Helping your child understand their learning assessment results

I often see parents worried about how to explain the results of an psychoeducational assessment to their children.

It can be difficult because we do not want our children to feel self-conscious, insecure or defeated. We equally do not want them to feel confused or misinterpret what the results mean. However, understanding their strengths and weaknesses may be crucial to validating your child’s frustrations with learning and understand what supports and strategies can help them.

This post looks at tips to help empower your child and make the most of their learning assessment results.

First of all, Focus on a Strength Based Framework

When discussing the assessment and results of their assessment, it is important to emphasize their strengths as well as their areas for improvement. It can be easy for children to feel discouraged or embarrassed if they think they're "bad" at something, so it is important to help them see the positive aspects of their assessment. Make sure your child understands that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and that the assessment is simply a way to help them identify what they need to work on. Praise them for their strengths and let them know that these strengths can be built on and celebrated.

Keep it Simple and Use age-appropriate language

Children will not understand the nuances of an assessment with fancy words like “Working Memory” and using percentiles to describe scores. It becomes vital to keep descriptions simple and at their level of understanding. Examples of how to describe things is “You did best on solving the puzzles, meaning you are a great problem-solver. It was noticed though that you had difficulties on some of the reading, so we have some ways to help you with that.” Older children and teenagers may have a better understanding of the assessment, but it's still important to use language that is clear and easy to understand.

Encourage Your Child to Ask Questions and be Curious About Their Learning

A great outcome of your child understanding their assessment is that they develop a growth mindset. A growth mindset is an attitude someone takes on that allows them to see how they can grow and develop within their world. Encourage your child to ask questions about their assessment results and ways to help with the frustrating parts of their learning. They may have questions about what the assessment means or how it will affect them in school. Be patient and take the time to answer their questions. Let them know that it's okay to ask questions and that you're there to help them understand.

Affirm Their Value Beyond Academics

It is important to remind your child that their worth is not tied to academic performance or the outcomes of the assessment. In fact, the assessment only looks at one part of who they are. Reinforce your unconditional love and support, and that the assessment is simply a tool to help in a specific area in their life. Provide them with many examples of ways that they are unique and talented beyond the assessment results.

Create an Action Plan

Once you've discussed the assessment results with your child, it's important to create an action plan. Talk to your child about what steps they can take to improve in areas where they may be struggling. This could include working with a tutor or teacher, practicing skills at home, or using assistive technology in the classroom. Let your child know that you're there to support them and help them succeed.

Celebrate Progress!

It's important to celebrate progress and growth, no matter how small. Encourage your child to keep working on their skills and celebrate their successes along the way. Whether it's improving their reading comprehension or getting a better grade on a math test, celebrate their progress and let them know how proud you are of them.

Final Thoughts

Helping your child understand their learning assessment results can be an important part of their success with learning. Remember to be patient and supportive, and to seek professional help if needed. With your guidance and support, your child can achieve their full potential and reach their goals.