Supporting Children with Learning Disabilities

If your child has been diagnosed with learning disabilities, you are probably wondering how they will make it in school and other aspects of their lives. You should know, however, that their emotional wellbeing is more important than what they score in their classes, and that they need your support to overcome the overwhelming drawbacks they will face. As a parent, you should focus on how to improve the quality of their life by building their confidence and self-esteem. Here are some ways to deal with your child’s learning disabilities:

ENCOURAGE THEM

What will you do when your baby comes home crying hard after terribly failing a test that they studied very hard for? It is up to you to show them that everyone faces challenges in life, and that school is just one of them. Teach them to stay encouraged no matter what life throws at them, and they will never lose their self-confidence. Above all, let them know that you are always going to be there for them when they need you, and they that they can get all the support they need from you. Create a supportive environment for them. 

WATCH YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Communication skills are a delicate topic when it comes to children with learning disabilities. They tend to misunderstand many cues given in social contexts and misinterpret things that may be said to them. This makes them feel very vulnerable to attacks by both peers and adults, which is why as a parent, you should watch carefully how you communicate with them. You could remain firm while at the same time guiding them gently until they understand what you want them to. Being too harsh may hurt their feelings and distance you from them while being too soft-spoken may lead to outright disobedience and even arrogance.

RESEARCH

Most parents with children with learning disabilities find themselves running to therapists and experts for advice on how to support their children. It would, however, be more helpful to do your research and prepare yourself with as much knowledge as you can about the child’s condition. Dig into books and cruise the net until you find enough tools to equip yourself with. Make sure that you stay updated on any new trends or developments in the medical, technical and even social fields related to your child’s wellbeing. This way, you will never find yourself helpless in any situation where you need to help your child.

BE THEIR ADVOCATE

It is entirely up to you to ensure that our child gets the support that they need wherever they go. Make sure that their school knows about their condition and provides extra support to help them learn.

Conclusively, all children are a blessing. Children with learning disabilities only need a little more support and guidance to keep their esteem up in a world where other children seem superior to them. It is up to you as their parent to give them as much support as they need to have a normal childhood.