Learning disabilities are a fairly common occurrence with about 10 percent of the population dealing with difficulty in a learning context, according to the Child Development Institute. The term "learning disorder," as explained by the National Center for Learning Disorders, refers to a neurological disorder that compromises a person's ability to "receive, process, store and respond to information." Although learning disabilities are varied, there are many general tips to help your child learn despite a disability.
Step 1
Focus on giving your child tools to cope with and overcome his disability. For example, do not complete a project for your child because you know it will be difficult. Instead, teach your child ways to complete the project and handle any problems himself so he can grow to be a self-sufficient adult.
Step 2
Build your child's confidence and self-esteem. Reiterate the things he is good at so there is less emphasis on what he struggles with. If he has a hard time with reading, but is good in math, ask him to help you calculate something so he feels helpful and worthy.
Step 3
Talk to your child's teacher to check on her progress. Spend time with her each day working on her homework, reading or having conversations. This will keep you involved with how she is performing in school and let you know what areas she needs to work on. Some students with learning disabilities just need a little more practice to learn new concepts or skills.
Step 4
Create an area in the house or your child's room for studying and schoolwork. This should be an area that is free of distractions to help your child focus on the task at hand.
Step 5
Evaluate your child's progress and success on your own scale. Depending on your child's particular disability, school grades may not be an appropriate measure of success. Praise and reward your child based on how hard he tries or if he meets his individual goals, rather than focusing on mainstream grades.
Step 6
Give your child responsibilities and hold her accountable. This can be giving her chores, allowing her to participate in making house rules or encouraging her to participate in community service. These types of activities will help her build confidence and responsibility and realize that there are more important things in life than academic success.
Tips and Warnings
- If you suspect your child has a learning disability, it is important to seek the support of a doctor and the school to pinpoint the problem and determine how to modify your child's learning experiences to overcome the disability.
