[Dawnette]

What are some good ways to approach a parent about the developmental screening of their child?

Some great way are to have a ready script. Knowing what you are wanting to say will help things go smoother. speak with concern not in a way that the parent will take offense. If you have a suggested plan then reassure the parents that you are there to help their child and how you plan to do so.

[Kathy]

It’s important to start out by sharing the “glows” or positive aspects of the child and their development. It is also critical to be objective in sharing how you came to this conclusion, and having a lot of supportive reasoning to back your discussion.

[isabella bates]

Definitely make sure to know the correct terminology, and don’t be afraid to ask the supervisor for guidance and questions to ensure you communicate with the parents well and don’t miss anything!

[Samantha]

Prepare yourself by getting the necessary documents to show the parents and writing a script to practice with your coworkers. I would also talk about both the child’s strengths and weaknesses to ease the tension and shed some light on the accomplishments. Then I would have a plan to help the child overcome their weaknesses and improve, and maybe mention some things to the parents to help the child at home too.

[Jonah]

I would start by preparing a script of what I am going to say and rehearsing it with a coworker. I would want to first address the strengths of the child before transitioning into where I have noticed them struggling, all the while backing up by observations with detailed notes. I would want to have already familiarized myself with trusted professionals who can help the child overcome their struggle(s), to whom I can refer families if they accept help.

[chrissy]

I like to go prepared for questions that might get asked. I also like to use the “sandwich effect” It starts with a positive, then the “negative” and ends with a positive. This helps to create less of a negative feeling about the topic and allows for more insight