How to Help Slow-Learning Children

How Can I Help My Slow-Learning Child?

Identify the Problem

Your child may be learning slowly because he or she has a learning disability. Meet with your child's teacher to discuss your concerns and formulate a new learning plan. Many schools provide extra help before or after school and have resource teachers for struggling students. It might even be necessary to place your child into a different learning program or even school more suited to his or her needs.

You can also seek help outside of school. Consider bringing your child to a child psychologist or learning expert who can help you decide what needs to be done. In order to give your child the help that he or she needs, it's important to first figure out why your child is having difficulty. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is one resource of many that can provide you with information.

Help Your Child at Home

You can help your child by providing fun enrichment activities at home. Many children learn well with hands-on activities but are often given worksheets in school. A variety of websites have learning games and activities you can present to your child.

Another way to help your struggling child is to present information in a new way. Explain the concept in a different way than the textbook. The new phrasing may help your child understand the material. Alternatively, look for videos that address the subject. Be actively engaged in your child's education by having frequent conversations throughout week, asking about new things that he or she has learned.

Don't forget to provide your child with a positive, calm atmosphere at home. Create a workspace for your child and set a schedule. Maintaining a routine at home so that your child can study and do homework at the same time each day is important.

Math and Reading Help

If your child is struggling with memorizing math facts, you can help him or her practice every day. For example, it's often effective to practice addition or subtraction with small candies or toys. If your child is learning multiplication, try using flash cards to increase speed and build comprehension through repetition. The U.S. Department of Education can provide you with a long list of other activities you can do at home to help your child learn math.

If your child needs help with reading comprehension, engage him or her in discussions about books. Choose a book that the whole family can read together. You can discuss the book at mealtimes and craft fun activities around it. For example, if you read James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, you could make a peach pie.