As a parent, one of the most important — and sometimes challenging — things you may do is advocating for your child’s physical and emotional well-being. Childrens’ voices aren’t always heard, and sometimes they need adults to speak up on their behalf.
How To Advocate For Your Child At school
Being involved in your child’s education plays a powerful role in their academic success. If you’re wondering how to advocate for your child at school, keep in mind that you and your child’s teacher should work together to develop plans that make the school experience as positive as possible. Regular communication with your child’s teacher can help shed light on any problems or issues your child is having in the classroom, as well as assure you how your child is doing in school.
How To Advocate For Your Child In Social Settings
If your child needs help with bullying, it might be time for you to step in. When bringing up an ongoing issue with another parent, have the conversation privately rather than in front of other people. Begin by asking the other parent for their help. Don’t blame or shame, just stick to the facts and try to avoid using the word “bully.” Admit that you may not have the whole story (there are always two sides), so be open to what the other side is. You might even mention how awkward you feel bringing up this topic. Focus on working together to find a resolution that works for everyone. If the bullying doesn’t stop, follow up with the parent again.
In addition to directly communicating with other parents, have regular communication with school personnel. Ask your child’s teachers, coaches, and guidance counselors how your child is doing socially and emotionally at school and within their peer groups. If the bullying is happening at school, they need to be made aware so they can help. Lastly, be sure to keep tabs on your child’s online presence and make sure they’re using social media safely to help prevent cyberbullying.
How To Advocate For Your Child In Healthcare
Your child has rights as a patient and you also have rights and responsibilities as a parent. Some of those rights include taking part in all decisions regarding your child’s care and treatment, asking questions freely, whether to ask to see another doctor, get a second opinion, or change doctors or hospitals, and asking for things to be explained more clearly if you don’t understand fully.
At home, parents can prepare their child for an upcoming medical experience by being honest and informative. For example, if a child needs to visit their primary care doctor for a vaccination, parents can inform the child a few days beforehand. They might say, “It’s important to keep your body healthy, and part of that is going to the doctor even when we feel well, so they can help us continue to feel great in the future.” Then, as the appointment nears, parents can explain the vaccination procedure step by step, with sensory details, such as “first, you’ll feel cold soap that cleans your skin,” and “next, you’ll feel a poke that lasts less than 20 seconds.”
For more information around advocating for your child’s well-being, check out the full article here
To learn more ways you can keep kids healthy from Children’s Hospital Colorado experts, join five area YMCAs in the Denver metro area for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 29. More details at https://denverymca.org/healthy-kids-day.