Talking to your family about your child’s differences
Dec 6, 2023
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Learn how to navigate sharing your child's learning differences with family during the holidays, including tips on communication, setting boundaries, and using plain language to foster understanding and support.
Prepare for discussing your child's differences with relatives by avoiding technical terms and setting boundaries.
Provide relevant details about your child's needs to help relatives understand and interact effectively.
Deep dives
Sharing Information with Family Members
When sharing your child's learning and thinking differences with relatives, it is essential to decide how much information you are comfortable sharing. By providing details, you can help family members understand your child's needs better, demystify learning differences, and possibly find advocates within your family circle.
Handling Questions and Conversation
In conversations about your child's challenges, be prepared for a range of questions from relatives with varying levels of knowledge on learning differences. Avoid using technical terms and opt for plain language to ensure clear understanding. Giving relevant details, such as specific sensitivities or needs, can help family members interact more effectively with your child.
Setting Boundaries and Focusing on Positivity
Setting boundaries is crucial in these discussions, as you have the right to control what information you share. Leading with positive aspects of your child's progress can shift the focus to their strengths and accomplishments. Remember to establish clear boundaries to ensure a supportive and respectful environment for your child.
The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year. But they can also be the most stressful for families with kids who learn differently. That’s because, for some, the holidays mean telling relatives about their child’s learning differences for the very first time.
Sometimes, this talk goes smoothly — other times, there are a few bumps in the road. In this episode, listen as Julian explains:
Steps parents should take to prepare for the talk
Why parents should avoid using technical terms when telling relatives
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give
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