it arrives. As opposed to the generally negative feelings associated with punishment, this method can create a positive atmosphere around how a child reflects on and then strives to modify their daily choices. Plus, positive reinforcement can go a long way in building up a child’s self-esteem, while simultaneously strengthening family relationships and creating excitement around making good choices each day.

Written by: Brandi R.

Semester 1 is Over...Now What?

As we enter 2025, families are trading their winter bells for school bells as many campuses will soon resume learning. Amidst the excitement of seeing missed friends and feeling refreshed from break, students are challenged with re-establishing routines, procedures, and recalling pre-break academics. However, just like the second half of an athletic game, the second half of school plays a crucial role in successful outcomes. In this case, the second semester impacts students’ educational success as foundational skills expand into new concepts and connections. This extended learning may feel daunting for students who are struggling in content areas, or mastering specific skills. Students’ feelings about school may shift throughout the second semester based on their strengths. However, there are a variety of strategies you can use to help your child persevere through the end of the school year. 

 Beginning of Semester Two

• Routines: Most likely children had flexible routines during their winter break. Many children will need help adjusting back to their normal school schedule and after-school routine. It may be helpful to practice these routines a day before children go back to school to ease feelings of uncertainty.

• Teacher Communication: The beginning of semester two, or end of semester one, is a great time to discuss students’ progress with their classroom teachers. Be sure to ask questions if you do not understand something, need additional resources, and to clarify the end of the year expectations.

• Goal Setting: If you have already set goals for this school year, this is a perfect time to review them to set positive intentions for the upcoming semester. It could also be a great time to explore new year’s resolutions related to school, executive functions, or social-emotional skills.

Middle of Semester 2

• Testing Season: Second semester is typically considered the “testing season” as many students take state-required, school-based, diagnostic and/or classroom-based assessments — all of which can contribute to feelings of anxiety, discomfort, and internal pressure. Be sure to reach out to your child’s teacher for more information regarding any upcoming tests. Test language can be tricky and confusing, so practicing test taking skills at home may alleviate test anxiety and improve memory and retention. 

• Goal Setting: Be sure to review any goals, or resolutions, created. If you child has met their goal, challenge them to create a new goal, or extend their existing goal. For example, if they have already met their goal to read 75 words per minute, you can increase their goal to 100 words per minute. 

• Motivation: Many students have a decrease in motivation as the summer months approach. You can help students avoid these feelings by using organizers to keep track of important deadlines, incorporate brain breaks or mindfulness activities, and take time to rest and relax. Consider practicing foundational skills with games, puzzles, or online educational programs. 

End of the Year

• Burnout: Avoiding the end-of-year burnout is critical for student’s success. Many of the end-of-year skills taught in classrooms are essential for a successful start to the next school year. Additionally, teachers may give assessments to determine students’ growth over the course of the year or semester. Incentives, homework choice boards, daily check-ins, and other motivation strategies can be used to help students persevere.

• Summer Activities: Second semester report cards can give a lot of information regarding skills students should continue to practice throughout the summer. You can use this information to talk with your child about their progress and expectations for summer learning. By using report cards as an accountability tool, students will take ownership in their learning and put forth their best effort.

While many students may feel refreshed after their winter breaks, the demands of the second semester may quickly have an influence on their perception and attitudes regarding the end of the school year. However, students that implement strong routines and approach semester two with confidence may avoid the end-of-the-year burnout. Be mindful that some students may feel a variety of positive and negative emotions as school begins. As you child explores their emotions, you can help them regulate by establishing healthy outlets, an open line of communication, and reminding them that all feelings are valid. 

Written by Ami Z.

Unwinding Together: Simple Ways to Foster Family Connection over Winter Break

After navigating the whirlwind of end-of-semester activities, holiday events, and exams, the winter break offers a much-needed opportunity to unwind as a family. It can be difficult at times not to over-plan and hopefully, there will be time during that window to truly destress, reconnect, and recharge together. Below are some tips and strategies to help make the most of the break and proactively plan for some of the challenges that come with it, such as battles over screen time and a loss of routine.

ESTABLISH A MODIFIED DAILY ROUTINE

To ease into a restful holiday season, consider creating a modified daily routine that provides both a sense of structure and the gift of flexibility. Even a loose schedule can give children a little more stability while still providing plenty of space for self-directed creativity and exploration. For example, establishing predictable windows for waking up or going to bed and mealtime can reduce the effects of a jarring loss of structure and routine in their daily lives.

