Chinese parents: Developmental delays doesn't mean stupid

Over the past 25 years, I have evaluated over nearly a thousand of Chinese-American students (K-12).  I have seen 7 year olds unable to produce declarative statements but was able to read within a few years with speech therapy and educational resources.  I had a junior high school student that was deemed "a delinquent destined for jail" but improved with counseling.  And I have seen some very heartbreaking episodes requiring government intervention.    These Chinese students are not beyond repair.  In fact, in most cases, these students can be treated, can function socially and keep up with their studies.  The most important element is the involvement of parents. 

The answer sounds simple.  However, the reality is Chinese students are often the product of immigrants with little or no education, low English proficiency, and are employed as day laborers with little time to participate with schoolwork.   And as a result, these Chinese parents only see the superficial problems in low test grades and high absenteeism.  Parents develop attitudes that their's child is "lazy" and/or "stupid."  Often it takes a teacher and/or school social worker to notice a string of symptoms.  For this blog's purpose, we won't be discussing DSM-5 issues.  

Parents please understand, a child disrupting class, skipping school, failing in a series of exams is not usually the result of laziness or stupidity.  One can't scold or hit their child when there are underlying factors.  In the next blog, I will provide a list of free government resources that can explain and offer solutions to Chinese parents.

In the mean time, I implore parents to be more involved in their children's schooling.  

Dr. Pat