Parenting a Child with Learning Differences: Resources and Support
Parenting is a journey filled with joys and challenges, and when your child has learning differences, the journey can feel even more complex. As parents, you play a crucial role in providing the support and resources your child needs to thrive academically and emotionally. In this blog post, we'll explore valuable resources, practical tips, and emotional guidance to help you navigate the unique path of parenting a child with learning differences.
Understanding Learning Differences:
Learning differences refer to variations in how children process information and learn. These differences can affect areas such as reading, writing, math, and attention.
Valuable Resources for Parents:
Educational Specialists: Typically collaborate with teachers and other school personnel to create an individualized learning plan tailored to your child's needs.
Supportive Organizations: Connect with organizations that focus on family support and/or advocacy for individuals with special needs. Here in Virginia, some examples include the Disability Law Center of Virginia and Virginia Family Special Education Connection.
Online Platforms: Utilize online platforms that offer educational tools, learning apps, and resources designed for children with diverse learning needs. Digital Promise keeps a comprehensive list of resources for your review.
Practical Tips for Empowering Your Child:
Focus on Strengths: Encourage your child to explore their interests and talents, building their self-esteem and self-confidence.
Think about scaffolding: When working on new, or difficult tasks, think about how to create structure in which your child can be successful in completing a small part of the entire task and build up from there.
DO Sweat the Small Stuff: Celebrate small victories and progress, fostering a sense of accomplishment.
Emotional Support for Parents:
Seek Counseling: Consider counseling or therapy to navigate the emotional challenges that come with parenting a child with learning differences.
Parent Support Groups: Connect with other parents facing similar challenges to share experiences and strategies.
Self-Care: Prioritize self-care to manage stress and ensure you have the emotional capacity to support your child effectively. Consider connecting with your local disability agency to find out if respite services are possible.
In conclusion, parenting a child with learning differences is a journey that requires dedication, resilience, and a willingness to seek out resources and support. We hope that the information here can help you, even in some small way, in connecting with supportive resources, prioritizing emotional well-being, and providing the nurturing environment your child needs to thrive academically and emotionally.
Hi, I’m Dr. Shauna Lynne.
Before founding Newbridge Therapy Center, I earned a Master's degree in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania and Masters and Doctoral degrees in School Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. Following graduation, I provided outpatient therapy services to children and their families in the Pediatric Developmental Disabilities Clinic at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD, first as a doctoral intern, then as a postdoctoral fellow, and finally as a licensed psychologist.
