Engaging in Various Types of Conversations

But that’s not what I want to talk about…

From elementary to high school children are likely to spend a lot of their time speaking to their peers. Whether it’s about school, a new show or movie, or their new pet, kids will typically look for any free moment they can to whisper or talk to their friends and classmates, but for those with neurodivergences, engaging in various types of conversation can sometimes be difficult. They may find it hard to be interested in what their peers, parents, and siblings are saying if they are not familiar with it, making socializing difficult, and can eventually make it harder for them to make and maintain friendships.

If a kid, teen, or young adult is unable to listen to a friend or peer who is speaking about a topic only they find interesting, the interaction and friendship can begin to feel very one sided. It is important for children to be capable of partaking in conversations that they may not be used to, not only because it can spark a new interest, but can also show that they are nurturing the friendship they share with that other person. If they can be actively engaged in conversation that shifts from one topic to the other, then it not only strengthens their social skills, but can help when trying to make friends, listen in class, and be open to finding new interests and hobbies to do with their peers. However, if they lack this skill, it may lead them into social isolation since most people would not only want to discuss what the other person is interested in all the time, leading to other issues such as anxiety, depression, failure to launch, and many more.

At the Support for Students Growth Center, we provide the social, behavioral, emotional, and executive functioning skills children, teens, young adults, and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of school settings. Our team of professionals offers individualized and family coaching/counseling and social skills groups to help teach skills such as how to be actively engaged in various conversations to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make and maintain friendships and utilize the proper social skills on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones listed above and much more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the Support for Students Growth Center and College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of children, teens, young adults and college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

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Memorial Day 2023

Although we are closed for Memorial Day, we at the Support for Students Growth Center and College Life Skills Program do not forget those who sacrificed their lives for our country. This is not simply a time for many to take an extra day off, but rather a time for us to celebrate the lives of those who have lost their own. We hope you remain safe, happy, and most importantly, remember our troops on this day. Warm wishes, and happy Memorial Day!

-The SSGC and CLSP

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Importance of Respecting Others Personal Space

For some, understanding the importance of personal space can be difficult. They may not be able to see why their friends or others may not want them so close when talking, but, making sure that you’re a good distance unless told otherwise is a crucial social skill to have. Not everyone likes to be touched or to be too close to another. It may not be that they have a problem with you, but rather just the intimacy, so ensuring your child knows what the proper distance is with their peers is important for them to make friends and nurture friendships. Especially as kids begin to transition into middle and high school age, the comfortable personal space distance gets larger. As we get older, we may not want to be hugged or touched as often as when we were kids simply because tolerance levels and sensory challenges change with age, and we must adapt to that. Yet, for those with life challenges such as ADHD, Autism, “Asperger’s,” anxiety disorders, etc., this can be extra hard to do.

The idea of a “Hula Hoop” is one-way kids can begin to understand the idea of personal space. Having your child pretend to be in the middle of their own “hula hoop” because if they were in one, the other people should be however far away it is from your kid to the outside of the ring (about an arm’s length) . This can serve as a gentle reminder to those who may struggle with imagining how far they should be since now they are provided with a general guideline, and therefore can avoid being a “space invader”, so they are no longer invading another person’s space. This can then also help them make friends since socializing can be made easier since they are not so focused on personal space but focused on body language and verbal cues instead. For those with life challenges though, it can be especially hard for them to manage this skill. A source states “An overwhelming majority of the children with (varying exceptionalities) (79 percent) “were less aware of being too close and more prone to personal space invasions” than their typically-developing siblings.” (Sarris, 2014). Yet, with the proper help, understanding how to identify and respect things such as personal space can be made easier.

At the Support for Students Growth Center, we provide the social, behavioral, emotional, and executive functioning skills children, teens, young adults, and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of school settings. Our team of professionals offers individualized and family coaching/counseling and social skills groups to help teach skills such as bullying resolution to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to solve issues on their own, such as figuring out proper personal space. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones listed above and much more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the Support for Students Growth Center and College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of children, teens, young adults and college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Sarris, M. (2014, October 2). Space invaders: Personal space and autism. Kennedy Krieger Institute. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://www.kennedykrieger.org/stories/interactive-autism-network-ian/personal-space-autism

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Kids truth – Ensuring Kiddos are Being Truthful

Kids lie. It’s just what they do. They have active imaginations and love to tell their parents how they have seen a unicorn or have a friend at school who is a werewolf. Typically, parents do not think much of this. They just go, “That’s amazing” and move on because little kids are just having fun. They do not understand what they are doing, and as they get older, they typically grow out of it. They start to realize what is right and wrong, and lying is wrong, but of course, they may still do it. If they broke the vase in the living room, they would likely lie and say they didn’t, but again, this is just kids being kids. However, when it comes to larger lies, it is important kids know where to draw the line. It is important for children, especially to those who are entering into middle and high school to try and not lie, but this can be hard. They may want to in order to try and fit in, but this can make them lose a sense of self. Especially those with life challenges such as ADHD, Autism, “Asperger’s,” anxiety disorders, etc., may lie to peers to seem cool, or lie to their parents about their grades to not get in trouble, which is why it is so important to teach them the importance of telling the truth.

