How to help a child who is struggling in school

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When children start to have difficulty in learning in school, it's very upsetting for their parents but there are a number of steps that you can take which are really positive and will really help your child. The first one is not to panic. It’s a natural reaction but I believe that if you want to ask the right questions, this is what is going to the root of the problem and help you develop solutions that will help your child and a parent is the child’s best advocate in this sense. When parents say to me, “How do I know if my kid has a learning problem?” I figure that if a parent thinks there’s something going on, there probably is. We’re pretty good judges of our own children. So, what I would suggest is first of all you go into school, you talk to the teacher and you find out exactly what it is that your child is having difficulty with. The second is you examine your own lifestyle at home. In fact, I recommend what I call brain cleaning which isn’t really a vacuum cleaner in your child’s brain but I believe that if you look through this child’s lifestyle and the things that are going on in his or her everyday life, you may find some issues that can be corrected and what automatically helps your child’s learning. The third is not to be so anxious and so obsess that you upset your child. Kids are very sensitive to their parent’s stress level and we want to keep our smile on our face and remember, this is the child that we love and your child is not a problem. You child may have a problem but your child is still your child and this is the child that you love and this is the child that you're going to be able to help

Video Categories: SPECIAL NEEDS, Special Needs Support, Getting a Special Needs Diagnosis, Learning Disabilities

How can you help your child who is struggling in school? Acclaimed educational psychologist Jane M. Healy, PhD offers help advice for parents of children who are consistently struggling in school and with academic lessons.

Transcript

Expert Bio

Jane M. Healy, PhD

Educational Psychologist

Jane Healy is a teacher and educational psychologist who has worked with all ages from pre-school to graduate school. Her major research interest has been in finding practical applications of current brain research for teachers and parents. A graduate of Smith College, she holds a MA from John Carroll University, a PhD from Case Western Reserve University, and post-doctoral work in developmental neuropsychology. She has served on the faculty of Cleveland State University. Her many years of experience include: parent, classroom teacher, reading/learning specialist, elementary administrator, and clinician. She is recognized internationally as an author, lecturer, and consultant. She has received international media coverage, including Nightline, Good Morning America, the Today Show, CNN and NPR, for her ideas about the impact of technology, media and culture on children's brain development and learning.

Although Jane has received many honors, including being twice named the "Educator of the Year" by Delta Kappa Gamma, she claims that she and her husband have learned most of what they know from the process of raising three sons (and now their six grandchildren).

Parenting expert on: Setting Limits, Setting Limits, Setting Limits, Anxiety and Depression

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