The Power of Reflection: When Looking Back Takes You Forward

Have you ever felt stuck working with a child who's struggling? You provide the support, create the perfect environment, yet they seem withdrawn or even disruptive. 

We all know we can't change others, only ourselves. This applies to children too. They're perfect just the way they are, and our job isn't to mould them, but to understand them. This is where reflection

comes in.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Reflective practice is like taking a step back to propel yourself further. It's about analysing past interactions and asking ourselves:

• Did I rush the process?

• Am I aligned with their developmental stage?

• Could the environment be impacting them?

• Did something I say unintentionally trigger a response?

A Case Study: From Frustration to Understanding

Recently, a child I'd been working with for over a year displayed a sudden shift in attitude. I reviewed the key developmental milestones for his developmental stage: exploration, initiating activities, and co-adventuring with an adult. I'd been doing all that, so what was missing?

Through reflection, I realised he'd simply outgrown those activities. His boredom manifested as outbursts – a cry for a new challenge. His frustration came out as "shut up" and "go away" "and no-one cares about you" . Had I dealt with only the behaviour it would have caused a clash. Instead, I adapted our sessions to his new developmental stage and revisited the difficulties after I met the need. The result? A complete turnaround!

His new developmental stage focuses on expressing views, cause-and-effect learning, and independent problem-solving. I simply wasn't nurturing those skills.

And in Other News:

• Join Our Team! We're seeking a therapeutic worker to make a positive impact on children's lives. Apply by tomorrow!
  

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• The Power of Perspective: I'm putting together a presentation on swearing based on your insightful social media feedback. It's a reminder that we all approach challenges differently. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Now over to you!

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P.S. I'm always grateful for your feedback. Feel free to hit reply and share your thoughts!