In middle and high school, kids just want to fit in. They want to hang out with loads of the cooler kids because that’s what they may think they are supposed to do, so they will lie to fit in. However, this can cause them to lose a sense of self. They may forget how important it is to be true to who they are, especially since when they are not, it can lead to issues such as anxiety or depressions since they never quite feel right in their skin while also worrying about others finding out about their lies. Yet, telling the truth is more than just being true to yourself. Admitting to your parents that you may be having trouble in school, whether it be with bullies or with grades can save both parties a headache in the long run. If children are truthful and say what is bothering them or what they may be struggling with, an adult or parent can work to fix it with them rather than the child feeling left to deal with it on their own. This can be difficult, especially for the age groups between teens and young adults, but that truth can be so valuable. It can extinguish the issue before it becomes too large of one to hide or fix, which is why it is crucial to not lie and just tell the truth the first time. It may be difficult and even scary for kids to do so. They may feel like fixing it on their own is better than getting in trouble for being honest, which is why it is important for parents to also let their kids know it is okay to mess up. Everyone is human, and mostly everyone tells a little white lie here and there, but for those with life challenges, it can happen more often. A study states, “Unexpectedly, 14 of the 15 children with [life challenges] who peeked at the toy lied about it afterwards — an even higher proportion than that of typically developing kid…” (Rudacille, 2010). With such a high gap, it is important to start teaching children with life challenges the importance of the truth as soon as possible, and the Support for Students Growth Center is the perfect place to do so.

At the Support for Students Growth Center, we help those with life challenges learn the values and importance of skills such as telling the truth, so they are able to do well on their own in school and any other environment. We provide the social, behavioral, emotional, and executive functioning skills children, teens, young adults, and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of the school setting. Our team of professionals offers coaching/counseling, social skills groups and much more to help teach skills such as understanding the importance of respect to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make and maintain friendships and other relationships on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones discussed above and more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the Support for Students Growth Center and College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of children, teens, young adults and college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Rudacille, D. (2010, November 5). False beliefs: Spectrum: Autism research news. Spectrum. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.spectrumnews.org/opinion/false-beliefs/

 

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Our Kiddos and Personal Hygiene

Taking care of our personal appearance is one of the first things children do as they transition into independence. They start to shower, get dressed, do their hair, brush their teeth, and more on their own, but for some, this transition to greater independence can be hard. Everyone has days where they may just not want to do their hair and wear a hat instead (if possible), but things such as brushing your teeth and showering are non-negotiable. Yet, for those with life challenges such as ADHD, Autism, “Asperger’s,” anxiety disorders, etc., keeping up with personal hygiene may not be their priority every day.

Sometimes people do forget to do things in the morning such as brush their teeth or put on deodorant, but it should not be a daily occurrence. Without it, especially during a time like middle or high school, kids can have difficulties with adolescence and may make them seem less approachable by their peers. With such massive changes happening to their bodies, it is important kids learn how to manage their hygiene including smell and health because, without it, other kids may begin to avoid them or pick on them. They may not want to associate with someone who only showers once a week or doesn’t regularly brush their teeth because things such as body odor can deter kids from thinking you would not make a good companion to spend time with despite that possibly not being true. Plus, children can be mean. They target those who show signs of not being up to society’s standards of cleanliness and can tease those who may struggle with maintaining their hygiene. Kids typically do not consider that maybe their peer is struggling with depression and/or anxiety or may have life challenges. Rather, they tend to tease them for the way they look or smell since it is the first thing we notice about a person, which is why hygiene is so important for keeping our kiddos “bully-proof”.

Hygiene is not only important for social skills though, but for health as well. Keeping up with your cleanliness can prevent issues such as cavities or your hair knotting which can cause pain and other discomforts if not properly dealt with. This then also causes financial issues since sometimes it is expensive to fix things such as dental. Not showering as well can cause rashes or infections to occur as well, causing discomfort in both categories since the child may not be keeping up with cleanliness due to sensory issues, but things such as rashes can make them uncomfortable as well. A source explains, “Developing self-care skills such as washing and personal hygiene can sometimes be an issue for autistic people. Sensory differences, such as a heightened sense of smell or touch, can make washing an uncomfortable experience.” (autism.org). However, these challenges extend past the autism community into many other areas.

