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Helping Young Children with Learning Disabilities Have an Equal Chance at Sucess

How well your child can learn and process various information determines their development during childhood. And while children with learning disabilities may seem to be at a disadvantage, through hard work, and the right motivation, they can overcome their challenges. In that respect, all children have an equal chance at success. With the right perspective, guidance, support and love, children faced with challenges will have the ability and self-confidence to build a solid foundation to pursue, and enjoy, a healthy happy life.

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Create a Loving Environment

All children require love and support from their parents and children with disabilities are no different. If anything, because of their challenges, they need even more affection to satisfy their need for attention and reassurance. With tangible displays of love, through healthy communication, touch, kisses and hugs, parents will reflect a strong level of importance their child holds in their life. A loving environment will focus their attention away from their problems and encourage them to engage in endeavors of a normal life, motivate them to learn and boost their self-confidence as well.

Personality That Defines Them

Kids with learning disabilities can easily associate with their problem, so it is important parents take every step not to let it represent who they are. Appreciating kids’ interests, dreams, and goals, will build up their character making their personality the thing that defines them. Still, kids need to be aware of the problems they face, as not to foster a false sense of reality. Yes, they are not able to absorb information as quickly as other children, but recognizing their individuality and unique perspective will drive them to work harder in reaching their full potential.

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Provide Them with Structure

As do other kids, children with learning disabilities need structure and discipline that can effectively aid in their development. The challenges they face should not be viewed as an excuse, so make sure to stand back and let them do the work. Provide them with problems and stimulate them to use their resources to find the solutions on their own. Also, teach kids to set up daily and long-term goals to guide their endeavors. Incorporate activities that are engaging, and refine both their cognitive and motor skills, and then create a weekly routine. Once they adopt this structured approach, together with self-reliance, they will have the ability resolve problems and overcome difficulties on their own – which is ultimately going to help them in the long-run.

Seek Professional Help Early on

Because children with learning disabilities need more attention, they need the extra work put in into their education. Even if you are a stay-at-home parent, enrolling kids into professional preschool services as soon as possible, can be beneficial to their upbringing. Working together with teachers, you can explore the various learning methods (auditory, visual and kinesthetic) to find the ideal one for your child. With their support, you can create an alternative educational plan, tailor-made to meet their needs. Also, they will have a chance to develop their communication skills by interacting and playing with other children, which can also have a healthy impact on their social awareness.

Stressed Schoolboy Studying In Classroom With Teacher

Encourage Their Unique Learning Style

Once you know the best way your child acquires new information and skills, incorporate and encourage that learning style at home. For visual learners, use picture books, inspire them to draw and make colorful notes in class. Auditory learners might be more attuned with a song, reading out loud, listening to you read, or even recordings. Kinesthetic learners are all about movement and the use of hands and feet. Include physically active games during learning, role-playing, or encourage hobbies that make use of hands as well as the subject matter. Whatever method is best suited for your child, make sure you include yourself during study time and are creative in your approach.

Most importantly, you need to understand that academic performance comes second to success in life. Reward and cherish achievements like healthy self-esteem, creating relationships, self-reliance, emotional growth, acquisition of skills and the determination to keep trying to overcome challenges. These may not be graded on tests at schools, but will help your child realize their dreams and achieve happiness in life.

 

Tracey Clayton
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Tracey Clayton is a full time mom of three girls. She feels she knows a thing or two about raising happy, healthy and confident kids, and offers helpful advice in hers parenting articles. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live.” Find her on Facebook.

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