All children, no matter how old they may be, need support and encouragement and this is especially applicable for those that may be dealing with learning disabilities. With a positive attitude, parents can help them grow into young adults that have enhanced confidence, a strong sense of self-worth and grit that keeps them moving forward, even through challenging times.
If you have a child at home that has been diagnosed with a learning disability, there are certain things that you can do to support them, according to the psychology and counselling department of a leading school in Kolkata. Take a look at some tips to get started!
Tips for Parents to Help a Child with Learning Disabilities
Here are a few practical parenting tips to help children with learning disabilities become resilient and perform well in everything that they do.
- Learn About Their Disability
Schools in Kolkata encourage parents to learn as much as they can about their child’s learning disability. By doing so, you will be better equipped to understand your child’s needs and be able to efficiently guide them in the right direction. A great place to start is their school. You can speak to their teacher, a counsellor or other professionals and also conduct research on the web to know more about the disability.
- Focus on Their Strengths
Every child has things that they perform well in and ones that they may have more difficulty with compared to others. So, schools in Kolkata with special teachers recommend parents to find their child’s strengths while encouraging and helping them to learn how to efficiently use them. For instance, your child might be great at playing group sports such as cricket or football, or they may be skilled at singing and/or dancing, caring for animals or working with tools. By encouraging them, you will give them a chance to hone their skills and succeed at obstacles they may face.
- Don’t Try to Hide the Condition
There’s absolutely no need for parents to feel any shame regarding the difficulties that their child faces. And, hiding it from loved ones and their school teachers will do more harm than good in the long run as your child’s needs aren’t going to be met. In fact, it will only lead them to feel confused and they may also start resenting you and others around them. So, it’s a good idea to share the information with those around you and you may find that some well-wishers are ready to offer support to both you and your child.
- Help Them Develop Emotional and Social Skills
Learning disabilities, when combined with the challenges that children have to face as they grow up can make them angry and sad, leading them to feel even more withdrawn. So, our school in Kolkata recommends providing as much love and support to your child as you can. However, make sure that you also acknowledge the fact that learning is particularly difficult for them as their brain processes information and learns it in a different way than others. You can try to find teams or clubs with other activities that they can focus on that helps them have some fun while also helping them build friendships. Plus, taking part in such activities will boost confidence and they will also understand that competing isn’t just about playing and winning.
With the right support, children that think and learn differently can thrive and succeed. The quicker parents know what is going on with their child, the better equipped they will be to offer them the help and support that they require. Keep in mind that it’s necessary to talk to your child’s teacher and doctor regarding any concerns or questions that you may have about your child’s disability too.