When this occurs, it is important for your child to be able to identify issues on their own and react appropriately to try and adapt to the situation. Changing to unscented soaps, different flavored toothpaste, creating a hair washing or bathing schedule and so much more can be done to ensure your child maintains proper hygiene skills. Then, it is important to be able to ensure they will keep up and continue with their schedule, so they do not fall behind or forget to do certain things in the morning or during the day. These are some of the critical life skills they will need going into adulthood. This can be hard to ensure, but with the Support for Students Growth Center, it can be made easier.

At the Support for Students Growth Center, we provide the social, behavioral, emotional, and executive functioning skills children, teens, young adults, and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of the school settings. Our team of professionals offers coaching/counseling and social skills groups to help teach skills such as understanding the importance of hygiene to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make and maintain friendships and keep up with personal health on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones listed above and much more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Keeping healthy. National Autistic Society. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/keeping-healthy

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Valuing Respect

Being able to respect others even when we do not agree with them is an important skill to have. People are entitled to have their own thoughts and opinions, and even though they may conflict with your own, it is important to remain respectful when interacting with others. It is a way we make and nature friendships. Whether you’re in pre-school or on your way to college, it is always good to follow the “Golden Rule” and respect others since you would like them to do the same in return. Without it, people will not want to hang around you since they may feel as if they are not being treated equally, causing some people to struggle with socializing. Respect is more than just accepting others’ opinions. It is also maintaining personal space, not asking too personal of questions to people who may not like that, treating other’s belongings properly, and so much more. Yet, for those with life challenges such as Autism, ADHD, “Asperger’s,” anxiety disorders, etc., learning how to be respectful can be difficult.

Middle school can be a hard time for children (and the adults who interact with them). It seems as if everyone is branching off to their respective groups, finding what they like, and becoming their own person, but this can bring problems. Sometimes, kids can be mean. They may act out because they do not like how a person is different from them, but it is important to remain respectful, even when they may not be treating you respectfully. In middle and high school, fighting back typically creates more problems. However, if you were to advocate for yourself and act respectfully, it shows how you are being more emotionally mature and not instigating the situation you are in, which would likely only be like adding “fuel onto the fire”. Yet not all conflict comes from bullies. Sometimes it is people in your own friend group. No matter how much you have in common with someone, there is always perceptual differences and it is important to be respectful of that. If you are, it shows the other person you not only care about your friendship but respect them as a person, strengthening that bond you two share. When it comes to children, “Most struggle to cooperate sometimes. But parents of [life-challenged] children and teenagers often find that their child’s lack of cooperation interferes with everyday life.” (cooperativebehavior, 2020). This could be for many reasons, such as the child just being a hormonal teenager, but it is important for children to know that respect is needed in all categories of their life. Whether it be at school with their friends and peers or at home with their families, respect is essential to ensure they are on the right path to becoming adults. It allows kids, teens, and young adults to strengthen the connections they have in their lives, providing them with a support system for their times of need, and overall makes them well-rounded individuals that can flourish independently in the future.

At the Support for Students Growth Center, we help those with life challenges learn the values and importance of skills such as respect, so they are able to do well on their own in school and any other environment. We provide the social, behavioral, emotional, and executive functioning skills children, teens, young adults, and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of the school setting. Our team of professionals offers coaching/counseling, social skills groups and much more to help teach skills such as understanding the importance of respect to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make and maintain friendships and other relationships on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones discussed above and more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Cooperative behaviour: Autistic children and teenagers. Raising Children Network. (2020, November 18). Retrieved November 14, 2022, from https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/behaviour/understanding-behaviour/cooperative-behaviour-asd

 

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The “Why” of Body Language

Body language is one-way people communicate without using words. You can understand so much about what a person is thinking and feeling just based on their facial and body expressions, which is why it is so important to pay attention to what our peers are trying to tell us silently. Whether it be that they are upset by something we did, excited by a topic, tired, or simply content, it can all be identified through body language. However, for those with life challenges such as ADHD, Autism, “Asperger’s,” etc., picking up on these cues can be more difficult for them than others.

