LearningRx Reston Blog

Gratitude impacts your brain at a biological level, and its implications are far-reaching for your ability to think and function on a daily basis. Studies continue to find that regular practices of thankfulness (not just during Thanksgiving) have long-lasting effects on your mood, brain, and body! Here are a Few Ways Gratitude Impacts Your Brain: ...

As the weather cools down and people are drawn inside, jigsaw puzzles are a great option to engage with your family and build some brain skills! Beyond being a calming, stress-relieving activity, here are 5 benefits of jigsaw puzzles for your brain: Puzzles engage both the left and right sides of your brain for better ...

Estimates predict that up to 1 in 5 students has some form of learning challenge, including specific learning disabilities like dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia. So what are these learning disabilities really (and what can you do to support your child’s learning after a diagnosis)? Specific Learning Disorder Experts use the term “specific learning disorder” to ...

Did you know that dyslexia affects 5-15% of all Americans? That’s somewhere between 14.5-43.5 million people in the U.S. alone. This common diagnosis is often thrown around in conversations among parents when kids reverse letters or struggle with reading, but do you really understand what it is? What Is Dyslexia Really? Dyslexia isn’t just letter ...

Working memory is a critical learning skill that helps kids take in and process information effectively. It’s like your mental “bucket” that holds onto information long enough to either apply it or store it for later recall. But for many kids (and adults), it’s like this bucket has holes in it. Bits and pieces slip ...

We all want to feel sharp, energized, and healthy as we get older. However, with conditions like dementia on the rise, it can be hard to know what the future holds. While there is no one “miracle” way to reduce risk of dementia, here are some tips that research shows to be effective: #1: Skip ...

When you think of learning to read, what comes to mind? Likely it is one of two things: phonics or sight words (or maybe something of a combination). These 2 main approaches have been at war for decades. New research published as the Science of Reading shows a clear winner: kids need strong phonological processing ...

Mentally strong kids are confident in their own worth and value and are not as easily swayed by peer pressure, hard circumstances, or failures. Instead of succumbing to negative thoughts, mentally strong kids are resilient and able to see the big picture of what really matters. Raising mentally strong kids can seem daunting. Different personalities, ...

When do you get reading help for your child who is struggling, and when do you give it more time? This is a question that comes up often in our conversations with families. You don’t want to rush your child into a skill they aren’t mature enough to master, but you also don’t want to ...

If your kids complain about being bored, you may be tempted to sign them up for more activities and to fill their schedules with things that will keep them busy. But the reality is that boredom is a powerful growth point that kids need to get comfortable with! Making boredom more normal is important for ...