Ideally, free time can be balanced between independent activities and time spent together as a family and with friends. While family bonding is important, alone time is equally vital for rest and self-discovery. Designate segments of the day for solitude, allowing children (and parents) to engage in personal interests or simply reflect. This positive balance fosters independence and promotes self-awareness, enabling children to recharge in their own way before reuniting with family activities.  

LIMIT SCREEN TIME

As many parents know, managing screen time during the break can be incredibly challenging and vitally essential. There are many ways to encourage a healthy relationship with screen time. Ultimately, an effective approach will combine setting clear boundaries around technology use and creating opportunities for children to enjoy offline activities. Consider establishing screen-free zones or certain times of the day dedicated to unplugged family interactions. This can pave the way for deeper connections and more meaningful conversations. Encourage your children to explore books, board games, or arts and crafts, facilitating a healthy balance between technology and personal interaction. 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUN, ENGAGING ACTIVITIES

The winter break is an excellent opportunity for families to embark on new adventures or revisit beloved traditions. Here are some engaging activity ideas to spark joy and togetherness.

1. Outdoor Adventures: One of the benefits of living in the Phoenix Valley is the gift of beautiful winter weather. Take advantage of this gift by spending more time outside over the break. Explore nature trails, go for a hike, or simply spend time enjoying the plentiful parks and neighborhood playgrounds. Being outdoors helps re-energize and encourages physical activity.

2. Indoor Adventures: Looking for some ways to stay engaged while inside? This Peak blog article offers additional tips and tricks on how to stay active and have fun without stepping out the front door. There are so many ways to get moving and promote physical activity, even when heading to the nearest park isn’t an option. When the goal is to unwind, simple acts - such as journaling, creative writing, coloring, crafting, and reading - can have a powerful impact on keeping little minds active, creative, and engaged.

3. Puzzles & Games: Surprising though it may be, puzzles and games provide a unique opportunity to help children strengthen their metacognition without them even realizing it. Dedicate an evening to board or card games, and keep a large puzzle ‘in progress’ on the kitchen table to work on at intervals together. This not only fosters healthy competition but also provides ample opportunities for laughter and connection.

4. Cooking and Baking: Another surprising way to develop executive functioning skills in the context of a rest-oriented break is by spending time together in the kitchen. Plan family cooking sessions where everyone can contribute, whether it’s baking holiday cookies or preparing a special meal together. Cooking fosters teamwork and allows children to express creativity.

CONCLUSION

Prioritizing rest and connection is one of the most invaluable gifts families can offer each other this season. Establishing a modified routine, limiting screen time, and engaging in fun, interactive activities all help pave the way to creating meaningful moments full of both relaxation and self-discovery. This holiday season, embrace the opportunity to unwind together, fostering relationships that will last long after the break has ended.

Here’s to a restful and memorable holiday season!

Written by Brandi R.

Foundations of Reading Success: Phonological Working Memory

Working memory is an executive function used to complete daily tasks. Strong working memory skills help students recall and apply information over shorter periods of time. Many of these skills are applied in daily routines such as following 2-3 step directions and responding to questions. And while these skills help children perform day-to-day activities, they can also support children’s reading proficiency. One key component of a working memory model is the phonological loop, also referred to as the phonological working memory. This component helps the brain understand, retain, and reproduce sounds spoken, or written. With a strong phonological working memory, children can increase their vocabulary, process information, and develop reading skills. 

There are many different ways to practice phonological working memory by focusing on phonological awareness skills, like rhyming, blending, segmenting, and deleting/changing sounds in a spoken word.

Nonsense Words

Nonsense words are often called pretend words, or fake words, such as fep or tig. These words are often used to test students’ working memory and reading skills. Children can practice these at home with nonsense word lists. Nonsense words may follow a specific pattern like CVC, CVCe, vowel teams, and more! Your child can practice nonsense words by reading them aloud, repeating them, blending sounds, or segmenting all of the individual sounds. 

Blending

Blending and segmenting different word parts can be tricky tasks for beginning readers, second language learners, and students who are struggling with phonological awareness skills. Blending can sound different for each child based on their abilities. You can practice blending with your child by saying individual sounds in a word (like /b/ /a/ /t/) and asking students to blend the word to make (bat). This same skill can be practiced with syllables (/cup/ + /cake/= cupcake). 

Rhyming

Rhyming words can be practiced through repetition, selecting, and producing. Students can simply repeat rhymes back to you, decide if two words rhyme, say a word that rhymes with a given word, choose the rhyming words in a sentence, or even find the odd word in a group of rhyming words. There are plenty of different ways to practice, such as family packs or games like Bingo!