Starting in middle and high school, having the skill of reading body language is so important. Most people when in this stage of life are so focused on what they are feeling or going through that they can forget that others are feeling things too. Therefore, being attentive and paying attention to what our friends and peers are silently telling us is so important. They could be feeling as if they’d like to be alone that day, or maybe they are trying to portray that they want you to come over and help them, but either way, being able to assess the situation helps children, teens, and even young adults make and nurture friendships. Knowing when to back off or come up to someone are useful ways to socialize without feeling the anxiety of rejection, which can be made easier with the help of understanding how to read and interpret body language.

The time between elementary and high school can be stressful enough as it is. So many developmental changes happen during that time and having the worry of not being able to tell what others are feeling around you can make it so much more difficult. This difficulty can then lead to anxiety, isolation, and depression since if your child cannot successfully read body language, they can have a hard time making and maintaining meaningful relationships. This can be because, those with life challenges, “tend to focus on small, local details of body movement — such as the activity of one hand — rather than the motion of a body as a whole, says study investigator Anthony Atkinson, lecturer in psychology at Durham University, UK.” (Basu, 2015). Not paying attention to an individual’s body language, but rather just the minute details such as a hand gesture can distract and confuse an individual with life challenges from the real meaning their peer is trying to portray. Not being able to pick up on facial expressions, personal space, how an individual is standing, what another person’s tone is portraying, and many more aspects of body language can make it difficult to socialize, but the Support for Students Growth Center is qualified to help teach them these skills.

At the Support for Students Growth Center, we provide the social, behavioral, emotional, and executive functioning skills children, teens, young adults, and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of the school settings. Our team of professionals offers coaching/counseling and social skills groups to help teach skills such as understanding body language to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make and maintain friendships on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones listed above and much more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Basu, P. (2015, December 4). Autism impedes ability to read body language: Spectrum: Autism research news. Spectrum. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autism-impedes-ability-to-read-body-language/#:~:text=A%20glitch%20in%20visual%20processing,in%20the%20journal%20Neuropsychologia1.

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The Importance of Eye-Contact

Eye-Contact is one of the many techniques people use to show someone we are listening and engaged in the interaction we are sharing with our family and peers. It can also show us how the other person is feeling in the moment. If your eyes are elsewhere, it can be challenging to read and understand what the other person is expressing and feeling since their body language can only be read if we are paying attention. Along with this, not becoming distracted by other things around us, making sure the person we are with feels important and heard, and many other great social skills can be implemented into an interaction just with eye contact, which is what makes it so important, however, for those with life challenges such as ADHD, Autism, “Asperger’s,” social challenges, anxiety, etc., making and maintaining eye contact can be difficult.

Making friends in school can already be difficult enough, especially as a teenager. Everyone seems to be so wrapped up in their own mind while also worrying about what other people think of them and maybe struggling with eye contact can make it even harder for some kids. Feeling as if people may think of you differently because of your life challenges can make kids shy away from social interaction or struggle with interacting with others even more. Since sometimes making eye contact can be difficult due to anxiety, the addition of other stressors only adds to it. According to another source, “People with [life challenges] are less likely to look directly at another person’s eyes, which suggests they’re less engaged with others or less responsive to people in general.” (Rudy, 2022). The inability to be as engaged as other kids who do not have certain life challenges can cause socializing to become so much harder in a stage of life where it can already be difficult. People typically like to feel as if they are being heard and listened to when they talk, and if lack of eye contact leads to someone feeling as if they are not receiving someone’s full attention, they may choose to avoid socializing with them. This can then push your child into a more isolated, anxiety-filled, and lonely life since interacting with peers can become difficult and scary for them. No one wants their child to miss out on a fun youth experience due to social issues such as eye contact, and the Support for Students Growth Center can aid them in their journey to feeling comfortable when looking into the eyes of others.

At the Support for Students Growth Center, we provide the social, behavioral, emotional, and executive functioning skills children, teens, young adults, and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of school settings. Our team of professionals offers coaching/counseling, social skills groups and more, to help teach social skills such as eye contact to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make friends, show they are listening, and acknowledge others’ emotions and reactions on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones listed above and much more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Rudy, L. J. (2022, January 11). Is the lack of eye contact a symptom of autism? Verywell Health. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/autism-symptoms-and-eye-contact-260565

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Dealing with Bullying

It is no secret that kids can be mean. As we are constantly changing, we become different from those around us, whether it be our interest or our height, or our style and our music taste, but sometimes we are just born perceiving things a bit differently than our peers. Those who are born with these “different points of view”, such as those with life challenges such as Autism, ADHD, “Asperger’s,” communication and learning differences etc., can become a target of bullying. Some people are not so accepting of others and what makes them unique, especially in such a hormonal and changing stage like the middle school years. This is what makes it so important that children, pre-teens, and teens can properly learn how to become “bully-proof”.

