Throughout their school years, children who face learning difficulties are surrounded by many people who look after their needs, such as parents, teachers, private tutors, and special education teams.
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But once secondary school ends, they will have to rely on themselves to determine what they need in order to succeed, and how to obtain it.
Teach your child to advocate for their own needs
To help children take control of their educational journey, it's essential to develop some important skills. Among them: feeling competent and comfortable with themselves, accepting their weaknesses while building on their strengths, and using the resources available to them effectively. These students also need to understand what it means to have a learning difference or difficulty, and how to successfully express and communicate their educational needs.
The key is helping students find a comfortable way to explain the difficulty they face in learning. A child should be able to tell their teacher what kind of problem they're having and what they need in order to participate and learn.
Communication is hard for these children
Some children with learning differences may be impulsive in how they speak or in their tone of voice. Others may take phrases very literally, or find it difficult to understand another person's point of view. It is therefore essential to talk with them about the impact of how they communicate, the difference between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication, and the importance of body language and timing. The best way to reinforce these skills is to practice them in the classroom, and to ask students to record observations about their interactions outside school.
When can parents begin explaining learning differences?
When a child reaches second grade, they may realize, for example, that they are the only one in class struggling to learn to read. While many parents want to shield their children from becoming aware of such matters, it's important for the child to know that their educational needs differ from those of their classmates.
In any case, and before your child undergoes an assessment, you can tell them that you'll take them to meet someone who can help them understand why they're having difficulty with reading. Afterward, explain the results in simple terms, making clear that everyone needs different ways to learn, and that there are now methods that can be used to help them learn better.
By fifth grade, children can grasp the idea
By fifth grade, children become able to understand that people may face different learning difficulties, and to recognize the correct terms used to describe them, such as dyslexia, for example. However, the language used should remain simple, and it's best to offer mental images that help them understand, such as describing the brain as a filing cabinet full of information, and for children with certain learning disorders, finding the right file simply takes longer.
As students begin to understand their weaknesses, we must also focus on their strengths. Many of them believe that if they're not good at reading, for example, it means they're not good at anything. So we should discover the areas where they excel, whether in art, science, sports, or elsewhere.
When are children ready to take responsibility?
In secondary school, students should begin handling their affairs themselves, an important step on their path toward adulthood and independence. By the time they reach university, they should be comfortable requesting the resources and help they need. Students who learn to talk about their needs and advocate for themselves learn a lesson whose impact extends far beyond the classroom, becoming a skill that serves them throughout their lives.
