The lives of families all around the world have changed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
As the virus continues to spread, provinces continue to issue stay-at-home orders, pushing students to fall back on virtual learning.
This transition is difficult for a lot of students and adds even more stress to parents of children with attention and learning disabilities. Parents of students with learning disorders who are educated in real-time virtual settings or homeschooling spend great amounts of time assisting their children in their day-to-day learning.
This is a challenging task for parents, especially if they have busy work schedules. To make this task easier for both the parents and the children, we’re offering some tips for teaching children with learning disabilities in this article.
Have your Child Assessed & Educated
The first step in understanding how to help your child is by being fully knowledgeable about their learning disorder.
There are many resources available online that parents can use to read about their child’s learning, attention, and physical problems. As you read through online research, keep in mind that some of the information is solely based on opinion, so it’s crucial to make sure the information you rely on comes from reliable sources.
Another way to learn more about your child’s behaviour is to keep a journal with you at all times during homeschooling or virtual learning. Record the behaviour you see and try to include specific examples of their problems, strengths, and progress.
To fully understand your child’s learning disability, consider taking them to get a psychological evaluation. Getting a proper and detailed diagnosis will allow you to better cater to your child’s needs.
Finally, take some time to learn about the different teaching methods and curricula available, and which one would work for your child.
Develop Strengths and Compensate for Weaknesses
Each child has their own set of strengths and weaknesses.
Some children can be incredibly talented in drawing and writing, while others excel in mathematics. Finding out what your child is good at can be used to make their learning experience much more enjoyable and easy.
Provide your child with several opportunities throughout the day to participate in activities that would require them to express their strengths. Sandwiching the more difficult tasks between easier tasks will encourage the child to keep going and complete the work given to them.
For example, if your child has a natural strength in reading but hates doing math work, give them a short reading task, then ask them to do a couple math questions, finally finishing off with some more reading.
Use Available Resources and Technology
There are countless resources available online that help kids with attention and learning disorders – and parents who are in charge of their homeschooling.
For children struggling with reading, audiobooks and text-to-speech platforms are readily available nowadays. Parents can also use household items such as pencils, crayons, or building blocks to help demonstrate math problems.
Remember, technology is there for you to use. There are endless possibilities of what you can do, whether it’s simply adjusting the speed of a video or using a dictation software to help with spelling and writing.
Help Your Child with Waystone Psychology
Children with attention and learning disabilities require extra help when it comes to academics, especially if they’re learning virtually or in homeschooling situations.
Unsure how to help your child get back on track with their learning? At Waystone Psychology we are here to help you help your child.
To ensure you’re getting the best care for your son or daughter, we can assess your child’s learning issues and create customized learning strategies that fit their needs.
Book an appointment today and take the first step in helping your child with Waystone Psychology.