"Confidence and joy are to the development of a child as oxygen is to life."

  -- from Confidence & Joy: Success Strategies for Kids with Learning Differences

If your son struggles -- academically, socially, or emotionally -- you know how quickly simple struggles can dissolve into despair. A child who feels unsuccessful at school or in social settings tends to withdraw and give up; after all, what's the point of trying when more effort doesn't lead to more success? Repeated failure breeds apathy -- and given how many boys struggle in school, it's no wonder we're facing an epidemic of unmotivated teenage boys.

It doesn't have to be this way. In their 2018 book Confidence & Joy: Success Strategies for Kids with Learning Difference: A Step-by-Step Guidebook for Parents & Professionals, Dr. Deborah Ross-Swain and Elaine Fogel Schneider outline the toll learning differences take on kids' (and families') spirits, emotional health and overall well-being. Most importantly, they point the way toward change. Parents and educators, they say, can make a massive, positive difference in a child's life by finding and encouraging their strengths. Building confidence and joy in a child will give the child the will and fortitude necessary to thrive in the world

Deb and Elaine are veteran speech-language pathologists; between them, they have more than 70 years combined experience working with children and families. Join Jen, Janet, Deb & Elaine for a lively conversation about the importance of confidence & joy, and how we can work together to spark change.

Top L - Elaine Fogel Schneider; Top R - Janet Allison; Bottom L - Deborah Ross-Swain; Bottom R - Jennifer Fink

In this episode,  Janet, Jen, Elaine & Deb discuss:

* "Red flags" parents & educators should watch for

* The importance of early intervention

* How to get help for a child who doesn't qualify for special education services

* How to build advocacy skills, so you can get your child the help he needs

* The importance of self-care

* How to build a support team

* How -- and why -- it's so important to offset negative feelings and angst

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 143:

Confidence & Joy: Success Strategies for Kids with Learning Difference: A Step-by-Step Guidebook for Parents & Professionals, by Dr. Deborah Ross-Swain and Elaine Fogel Schneider

7 Strategies for Raising Calm, Successful, Inspired Children, by Elaine Fogel Schneider

How to Deal with an Unmotivated Boy -- BuildingBoys blog post by Jen

The Swain Center - Dr. Swain's clinical practice.

Ask Dr. Elaine -- Dr. Fogel-Schneider's website. (She's also a leading authority on touch & infant massage!)