Sound Manipulation

Adding, deleting, and substituting are all types of sound manipulation children can practice to work on their phonological awareness. Adding refers to the ability to add new sounds or syllables (add cake to cup= cupcake), deleting is when children are able to remove sounds from a word (say stuck without s), and substituting refers to changing sounds in a word (say chip, then change ch to sh). This skill is considered to be more advanced and may take extra practice! Playing games that support these skills will help children succeed in their classroom, at home, and while reading independently.

Phonological awareness and working memory are skills that can be developed simultaneously, but are both important for your child’s reading success and overall development. These skills are often assessed during report cards and on reading assessments in school. The more children practice at home, the more advanced their reading may become.

Written by Ami Z.

Telling VS Teaching: There’s a Difference & It Matters

Have you ever found yourself repeating the classic phrase: “How many times do I have to tell you [blank]”? This repetition begs the question: why does telling rarely result in changed behavior? The answer hides in the gap between what it means to tell versus what it means to teach.

Not that long ago, teaching was synonymous with telling: a one-way transfer of information, where the speaker simply provided facts or details. Since then, however, much has changed. Educational research has explored the art and science of teaching, transforming its definition, clarifying how to measure its effectiveness, and identifying what truly works best for students.

So what has educational research found about teaching that is so fundamentally different from telling? And how does understanding that difference benefit teachers and parents when working with children? As far as telling is concerned, one study found that active learning increased student success and that lecturing increased failure rates by an alarming 55%.

Imagine a parent expressing frustration because they are repeatedly telling a child to clean their room. What if, in this case, the problem lies in the assumption that this child already has the executive functioning skills required for that task - including a high level of organization, prioritization, and focus? If that parent were to approach the situation from a teaching standpoint instead, here are some of the most essential differences to consider.

MEASURABLE OUTCOMES

Good teaching is, at its core, organized around measurable outcomes. One approach to this iscalled Backward Design. Using this method, you would:

● First, define the learning objective (ie. Child will clean and maintain an orderly bedroom)

● Then, decide what evidence would demonstrate mastery (ie. Child will put toys away immediately after using them; Child will put toys away in their appropriate and designated places; Child will make a habit of cleaning the bedroom for 15 minutes every evening without getting distracted)

● Finally, plan learning activities and instruction around those specific objectives and types of evidence

DISCUSSION VS TELLING

While the first step in the teaching process still includes direct instruction, it helps to explore that information as a discussion instead. Consider some potential discussion questions:

● Why is it important to keep a clean room?

● What problems could come from having a messy room?

● How do you feel while in a clean room versus a messy room? Why do you think that is?

● Why do you think it’s hard for you to keep it clean?

● What ideas do you have that would improve your ability to keep it clean moving forward?

● Is there anything I can do to help?

In this context, you still communicate vital information about what it means to clean a room, why it’s important, and what you recommend. Because it is a discussion, however, it will also encourage your children to think critically and problem-solve, empowering them to reframe their understanding of the problem and approach solutions in a personally invested way.

ACTIVE LEARNING

Practice opportunities should gradually increase the amount of independent mastery, and while strategies vary widely, one simple approach is “I do, we do, you do.” Depending on your child’s level of independence, you might clean the room while your child watches and observes, then clean the room together. It is particularly helpful to vocalize your thought process, so they hear each step your mind goes through while cleaning. Next, your child would do so under supervision and guidance until they can manage their room independently and consistently. How long this takes depends entirely on the child’s unique timeline. For some, this might be a few days, for others, a few weeks - that’s perfectly natural! The bottom line is this: the best learning takes place in an active, hands-on, and engaged manner.

FEEDBACK

Once you have measurable goals in hand, and you are actively engaged in hands-on practice, one more critical piece comes into play: feedback. This a complex subject with a wide range of factors to consider, but good feedback should link directly to the original evidence described for the learning objective.

For example, if “Child will put toys away in their appropriate and designated places” was one of the pieces of evidence, this could be tracked daily. Each evening, review the room with your child. If the evidence isn’t where it should be, show your child where the item(s) should have been instead and provide guidance on how to avoid that error moving forward.

Depending on the situation, it can also be helpful to ask the child why they thought that was the appropriate place to put it. As surprising as it might be, giving explicit attention to errors and spending time reflecting on mistakes directly improves learning.

While not all situations stem from a skills deficit or require explicit instruction, it can be incredibly helpful to look at areas where they might be and revisit them from a ‘teaching’ instead of ‘telling’ approach. Setting measurable goals, identifying evidence, providing room for practice that becomes increasingly independent, and offering thoughtful feedback can all improve those skills that children struggle with and that may need a more targeted type of support.

Written by Brandi R.