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Counseling Elementary School Children

Buzzle Staff
Counseling can be defined as an interpersonal, theory-based process of helping people who are fundamentally and psychologically healthy but have developmental and conditional issues.
Counselors assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career problems. Counselor's duties vary according to their specialties.
Educational counselors assist students of all levels, from elementary school to postsecondary education. They help students evaluate their abilities, interests, talents, and personalities in order to develop realistic academic career goals.
To evaluate and advise students, they employ the use of interview sessions and aptitude tests to know about a child's personal interests. They work with students who either have academic and social development problems or other needs
They discuss the issues of students with their teachers and parents to evaluate their strengths, problems, and special needs. They not only consult with the parents and teachers but also with the school administrators, psychologists, medical professionals, and social workers to develop and implement strategies that will help students succeed in their life.

Why Do we Need Student Counselors?
Today's generation is facing a huge cultural diversity in our society because of new technologies and expanding opportunities. To help these young people become able next generation parents, workers, leaders, and citizens, there is a need for support, guidance, and opportunities during childhood, which is a time of rapid growth and change.
Divorce and single-parent families are the facts that the children of the modern generation are very well aware of. The experimentation with drugs, at an early age, leads to abuse and addiction in adolescence.
Counselors should recognize the serious effects of parents' alcoholism on a child's development and implement compassion approaches to help the young victims.
In our society, child abuse and neglect are rampant, and we should take adequate measures to prevent it or help the child overcome such situations. A systematic approach is required to enhance healthy social, emotional, and educational growth.

What is Expected From These Counselors?
Elementary school counseling should be designed to serve the needs of all children at each stage of their development. Because of social pressure and changes, children carry the burden of several issues and concerns along with them to school. A troubled child may experience severe difficulties in learning.
Provision of counseling at the elementary level promotes developmental and preventive measures that help the children succeed in their school.
Children are encouraged to make choices and decisions that will help them be better students. With the help of a program, the counselor can assist the children in strengthening their skills to become better learners as well as contributing members of the school.
They also help the children cope with challenging personal issues and crisis, that interrupt the learning and social development, through individual or small group sessions and coordination of services.
Elementary school counselors should develop innovative techniques to help both children and parents. They have to work closely with the teachers to help them understand the signs of abuse and to acquaint them with correct referral procedures.
They should also be taught to be extremely sensitive in matters of abuse and the need for effective discretion in this area. So, children who have been abused need to feel accepted, and the counselors should work to build a supportive learning environment for them.
Elementary counseling should also develop strategies to help teachers communicate effectively with the parents of handicapped children, because only a teacher can develop an active ongoing relationship with parents but may lack the training to provide the requisite support.
Children's behavior is a major concern for both parents and teachers. The techniques available to improve children's behavior include positive reinforcement, behavior contracting, classroom guidance and consulting with teachers. The counselors should aim at producing citizens who would strive for healthy and peaceful relations across cultures and nations.
Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.