Unfortunately, for those with many life challenges, “They are 2 to 3 times more likely to get bullied than other typically developing children. In fact, according to the organization Autism Speaks, (the majority) of autistic spectrum youth have been bullied.” (Alhborg, 2021). With such a high percentage, having the properly developed skill sets to not only deal with but resolve this issue is pertinent to a happy life. Being able to openly discuss what is upsetting you, no matter how uncomfortable it may make you, having the ability to stand up for yourself, using conflict resolution skills, and so much more are all ways kids and teens can try and resolve their bullying issues by becoming “bully-proof”. Also being able to tell yourself that just because someone says “it”, doesn’t mean “it” is true, is an important way to understand the situation and become “bully-proof”. In school, especially middle and high school, it can be hard to fit in. Bullying is something that can make fitting in even harder, but if your child learns how to stand up for themselves, find confidence, and be comfortable confiding in someone who can help, or they can talk to in order to feel better, then becoming “bully-proof” can be made much easier.

At the Support for Students Growth Center, we provide the social, behavioral, emotional, and executive functioning skills children, teens, young adults and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of school settings. Our team of professionals offers coaching/counseling and social skills groups to help teach skills such as bullying resolution to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to solve issues on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones listed above and much more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Ahlborg, D. (2021, May 7). Bullying and autistic children. Bullying Recovery Resource Center. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://bullyingrecoveryresourcecenter.org/bullying-and-autistic-children/

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Taking Initiative to Complete Assignments

It is hard not to procrastinate. The want to put off work, especially when you know you have ample time to do it, is hard to deny, but the consequences can be more significant than some expect. Sometimes we do not do assignments because there are other things we want to do, such as watching a new Netflix series, while other times we simply do not know where to start. This feeling of a greater want or one of an assignment being too hard makes it easy to push things off. Yet, if we continue to refuse to complete the task, it does not make it go away. Rather, it only gathers with other assignments we still have to do, making the stress and workload much greater than it was initially, which is why it is important to have a good habit of taking initiative when it comes to deciding the best time and way to complete and assignment.

Taking initiative means that you are able to initiate things by yourself, such as sitting down to do work, but this can be hard in more ways than one. For some, it is simply knowing they have more time to do it, therefore they will not use that time to do so, while others have a hard time completing the assignment at hand. When trying to work on something that is hard to understand, it can be discouraging. Knowing you have no idea what you are looking at can make the process of finalizing whatever it is you are working on so disheartening, and can even cause an individual to no longer want to complete it, or any assignment that comes from that class, which leads them into a bad cycle. If it is not this, some feel as if they have better things to be doing with that time rather than work, which causes procrastination. According to a survey, “80% to 90% of … students procrastinate, particularly on course work.” (Prout, 2021). This habit can cause work to build up before becoming a huge stressor in their life, especially if all the work aligns with one another since college requires a lot of your personal time. According to college students themselves, they “spend about 17 hours each week on homework, reading, and assignments.” (Riddle, 2018). Trying to cram all this in the same few days is practically impossible, and so is trying to pass without putting in the work. Although some classes are easier than others, they still require dedication, and without initiative, assignments would never get completed, and all it takes it learning, but for some, learning this process is much harder than for others. That is why learning how to master these skills before entering college is so essential.

Those with learning differences such as ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, Learning Disabilities, etc. may have a more difficult time becoming initiators because of the stress and push it takes, but thankfully, it is easy to learn. Knowing that it is not the end of the world if you do not know something, or that missing a social event or party isn’t going to destroy your social meter is important. School is supposed to come first seeing that is what you are there for, and creating things such as a schedule of when to work and when to socialize are habits the Support for Students Growth Center,  can help teach those who have a harder time in this category become better at managing it. With the help of Support for Students Growth Center, you or someone you know can become pros at taking initiative in not only starting assignments but completing them, making the school including college experience that much better. Enjoying things stress-free because you know you got done what you needed to is liberating, and although it is a hard habit to break, it’s not impossible, especially with the help of Support for Students Growth Center.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Prout, T. (2021, July 6). Helping students overcome procrastination. National University. Retrieved May 15, 2022, from https://www.nu.edu/resources/helping-students-overcome-procrastination/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20American%20Psychological,of%20every%20five%20students%20in

Riddle, R. (2022, March 14). How much homework is too much? Duke Learning Innovation. Retrieved May 15, 2022, from https://learninginnovation.duke.edu/blog/2018/10/how-much-homework-is-too-much/

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