Strengths-Based Approach – 4 Tips to Avoid Negativity

 

Do you use a strengths-based approach in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech or special education? Actually ALL students can benefit from focusing on their strengths and maintaining a positive attitude.  

Do you use a strengths-based approach in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech or special education? Actually ALL students can benefit from focusing on their strengths and maintaining a positive attitude.

Why Your Attitude Matters When It Comes to a Strengths Based Approach

Research has shown that your attitude does matter. A study from Indiana University revealed that women who were reminded of the negative stereotypes about math and visual processing for females did not display actual learning of the material presented to them. The researchers stated that the women who were under threat of the stereotype appeared to try too hard in a non focused and unproductive manner.

How Does This Affect Students with Learning Disabilities?

Now consider children with learning disabilities, developmental disabilities or any type of disability. Does the negative stereotypes of the labels affect their learning in addition to their self esteem?

Unfortunately there are definitely teachers who never forget a child’s label and it affects a child’s ability to learn. Do children work too hard at times ultimately ignoring the strategies they were taught to learn in the first place? What differences do you notice when children are reminded of negative stereotypes?

As therapists, do we predict motor behaviors based on negative stereotypes?

Positive Mindset Bundle

4 Tips to Avoid Negativity and Focus on Strengths

Here are 4 tips to avoid negativity and instill a strengths-based approach:

1. Always be positive. Instead of stating this might be difficult of challenging, assure the child that they can complete the skill or task.

2. Create goals that are attainable. Make sure that during every therapy session a child achieves at least one goal.

3. Reinforce positive qualities. Capitalize on a child’s strengths to achieve other goals.

4. Review simple learning strategies. If you notice a child is trying too hard, review the task in simple steps to reinforce that they know how to accomplish the task.

Read more on promoting student strengths in the classroom here.

Read and download a huge list of child’s strengths.

Reference: Negative stereotypes shown to affect learning, not just performance. Retrieved from web on 8/10/2010 from http://www.physorg.com/news199370906.html

Combine positive affirmations for kids and proprioceptive input with The Positive Path.  Children can jump along the path or do wall push-ups while they read words of encouragement.

Support student strengths in the classroom by combining positive affirmations for kids and proprioceptive input with The Positive Path.  Children can jump along the path or do wall push-ups while they read words of encouragement.  Students can benefit from proprioceptive input to help get their bodies ready to learn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you use a strengths-based approach in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech or special education? Actually ALL students can benefit from focusing on their strengths and maintaining a positive attitude.