Tips for interviewing children with school difficulties

As you have just seen, interviewing a school age child and his/her parents can be a challenge. Here are some tips that may make the process easier:

• Speak to the parents alone first. Some parents (like Tommy's mother) may tell you everything on their mind with their child in the room. This can be difficult for the child, and may be damaging to his/her self-esteem. You may have noticed that Tommy appeared upset when being compared to his sister. Other parents may leave important information off their agenda if they know their child will be listening. This will make the visit relatively unproductive.
  
  
  • Help the parents formulate questions. This allows you to focus your evaluation, and will also help to structure your feedback. In this case, a physician might ask.
    
    
    • Do you think Tommy has attention problems?
    • Are you concerned about a learning disorder?
    • Do you believe the school has addressed Tommy's needs adequately?
    
    
    
  • In addition to asking about school performance, find out how Tommy is doing at home. Do you find Tommy difficult? Does he get along with his sister? Is he forgetful, distractible, or impulsive? How do you discipline him? How long does it take him to do his homework?
    
    
  • Ask about peer relationships. Does Tommy have friends at school or in the neighborhood? Does he visit with friends at their home or yours. Is he invited to parties? Does he play any team sports? What other activities is he interested in?*
    
    
  • Give parents a chance to speak about their child's strengths. This will help to encourage a positive view of their child.
  
  
  
• Offer the child a chance to speak to you alone and to be examined in private. Some school aged children may prefer to have their parents in the room for the entire visit. If this is the case, be sure to speak directly to the child when s/he is in the room, and listen to his/her side of the story. Use the opportunity to model good listening skills and positive feedback for the parents. Note how Dr. Wilson was persistent in asking for Tommy's impression of his own school work, and praised him for his success.
  
  
• Ask Tommy what activities he enjoys. This will give him a chance to talk about his strengths. This may also give you insights into his self esteem.
  
  
• Ask about friends. Do you have a best friend? What do you like to do with your friends?
  
  
• Ask Tommy if he is finding anything at school difficult, such as reading, or paying attention. A child may not realize, or more likely deny, that s/he is not doing well in an area at school. Listening to the answer will give you information on how the child expresses and portrays him/herself, and will be important when giving feedback.
  
  * Answers to these questions must be interpreted within the family's cultural context. For example, some children may not have access to organized activities or team sports.