How to Nurture Learning Disabled Students

Learning disabilities can be overcome, if a parent is patient and willing to work with their child. Follow these steps to help your children succeed and live happy lives.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Seek professional help. Depending on the type of disorder, have your child evaluated by a specialist. This may include (but is not limited to) speech pathologists, psychologists, occupational therapists and special education teachers.
   
   

2. Discuss your child’s disability with their teacher before the school year. Discuss the teacher’s expectations and teaching style along with some suggestions to help your child succeed. Keep the lines of communication open throughout the school year regarding your child’s progress, challenges and possible modifications that may be available.

3. Find ways to help your child stay organized. Organizational skills are usually compromised in children with learning disorders making school work a nightmare. Devising a simple and effective system will put them in the best position for success. For instance, a three ring binder that holds all of their school work will enable them to keep everything in one place and lessen the chance of losing assignments.

4. Encourage good self care skills. Sometimes children with learning disorders have poor personal hygiene leading to social isolation and rejection. Use discreet cues to help them become aware or self care issues. For example a picture schedule of your child’s morning routine may enable them to brush their teeth without being reminded.

5. Discuss social norms with your child to help them fit in with other children. If your child is able to comprehend social appropriate behavior, begin to teach them peer conformity regarding clothes, hairstyles and trends. Your job is to help your child blend in with their peers and not to stand out.

6. Encourage your child to get involved. Many children with learning disabilities have difficulties with social situations. Prepare them by discussing any new event before hand in detail along with getting them familiar with their surrounding. In addition seek out the parent in charge prior to the activity to discus your child’s specific social needs.

7. Formulate a system of tactful cues to help them become aware of socially offensive behaviors. For instance interrupting others, over-persisting on a topic or becoming too excitable are not tolerated in most social settings. Therefore, devise a signal (such as touching your nose) that will communicate to them when they are displaying such behaviors.

8. Know your child’s limits. Children with learning disorders may appear lazy or aggressive when asked to perform seemingly simple tasks. This behavior is usually an indication that the activity is too difficult for them. Modify the task by helping them through it until they gain the confidence and skill to perform it on their own.