Ensuring Neurodivergent Students Can Actively Compromise
No! I don’t want to play that game!
From a young age, we learn how to compromise with others. Whether it be with our siblings, parents, and/or friends, compromising is an important skill to be able to use. It allows for us to be able to handle situations that could otherwise be stressful in a way that is age-appropriate and effective. By doing so, students can avoid emotional outbursts, anxiety, strains in their relationships with their friends, peers, and family, and more. This then allows for them to be productive both in and out of school settings, and make and nourish friendships easier in situations that may otherwise be difficult for them to do so, especially for those who are neurodivergent.
Without strong compromising skills, everyday life can be difficult. Not everything will go their way every moment of every day, so being able to stop, think, and compromise can prevent issues that may isolate the student from their peers. Almost no one wants to socialize with someone who only wants to get their way. If students refuse to compromise, they may struggle to not only make friends, but maintain the friendships they do create because they always have everyone do what they want to do. They may then also do this at home, causing a strain between them and their siblings. If they are not taught how to compromise, they may have an outburst to try and get things their way, creating a flurry of bad habits that may follow them all the way into adulthood. Having a meltdown to get their way can promote avoidance behaviors and prevent the ability to take responsibility and compromise. After a while, they may find that they do not have many, if any, friends, and as they get older. Holding down a job, getting into and staying in college, and becoming independent may be too difficult for them to achieve, especially if they cannot compromise.
Playing a game everyone wants to play, choosing a project topic everyone likes, watching a tv show or movie everyone wants to see, emotionally regulating, avoiding rejection sensitive dysphoria every time someone wants to do something different from you, utilizing breathing techniques so they can have a clear thought process, and splitting the work that must be done with your siblings and/or peers are ways students compromise on a daily basis. Compromise is used almost constantly, even if we don’t realize it, and without it, students can begin to fall behind academically, socially, and in life, which is why the Students Growth Center has created a program to help.
At the Support for Students Growth Center, we offer social, behavioral, educational, emotional, and executive functioning skills services children, teens, young adults, and their families, who may be Neurodivergent or not 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 compromise to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make and maintain a functioning independent life 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.
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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.
