Learning is hard: 5 signs that your child struggles with their learning
We all know that every student learns differently and how children access the curriculum at school is not always straightforward. A child’s unique learning process doesn’t always allow them to handle information adequately, resulting in frustration, anger and even withdrawal.
Unfortunately in today’s educational environment, there is still a sense of shame around learning differently and learning differences (like learning disabilities such as dyslexia) and these are still very much misunderstood. Kids Health.org has a great explanation of the various learning disabilities, including some signs to look for and attempts to remove the stigma surrounding them.
They key here is to understand that students who find learning difficult do not necessarily have a learning disability. Several children have difficulty with reading, writing, or other learning-related tasks at some point, but this does not mean they have definitive learning disabilities. According to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, “a child with a learning disability often has several related signs, and these persist over time” as opposed to a child who simply struggles with learning in general.
This blog article will highlight some signs that your child may be struggling with their learning (potentially an early sign of a learning disability).
Signs that your child is finding learning difficult:
- According to Susan Schenk, a fellow mom, occupational therapist and entrepreneur, you may start to see a negative response to school, homework, etc. and even a change to the way they respond to you
- “They may become irritable or even angry” Susan says. This is most noticeable when dealing with school-related topics
- Some students may even show signs of withdrawal from school in general
- You may see an impact on their achievement, like lower grades, as well as concerning feedback from their school support system (teachers, EAs, etc.)
The signs of learning difficulties and disabilities also vary from person to person. The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada is a comprehensive source of information for parents and teachers and does a great job separating fact from fiction.
Stay tuned for another article next week on the blog about 7 strategies that you can use at home to support your special student!
For more information on learning differences, watch Susan Schenk’s original webinar for Beyond the Classroom here!
