What should I tell my child about the evaluation?

For most young children, a simple explanation such as, “you’re going to do some learning activities” is sufficient. Some children may enjoy an elaboration such as “…learning activities like blocks, puzzles, and questions.” You can also let your child know that most of the activities will be pretty different from what they do in school.

It’s best to refrain from telling your child that they are going to “play games.” Although some of the activities may be play-based, kids that arrive expecting games might be disappointed to find that the activities are different from the games that they are accustomed to.

Older children (perhaps late elementary school aged and above) may require more transparency about the purpose of the evaluation, such as “we are going to use the information for school planning” or, “it’s to help figure out why school [or a specific academic subject] has felt so hard for you.”

Some children may be reassured to expect a cozy living room type environment as opposed to a doctor’s office type of setting. Your child may also need to know that there are no shots!

Every effort should be made to minimize any stress or pressure on your child.  There should be no “practicing” for the evaluation, which would undermine the validity of the results. Your provider will be happy to discuss specifics with you that consider the needs of your child when you meet for the video parent-only intake.  

What else should I know?

Prior to your child’s in-person visit, please take steps to ensure a good night of rest, and leave plenty of time for a low-stress morning.

On the day of your child’s visit:

When it comes to in-person visits, we prioritize everyone’s safety and comfort. Please note that you may cancel in-person visits without incurring a late fee should you have any concerns about attending an in-person visit.

Please arrive at, but not before, your scheduled appointment. All visitors are asked to wash hands on your way to the suite (there is a galley kitchen just off the hallway – you can’t miss it!)

If you need an elevator, please let us know ahead of time so that we can arrange to escort you through the pharmacy to access the elevator.