Helping The Learning Disabled Child

      Parents are often concerned that their child is learning disabled.   A child can exhibit one or more of the characteristics
of a learning disabled person, yet not be learning disabled!   The learning disabled child typically exhibits some of the
following characteristics:

The learning disabled child....


1.   Performs differently from day to day (academic and behavior)
   
   
2.   Cannot sit still
   
   
3.   Can follow only one direction at a time
   
   
4.   Has a short attention span and is easily distracted
   
   
5.   Cannot sound out words
   
   
6.   Has poor handwriting
   
   
7.   Writes and/or sees letters in the wrong order
   
   
8.   Reads haltingly
   
   
9.   Has a poor sense of direction
   
   
10.   Generally has an average or above average I.Q.
    
    
11.   Has a problem in some or all of the following areas:
    
         a. listening
         b. thinking
         c. speaking
         d. reading
         e. writing
         f. spelling
         g. math
    

Learning disabilities are not explained by...


1.   Obvious physical handicaps
   
   
2.   Emotional disturbances (not a primary factor)
   
   
3.   Cultural deprivation and/or environmental disadvantages
   
   
4.   Lack of motivation or laziness

      If you think your child is learning disabled, don't despair!   Seek a professional evaluation.   The evaluation can be arranged through the school your child attends (generally at no cost), or you can pay for a private testing (doctor, counselor, etc.).   Don't be afraid to learn the truth!   Knowledge of your child's disability is the best defense against the disability.
 Your support and guidance can enable your child to cope with his problems and learn to compensate for them.   Early detection reduces failure, frustration, and confusion.

How Can Parents Help?

1.   Recognize and understand your child's disability.   Share this knowledge with your child at the appropriate time.
   
   
2.   Conference with your child's teacher(s) in regard to your child's disability.   Include a list of your child's strengths and weaknesses.   The more specific information you give the teacher(s), the better they can help your child become a successful, happy student.   When the child, his parents, and his teacher(s) work together to develop a plan, the child can generally deal successfully with his disability.
   
   
3.   Learn how your child can compensate for his disability.   Share this information with your child and with his teacher(s).
   
   
4.   Be sensitive to the problems your child experiences as a result of the learning disability.   Don't use a disability as an excuse for failure or poor behavior.   If you openly pity the child or make excuses for poor academic performance and/or behavior, your child will do the same.   Encourage your child, don't pity him!
   
   
5.   Set realistic grade goals for your child.   Don't set these goals too high or too low.   See "Setting Reasonable Grade Goals".   Knowledge of your child's disability can help you set reasonable goals.   Seek professional help with this task.
   
   
6.   Encourage your child to discuss his anger, frustration, and fears (in regard to his disability) with you.   Assure him that these feelings are normal!   Seek professional help (principle, counselor, family doctor, etc.) if need be.
   
   
7.   Face your child when talking with him.   Talk with your child, not at him.
   
   
8.   Praise your child every day.   When he does well, tell him.   If he does poorly, encourage him.   Praise him for trying, for being interested, enthusiastic, etc.   Praise should not be all school related.
   
   
9.   Find tasks that your child can accomplish.   He must experience success!
   
   
10.   Be flexible.   Find alternative ways for him to accomplish a task.
    
    
11.   Allow your child to learn new tasks as he is able.   Don't push him into an activity that is too difficult.   If he wants to try something new, encourage and praise him for wanting to try!
    
    
12.   Allow your child to make mistakes.   He will learn from them.   Failure is often the first step toward growth and success!   Encourage your child to become an independent person.
    
    
13.   Guide your child through long-term projects by dividing them into sub-tasks.   Reward the child for any positive effort.
    
    
14.   Careful, constructive criticism promotes learning.   Work now to prevent weaknesses from becoming handicaps!
    
    
15.   The learning disabled child is not always in control of his behavior.   Poor behavior is not always willful or intentional.   The child may not be in a structured setting or perhaps has consumed too much sugar or caffeine.   When your child displays negative behavior, criticize his actions, not the child himself.   Remember, he looks to you for his feeling of self-worth.   Don't overlook poor behavior for any reason.   This is not fair to the child!   Have clear, firm rules.   Enforce them.   Structure helps the learning disabled child succeed.   Being accountable builds the child's self-esteem.
    
    
16.   A healthy diet is important for all students but is essential for the learning disabled child.   Poor eating habits add to the problems of learning disabled students.
    
         a. Be aware that the learning disabled child     should not eat foods that contain white sugar,     artificial coloring and flavoring, white flour,     or caffeine.   These items increase hyperactivity!
    
         b. Learning disabled students should not eat     junk food!   It has little nutritional value!     Your child won't eat junk food at home if you     don't buy it.   Persuade your school to     eliminate junk food from the cafeteria.   All     students would greatly benefit from this decision.
    
    
17.   Be good to yourself!   Being the parent of a learning disabled child is not easy!   Don't feel guilty when you feel anger, resentment, or frustration toward your child.   These are normal reactions to difficult problems!   When you lose your temper, apologize.   You're not perfect.   Your child needs to know that all people make mistakes and that you can learn from them.
    
       Don't be consumed by your child's disability!      Take time off from worrying, coping and guiding.    Keep a sense of humor!   A stressed parent won't    have the patience to deal with a learning disabled child!
    
        Enjoy your child for the special person he is!   Don't make success in school the focus of your relationship.   Let him know that he is loved for himself!   Tell him that he is important.   Show him that he is important.   Spend fun time with your child.   Value his interests.   Attend his activities.   Love him!   Your child will never outgrow his learning disability.   He can learn to successfully cope with it.   So can you!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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