How to Help a Child Who Has a Learning Disability Succeed in School

Success in the classroom is the biggest challenge for children with learning disabilities. Help your child succeed by teaching skills at home that your student can apply in the classroom.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• School Folders
• Child's Backpack
• Dictionaries
• Calculators
• Index Cards
• Pencil Cases
• Spiral Notebooks
• Computers
• Backpacks

1. Talk to your child about the learning disability. Discuss openly exactly where he or she is having trouble and what steps you will take together to overcome it. Involve your child in the special education process as much as possible.
2. Involve yourself in his education. Go to meetings and school events. Follow your student's academic progress, and actively participate in setting up your student's individual education plan. Consult with your child and his or her teacher about class work and projects.
3. Learn what modifications help your student academically. Try things such as calculators, computers or word processors, books on tape and tutors. Ask your child's teacher for ideas to try at home and offer your child's teacher your ideas as well.
4. Follow a schedule. Following morning and evening routine will create clear expectations for your child whether getting ready for school or bed. Establish routines for getting ready for school as well as for chores and homework.
5. Teach your child how to organize. Designate special book bags for different activities, and appoint a special place in the house to keep them. Color coordinate subjects and supplies such as folders, pens and note cards. Create checklists for homework or daily chores.
6. Allow your child to make decisions. Teach him or her how to analyze a problem by posing choices, using everything from food and snacks to daily or family activities.
7. Create reward systems at home for chores, behavior or school progress. Keep track of a target area that needs improvement. Decide on target areas as a family and rewards and/or consequences to reinforce the behavior.

Tips & Warnings

• Join parent clubs that your child can interact in as well.
• Sponsor or coach a club or an organization that your child can be a part of.
• Participate in school functions and field trips.
• Discuss social situations you see or watch on TV.
• Teach your child good grooming and discuss hygiene.
• Praise your child often.
• Find information on how to effectively parent your child with special needs if you experience extreme frustration dealing with your student.