ALEXA, PLEASE.

ALEXA, PLEASE….” In last weeks post I discussed how digital assistants, like Alexa, can help things run more smoothly at home when you have a child with ADHD. Digital assistants are developing rapidly, and already come with an impressive array of features and functions. Yet, as with all emerging technologies, parents should be on the lookout for unintended consequences that might crop up once they and their children start using the devices. With screen-free digital assistants, many of the pitfalls that come with tablet and phone-based technology are avoided. On the other hand, the language and style of speaking that we use to communicate with Alexa doesnt match up with the way we talk with our partners, coworkers, and children. As adults, we can easily distinguish between a style of speech used with technology and a style of speech used with the people in our lives, but for young children and children of all ages who struggle with social interactions, this differentiation may not be intuitive. Across the board, kids attribute human thoughts, feelings, and intentions to inanimate objects. Its completely normal for them to think that their stuffed bear may feel lonely if he is left alone all day, or that their dump truck is mad because its wheel got stuck in the sand. As kids get older this tendency gradually decreases, but for some, it still pops up well into adulthood (think of people you know who talk about their beloved car as though it is a person!). Technology like Alexa taps into this tendency to attribute human qualities to objects. And, depending on your childs developmental level, the line between person and technology may still be quite blurry. So, as you bark out commands to your digital assistant -- Alexa, turn on the lights, or Alexa, play my favorite radio station, or worse, as you keep trying to get it to work, saying more sternly each time, Alexa. Alexa! ALEXA! -- your kids are hearing and absorbing your tone and phrasing. Without intending to, youre providing a model of communication that they may generalize to their interactions with friends and family. Fortunately, with three simple steps (and ongoing mindfulness on your part) you can keep this behavior to a minimum: Rename Alexa. Did you know that you dont actually need to refer to Alexa as Alexa? Alexa is simply a word programed into your digital assistant to wake it up and get it ready to receive a command. Its called the Wake Word and you can change it to anything that you would like to use. You can de-personalize your digital assistant and make it clear that you are taking to a machine and not a person by changing the devices Wake Word to Computer or another technology-related name. Say Please. Start talking to your digital assistant the way you would talk to a friend or colleague when youre asking them to do something for you. Start each request or command with Alexa, please (or the new name for your device in place of Alexa). After the task is completed, end the conversation with Alexa, thank you. Your device will always respond by saying something like, You bet! or Anytime!, providing a great model for your child. Remember that you can turn off Alexa. Its easy to forget that you are in charge of your technology, and not the other way around. If youre concerned about how your child is interacting with Alexa, or your child isnt practicing his or her please and thank you with the device, then it might be time for a break. Let your child know that when he or she doesnt use please or thank you, the device will stop responding. Then, unplug Alexa. Its as simple as that. After a break, plug Alexa back in and let your child give it another try. As digital assistants continue to evolve Im optimistic that new family-friendly features and parental controls will be added to their functionality. In the meantime, be mindful of the way you and your child interact with Alexa, and be on the lookout for unintended consequences that may pop up as you integrate this technology into your daily life. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

The truth about finding a teach abroad job in Europe

The truth about finding a teach abroad job in Europe Who wouldn’t want to teach in Europe? It’s a continent of dazzling culture, fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, and some of the world’s most delicious food (Bonjour to pizza, tapas, and croissants ) Often you’ll find a captivating mix of all these elements in one country, before you even begin thinking about the multitude of travel options living in Europe puts on your doorstep. So, it’s no mystery why teaching in Europe is popular. But what is hard to understand is why it can be so difficult to find a teaching job there, whether you're teaching English or another subject. What’s the difference between Europe and the E.U.? And… how does this relate to teaching? Well, it’s a (highly exciting!) question of visas and work permits. Bear with us... Europe is the geographical region stretching from Portugal in the west to Russia in the east. The most northern point is in Iceland and it goes as far south as Greece. There are 44 countries in Europe, with some (like Turkey and Russia) also being partially in Asia. The E.U. (European Union) is a political union between 28 of the countries in Europe. It includes most western European countries such as popular teach abroad destinations like Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. So, basically all countries in Europe are European but only some are in the Union. Got it? Then let's move on! Yup. But how does this affect me getting a teaching job in the E.U.? It comes down to two factors: competition and cost. Let’s imagine you are a qualified and experienced teacher from the U.S. who wants to find a teaching job somewhere in the E.U. What competition are you up against? Your biggest competition will come from E.U. citizens who also want to teach in a country other than their own. E.U. countries have a “freedom of movement” agreement which means their citizens can all live and work in each other’s countries without needing a visa. To give an example, a school in Spain could easily recruit native English teachers from Ireland for their English language classes. They wouldn’t have to go through any more paperwork than employing a Spanish teacher in fact, because both countries are in the E.U. And they might not even have to look too hardâ€"there could be plenty of Irish teachers legally living in their Spanish town already, available to work part-time, on a flexible contract or whatever the school needs. And that’s before you factor in all of the Aussie and Kiwi teachers that could be living in Spain. Wait, what? You’re rightâ€"they’re obviously not from the E.U. so how are they living and working there? Australia and New Zealand have a working holiday visa arrangement with Spain that allows 18 to 30-year-olds from each country to live, travel, and work in the other for 1 year. Unfortunately, no such visa situation currently exists between Spain (or any other E.U. country) and the U.S. Gotcha. How does cost factor into this, then? Even though North Americans don’t automatically have the right to work to the E.U. what if you found a school that really, really wanted to hire you. Couldn’t they sponsor your visa? Well, technically yes! But realistically, hard no. It’s just too expensive for most schools to consider, especially when they have access to so many other teachers they can hire without any associated costs. On top of this, many schools in the E.U. (language schools in particular) don’t hire teachers on full-time contracts. It’s actually pretty normal for TEFL teachers in the E.U. to work freelance for multiple schools and private students to make up a full salary. This makes it even more unlikely that a school is going to shell out on visa sponsorship for a teacher they’ll only see a few hours a week. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. So, is it possible for North Americans to find teaching jobs in the E.U? You might have guessed from what you’ve read so far, it’s not necessarily easy. But it is possible. Here’s how: Focus your search on one or two specific countries Each E.U. country has slightly different visa requirements. For example, Canada has a working holiday visa agreement with France, much like the one Spain has with Australia and New Zealand. Make sure you double check what the visa requirements are in any country you’re interested in teaching in. Look for teaching programs for North Americans in your country of choice Most E.U. countries do run some government programs that allow North Americans to teach in schools under certain conditions - normally you have to be a student to be eligible. Check out in the Cultural Ambassadors program in Spain or TAPIF in France. Refocus your search If none of the above options yield any results, try switching focus to non-country specific programs. CIEE runs teaching programs for North Americans in The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Spain. You need a bachelor’s degree but no teaching experience to apply. Be flexible and stay positive Don’t discount countries you don’t know much about! Remember there are 28 countries in the E.U. and 44 in Europe, each with a unique culture and heritage. Research somewhere that wouldn’t be your automatic first choice and you might find a hidden gem. Here is a good place to start: Discover 5 of the best ESL teaching destinations in Eastern Europe Plus, fights, trains, and busses between countries in Europe can be quick and affordable so living in one country doesn’t cut you off from what another has to offer. You might have to jump through a few hoops to get there, but with a flexible mindset and a bit of perseverance, a teaching job in the E.U. could well be yours!