🎁FREE US Shipping 🎁

HabitAware-maela-slime-keen-bracelet-trichotillomania-dermatillomania

Involving the School in Your Child’s BFRB: A Template for Teacher Communication

September 11, 2018

As part of our “Back to School” series, we asked parents in our keen family to share their tips.

In this week’s blog post, Courtney Spainhower shares just that and more.

 

From Courtney:

We have found that the best way to create a cohesive and supportive environment for our child’s success is to have the tools we use at home incorporated into her school life, too.  After all, our kids are at school more waking hours than they spend at home during the school year!

You can use this template as a starting point for opening up communication with your child’s teacher. This is very simple to do for children in elementary school since they spend the majority of their day with the same teacher.  However, once middle school and high school begin, you will have the option of communicating with only their homeroom teacher, or each class teacher’s. This is personal preference and will depend on what you feel is best for your child.

with love + hope,

Courtney Spainhower

A keen family mama


Dear [Name of Teacher, Principal, Guidance Counselor, etc.],

I’m writing to let you know that my [daughter/son/child] has a body-focused repetitive behavior or BFRB called [Trichotillomania/Dermatillomania, etc].  This is already on file with the school, but I wanted to give you a bit of information about this behavior and how we help [child’s name] manage their compulsion in a way that isn’t disruptive to the class.

Give a general description of they specific BFRB your child has.  For example:
The word “Trichotillomania”* sounds scary, but basically [child’s name] compulsively [pulls hair]* from [scalp, eyebrows, lashes, etc.]* and is often unaware of the behavior.  This is most likely to occur when working quietly, reading, or when [s/he/they] is getting tired.
*replace with the specific BFRB relevant to your child along with their specific habits.

List fidgets and other tools your child will have at school as specifically as possible and be sure to address the potential distraction they may cause other students.  For example:
I have provided a small tin of thinking putty, a fidget bracelet, an oak-a-feel, and Keen, a smart behavior tracking wristband for my child in a small pouch in [her/his/their] backpack.  It’s very important that [s/he/they] be able to use these items at [her/his/their] desk as needed as a way of controlling the impulse to [pull/pick/etc]. I’ve made sure these are all quiet fidgets so that they shouldn’t draw the attention of the other students or cause a distraction.  In the past, teachers have addressed the class letting them know that [child’s name] has special tools to help [her/him] focus, they are not toys, and they aren’t to be touched by the other students.

Please, if you have any questions at all, feel free to email me at [email address] or call/text at [phone number].  If you’d like to read a bit about [specific BFRB], here is a link to a few organizations with some great information:

Thank you,
[Your Name + Signature]

 

About Keen by HabitAware
HabitAware makes Keen, a smart bracelet that helps manage nail biting, hair pulling, thumb sucking, and other subconscious behaviors. Customized gesture detection brings you into awareness and helps you develop healthier habits.
Order now & sign up for our e-newsletter for helpful strategies, news & important product updates:
ORDER NOW          SUBSCRIBE



Also in HabitAware Blog: Soul Fuel

Trichotillomania Research Opportunity: UK + US-based Student-Led Research
Trichotillomania Research Opportunity: UK + US-based Student-Led Research

March 27, 2023

Read More

Conquering with Keen: Jaclyn's Trichotillomania Recovery with Community Connection
Conquering with Keen: Jaclyn's Trichotillomania Recovery with Community Connection

February 28, 2023

...It was (my) conversation (with Ellen), and the safety I quickly felt, that planted a seed; from that moment on I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd muster up the courage to attend a BFRB support meeting. I also bought the Keen bracelet after we spoke, which proved to be a useful tool in heightening my awareness of trichotillomania and around automatic urges to pull. I appreciate the gentle reminder the bracelet provides, and I still use it from time to time when I anticipate being in higher stress or over-stimulating situations...

Read More

Student-led Trichotillomania Study
Student-led Trichotillomania Study

February 21, 2023

Read More

HabitAware Keen Sizing Guide

Not sure which size is right for you?

It's important that Keen has a snug fit on your wrist. Here's a quick guide to help you decide which bracelet size to order:


Keen2


Sporty Keen (original)