Members of Smart Kids’ Parent Advisory Committee share their New Year’s resolutions for making a positive change in their children’s lives:

 …Stay involved

I resolve to keep a provision in my son’s IEP for a half-hour monthly team meeting with me, despite pressure to drop it. I will use the time to educate the school staff about my child’s learning disability and how to deal with the situations that we know are difficult for him.

…Follow my instincts

I need to remind myself to follow my instincts about my child’s situation, and not to follow the advice of others when it conflicts with what I know to be true for our child. That was the lesson I learned when I came to the realization many years ago that his “loose wire” was not going to be cured by getting him to take a nap each day.

…Start the day off better

I will not scream at my child on the way to school because he left his notebook on the kitchen counter. It doesn’t help him learn to become better organized, and it’s just one more defeating experience before he’s even made it to school. I will do whatever it takes to help him feel better about himself—including making a special trip to take his notebook to school.

…Choose my battles

After several indications from my tenth grader that “all you do is ask me about my homework,” I am determined to be more mindful of that, particularly after learning that this type of “negative script” is ineffective. Instead of regularly asking about the status of his homework, I will pick and choose when to intervene, trusting him to handle the rest.

Share Your Ideas

What are your resolutions for the new year? Use the comment section below to share your thoughts on how you intend to help your child with LD or ADHD realize his or her potential in the coming year.