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Simple rules for building friendships.
But children with learning disabilities have trouble learning these seemingly simple directives.
And more than ever before, typical children who spend a lot of time with video games and computers instead of interacting with their friends are finding it harder to socialize.
Parents and teachers can learn how they can help these children have social success during a three-hour workshop Friday in Danbury.
Though aimed at parents of learning-disabled children, it's useful for any parent whose child has trouble socializing at school or home.
The benefits are not just a happier child, but one who performs better in school, said workshop leader Richard Lavoie, an author and educator, who has worked in the special education field for more than 30 years.
"Childhood friendship is a social skill laboratory. They learn how to take turns, follow directions, be gracious," Lavoie said.
Children socially out of step with their peers are often ridiculed.
"Once a kid develops a reputation of not being a good social partner, it takes a long time to go away," he said.
Those who are left out are or rejected are not only sad but also not learning skills they will need as adults.
When a child is rejected or isolated, there is a lot a teacher or parent can do, Lavoie said.
"Teachers used to feel it wasn't any of their business, that their job was to teach spelling and math, and if a child didn't have friends it wasn't their fault," he said.
But research shows that a child without friends is distracted in school, so teachers now understand they need to intervene.
"We used to think that a lack of friends was because they were failing in school, but now we understand it's directly related to their learning disabilities."
Lavoie stresses communication and patience during his talks around the country. He talks about arranging successful play dates, navigating the hidden curriculum of a school, language difficulties, social anxieties and family issues.
The program is sponsored by Education Connection, the state education support agency for the region.
"So many families are frustrated about how to get their children socially involved," said Education Connection spokesperson Eileen Costello. "We thought this would be a good program to present."
n
The workshop will be Friday from 8 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. in the Westside Campus Center at Western Connecticut State University, off Lake Avenue. The fee is $60. To register, call Orie at (860) 567-0863.
Contact Eileen FitzGerald
at eileenf@newstimes.com
or at (203) 731-3333.
But children with learning disabilities have trouble learning these seemingly simple directives.
And more than ever before, typical children who spend a lot of time with video games and computers instead of interacting with their friends are finding it harder to socialize.
Parents and teachers can learn how they can help these children have social success during a three-hour workshop Friday in Danbury.
Though aimed at parents of learning-disabled children, it's useful for any parent whose child has trouble socializing at school or home.
The benefits are not just a happier child, but one who performs better in school, said workshop leader Richard Lavoie, an author and educator, who has worked in the special education field for more than 30 years.
"Childhood friendship is a social skill laboratory. They learn how to take turns, follow directions, be gracious," Lavoie said.
Children socially out of step with their peers are often ridiculed.
"Once a kid develops a reputation of not being a good social partner, it takes a long time to go away," he said.
Those who are left out are or rejected are not only sad but also not learning skills they will need as adults.
When a child is rejected or isolated, there is a lot a teacher or parent can do, Lavoie said.
"Teachers used to feel it wasn't any of their business, that their job was to teach spelling and math, and if a child didn't have friends it wasn't their fault," he said.
But research shows that a child without friends is distracted in school, so teachers now understand they need to intervene.
"We used to think that a lack of friends was because they were failing in school, but now we understand it's directly related to their learning disabilities."
Lavoie stresses communication and patience during his talks around the country. He talks about arranging successful play dates, navigating the hidden curriculum of a school, language difficulties, social anxieties and family issues.
The program is sponsored by Education Connection, the state education support agency for the region.
"So many families are frustrated about how to get their children socially involved," said Education Connection spokesperson Eileen Costello. "We thought this would be a good program to present."
n
The workshop will be Friday from 8 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. in the Westside Campus Center at Western Connecticut State University, off Lake Avenue. The fee is $60. To register, call Orie at (860) 567-0863.
Contact Eileen FitzGerald
at eileenf@newstimes.com
or at (203) 731-3333.
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