Does Your Child Have Learning Disabilities?
Seeing your child struggle in school can be frustrating and heartbreaking. As parents, we often wonder if it’s a phase, a motivation issue, or something more. The solution isn’t always about the child working harder. Sometimes, it’s about finding the right environment, the right strategies, or addressing an underlying issue.
This list of questions from Sandra’s House is designed to help you get to the bottom of what’s going on. Think of yourself as a detective and an advocate, gathering clues from different areas of your child’s life to find the best way to support them.
Part 1: Start with Self-Reflection
Before you talk to your child or their teachers, it helps to look at the situation from a broader perspective.
- Has my child struggled consistently over time? Think back to their toddler years. Were there any early developmental milestones that concerned you? Did they struggle in previous school years with similar subjects or skills? Pinpointing when the difficulty began can offer important clues.
- Have there been any recent changes in their home or school environment? Changes at home, like a new sibling or a move, or changes in their class, like a new teacher, can affect a child’s motivation and focus. Sometimes, a problem is as simple as a new teaching style that doesn’t match your child’s learning style.
- What is the specific content they struggle with? As children get older, subjects become more complex. If they don’t have effective study techniques, they may fall behind as the workload increases. It’s also important to note if they struggle with an entire subject or just one specific section.
- How often and how do they study? It’s important to know if your child is putting in the time. Are they simply staring at their books, or are they actively processing the information? Sometimes, the issue isn’t a lack of effort but a lack of effective strategies.
Part 2: Open the Dialogue with Your Child
Having an open and friendly dialogue with your child is crucial. Ask them about their schoolwork, teachers, and friends. It can be tough to talk to a teen without it feeling like an interrogation, so keep the conversation encouraging and non-judgmental.
- “What do you think is making school difficult for you?” This question puts them in the driver’s seat. It helps them feel like a part of the solution, not the problem.
- “Is the work confusing, or do you have a hard time remembering it?” This helps you understand the nature of the difficulty. Sometimes children don’t study because they don’t understand the work, or they try but struggle to remember it, which can cause anxiety.
- “How are things with your friends?” Social dynamics can be a huge factor in a child’s attitude towards school and their ability to focus.
Part 3: Partner with Educators
Your child’s teachers are a valuable resource. If your child didn’t do well on a test or an exam, try to get a copy of it to review with your child, or ask the teacher to explain the major issues.
- “What have you observed about my child’s behavior in class?” Their behavior can reveal a lot about their understanding and emotional state. A child who is constantly daydreaming or acting out might be bored or frustrated with the work.
- “Do they complete their homework and classwork?” This can help you understand if the issue is a lack of understanding or a lack of motivation and follow-through.
- “How long have you noticed them struggling?” Teachers often see patterns that parents may not. Their insights can help confirm or contradict your own observations.
- “What can I do to help support my child at home?” Asking for their recommendations shows that you are a partner in your child’s education.
Part 4: Is It Time for an Assessment?
An educational assessment can provide a deeper understanding of your child’s educational level and identify underlying problems. This can help everyone find the right solutions.
You might want to consider an assessment when:
- Information is inconsistent. A good indicator for educational difficulties is when a child’s verbal and written understanding don’t match. They might seem to know the work well when talking to you but can’t express it in a test.
- All the information you’ve gathered points in the same direction. When your own observations, your child’s feelings, and the teacher’s feedback all suggest a clear problem, an assessment can provide the specific details and nuance to create a targeted plan.
Don’t Be Scared to Get Your Child Assessed
Getting an assessment doesn’t mean there’s something “wrong” with your child. It doesn’t mean they’ll be labeled or medicated. It simply gives you a clear breakdown of where the problems are and provides a starting point for finding solutions. These difficulties can be addressed, and with the right support, your child can thrive.
Please feel free to contact us for more advice or book an consoltation.
Keep an eye on our posts in the coming weeks for advice on
- Motivation and confidence
- Study methods
- Understanding the curriculum