I just love a good assessment tool. Give me a brain profile, strengths finder or a personality type indicator any day of the week. Of course all tools have limitations, nature and nurture influence what we see in kids and in ourselves. Within relationships we grow and change and compensate for others. So let it never be true that we rigidly believe our kids fit neatly into boxes. They are much too wonderful for that.
So what can a good assessment do for us?
There are tools that exist to help parents better understan, encourage strengths and support challenges in the way our children think, learn, remember, express emotions, show leadership and feel love. You and I are hungry for insight into our children’s brains and characters, especially if that insight will help us see, celebrate and support them better.
With that in mind I set up an online meeting for my eldest with Chantal Deacon Daniel for a Genetic Brain Profiling assessment. Truth be told, I was a little skeptical:
Chantal applied a mostly physical assessment that lasted no more than a couple of minutes; gaging which eye is dominant, which hand, which ear, which foot. I couldn’t imagine how these dominances could affect so much of my girl’s preferences and strengths.
The feedback was uncanny.
Chantal explained how a left eye dominance controlled by a right brain hemisphere results in someone who sees the big picture and is sensitive to body language and the feelings of others. She pointed out how a right ear dominance combined with that right brain made for a person that loves figurative language and is sympathetic and sensitive. She said that a right hand dominance controlled by a dominant right hemisphere results in an articulate, organised young woman and how the right foot dominance adds an ability to solve problems in a structured way.
The details that followed included that she enjoyes a challenge and new projects, that she analyses emotional undertones and risks assuming responsibility for the emotions of others, she needs more emotional support than most and sees less detail when she is stressed.
It was all a little spookily accurate and wonderfully helpful as we considered career options and pursuits after school.
By the time Chantal met with my son my skepticism had all but vanished.
‘You are drawn to innovation and challenge and also prone to procrastination and a lack of organisation.’ the assessment read.
‘You think out the box, and are creative, love challenges and dislike routine and structures. You bore easily and daydream…’ Tell me about it!
Remember, Chantal had not given lengthy questionnaires and aptitude tests.
It was especially interesting to see the overlap and confirmation of both dyslexic gifts and challenges in her assessment.
His dyslexic mind:
Sees the big picture
Gets the auditory gist quickly
Often makes written mistakes
Thinks outside the box
Works slower and illegibly during stress
Doesn’t pick up inferred meaning and needs explanations to be overt
But what was also helpful were the aspects that weren’t only about dyslexic strength and challenges but that we as a family know to be true. By the time I read these words, I wiped away a tear or two:
Idealistic
Supporter of causes
Faithful
Seeker of truth
Noble in purpose
Honourable
Congenial
Devoted to duty
Gentle and polite
Committed
It was a little like she knew our boy:
Which made me conclude a couple of things about the privilege of access to tools like Genetic Brain Profiling and experts like Chantal.
Early insight can help us support challenges: Wonderfully Wired kids need early intervention and support.
An early picture that doesn't only flag concerns but celebrates and points out gifting should be part of how every child is parented and taught.
Language with which to describe gifts and individuality in our children is the gift I would give every parent if I could.
No challenges are set in stone, The brain is plastic and we know now that you certainly can teach the oldest of dogs new tricks. Armed with that bit of neuroscience we say ‘Yes please!’ to awareness of challenges, knowing they are opportunities for growth not verdicts!
No natural talents are automatically developed into strengths without exposure and opportunity to practice: The earlier we know these, the better equipped we are to help our children thrive.
Oh and I have mentioned before: I’m convinced that each child is wonderfully and intentionally designed and wired accordingly. And I’m 100% behind tests that are the glorious unpacking of opportunity rather than the answer to the question “What’s wrong with my child?’
