Educational Assistants’ Advice to Parents for the Start of School

Parents:

On my Facebook page I asked Educational Assistants what they would like to know about your child and what they would like you to know.

There were 175 comments. I read them all.

Here is a very brief summary. I will place a link to the original post and comments in a comment to this post for those who would like to read them. It is informative.

Summary:

1) Be honest about your child’s behavior. You don’t need to feel protective, shameful or embarrassed. EAs are not there to judge. They are there to help. They need truthful and factual information about your child and their needs.

2) Please know in many schools the EA is not invited to meetings regarding your child and nor do many have access to your child’s records or reports. It’s up to you to request their presence for team meetings. (I suggest you do.)

3) It is helpful if you tell the EA about your child’s preferences, aversions, triggers, and what calms them.

4) Please do not use the school as a testing ground for changes in medication, routines, food choices, etc, without first informing the EA. Make changes part of a plan so the EA can support your efforts.

5) While not their kids, most EAs feel and form a bond with your kids. While not the love of a parent, they still do come to love your kids. They, like yourself, want what is best for them.

The above is the briefest of points they want you to know.

I would add that bus drivers would also appreciate some information about how best to quickly meet your child’s needs and have them remain well during the ride and transfer to school.

If sharing information as above, please do so as briefly as possible to respect that the EAs time is limited. If giving the EA a note with this information, keep it short too.

Believe it or not, many EAs are not allowed to speak with parents. That doesn’t mean you can’t say what you have to say. Just appreciate they are going out of their way to accommodate.

From myself, please know that EAs are grossly underpaid and overworked. If you are frustrated, they are too. Your respect, support and appreciation of their situation would be appreciated as well as helpful for your child. They are always doing the best they can with resources available.

Wishing your kids a safe, happy and productive time at school. I hope this helps.

Please feel free to share this post.

---

Are you following me on Facebook yet? If not, you are missing many more posts!

I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

gary@yoursocialworker.com
www.yoursocialworker.com for counseling and support

www.garydirenfeld.com – to build your successful practice

Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.