Strategies to Help An Anxious Child

Strategies to Help An Anxious Child Many kids with ADHD also have symptoms of anxiety. For some, it might be a simple phobia, like a fear of spiders, which is only a problem when theres a spider in the room. For others, the anxiety is more pervasive, and crops up in social situations, at bedtime when a child is afraid to sleep alone, or in school situations, like a fear of going to school or a fear of poor academic performance. Traditionally, evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders have focused on individual sessions with the child, where they receive cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). In these sessions, kids learn strategies for challenging anxious thoughts and reducing their anxiety-avoidance behaviors (you can learn more about CBT here). While CBT can be very effective for many kids with anxiety disorders, not all children respond to this treatment, and when parents arent involved in the therapy, they often struggle with knowing how to best support their child at home. A recent study takes a different approach to treatment, one that may be a better fit for many kids and their parents. Researchers at the Yale Child Study Center are testing a parent-focused treatment where the child doesnt attend any therapy sessions. Instead, their parents meet with the therapist and learn strategies for helping reduce their childs anxiety at home. For parents of kids with ADHD, this approach may sound familiar, since this is exactly what evidence-based treatments for ADHD provide (you can learn more about these treatments, like behavioral parent training, here). The new intervention is based on strong evidence showing that the degree to which parents accommodate a childs anxiety and avoidance behavior is directly related to the persistence of a childs anxiety symptoms. This means the more parents rescue their child when they are anxious, the less likely it is that the childs anxiety symptoms will improve. An example from a recent NPR article on this treatment really highlights the challenge: if you have a child who is afraid of sleeping alone, its natural as a parent to want to reduce their anxiety by allowing them to sleep with you or by staying in their room each night until they fall asleep. The problem is that in doing so, youre accommodating the anxiety, and as a result, the child never learns that there is really nothing to fear. Without this learning process, their anxiety continues to creep up night after night and never goes away. As a parent, its very hard to know how much to accommodate and comfort your child and how much to pull back and allow your child to experience their anxiety symptoms. This is where parent coaching comes in. The therapist discusses very specific anxiety-provoking situations that the child experiences and develops a detailed, systematic plan for gradually exposing the child to their anxiety until they have eventually mastered their fear. The therapist checks in regularly with the parents to discuss how the child is responding to the plan and to make adjustments as needed. So far, this treatment is looking very promising and may be something that eventually moves into standard care for child anxiety disorders. In the meantime, if you think you could benefit from therapist coaching to help your child overcome their anxiety, reach out to a CBT therapist. Theyll be able to help you develop a detailed intervention plan similar to those used in the ongoing Yale study, and will coach you through the challenges that come with helping your anxious child. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Can I teach English abroad without knowing the local language (or being bilingual)

Can I teach English abroad without knowing the local language (or being bilingual) There are two common misconceptions when it comes to requirements for teaching English abroad: I can’t teach English abroad if I don’t speak the local language. I need to know a foreign language to teach English abroad. Well, no need to worry, we’re here to quash these common misconceptions for you! Can I teach English abroad if I don’t speak the local language? The short answer is YES! You can absolutely teach English overseas without speaking the local language of your destination country. To teach English abroad all you need are these two things: Fluency in English Bachelor’s degree (any major) Read this: Here's where you can teach English abroad without a degree! So why don’t you need to speak the local language? Well, let’s face it, as a native English speaker you’re an expert! Many employers actually PREFER that you don’t speak their local language, at least in the classroom. When it comes to learning a new language, what is one of the first pieces of advice you’ll get? Immerse yourself in the language you are trying to learn! Whether that means going directly to the source and living amongst the locals that speak the language you’re learning, or if you take a language course that speaks only that language - you’re sure to pick up a few things! If you find you’re a bit intimidated to teach English without knowing the language your students are fluent in, that’s okay! There are plenty of non-verbal tools and resources to help you effectively teach your students English without speaking their language in class, including: Pictures/posters Objects Body language Picture dictionaries Using these types of tools can help you demonstrate the meanings of certain words or phrases, using them to depict things like: Opposites Synonyms/Antonyms Kinds of... Etc. This way, rather than translating word for word from your students’ local language to English, students will be able to actively learn what you are teaching them - without relying on you to do the work for them! Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Do I need to be bilingual or know a foreign language to teach English abroad? Like we mentioned already, you don’t need to speak the local language to be able to teach English overseas. But do you need to be bilingual, or speak a foreign language? Sure, being able to speak more than one language will definitely provide you with certain skills or perspectives while in the classroom. The most basic being that you can empathize with your students, you know firsthand what it’s like to learn a new language. But is that skillset required? Nope! You are being hired because you’re fluent in the language you’re being hired to teach - English! Speaking another language, or multiple languages for that matter, are not required for the majority of ESL jobs. Okay, so you know that you don’t need to speak a foreign language to actually teach English abroad, but there are two more questions you may have about speaking another language: How will I be interviewed if I don’t speak the language? What about actually living and thriving abroad? When it comes to being interviewed, stop stressing! Since employers are hiring you because of your expertise as a native English speaker, you will more than likely be interviewed in English. This is also a great reminder that you likely won’t be the only English speaker at your new job. More often than not, some of your colleagues will speak some English, even if it’s just conversational or a basic understanding. Great, so you know you can teach abroad without knowing another language, but what about actually living abroad? Getting by in a foreign country when you don’t speak the language Living and working in a different country and culture can be a lot to take in. There’s no denying that you may experience a bit of culture shock while you transition into your new home and teaching opportunity. But a great way to help manage that experience is by taking some time to learn a few key phrases and terms of the local language you are going to be surrounded by - just to help you get comfortable and thrive during this new adventure! Don’t forget, while your students will be immersing themselves in the English language in your classroom, you’ll also be immersing yourself in their language and culture throughout your stay in your destination country. Whether your teaching contract is one semester or one year, you’ll definitely pick up some basic words and phrases of the local language. Well, now you know! You absolutely do NOT need to speak the local language, or another language for that matter, to teach English abroad. Teaching English in a truly immersive classroom (while it may be a bit challenging at first) will ultimately push your students to actively learn what you are teaching them. You’ve been hired because you’re in demand, you’re a native English speaker â€" and there’s no better way for your students to learn a new language than by diving in, and immersing themselves in the English language. PLUS, there are lots of useful tools and teaching approaches that you learn through a TEFL certification course. These courses, like the one offered by Teach Away and the University of Toronto OISE, are designed to give you the tools and skills you need to teach English abroad - no other language necessary! For more FAQS related to teaching abroad, check out the links below: What qualifications do I need to teach English abroad? Can I teach English abroad if I’m a non-native speaker? Will I face age restrictions teaching abroad? How can I land a job teaching English abroad without experience? After you’re done brushing up on the need-to-know info, what are your next steps? First things first, can you check these two things off your list? Fluency in English Bachelor’s degree (any major) If you checked yes to both of those things, then you can start applying! So get the application ball rolling by visiting the Teach Away job board today. Good luck!