Look out for the Warning Signs of Learning Struggles

Being aware of learning struggles that might hinder academic progress is key to getting a good start this school year. Recognizing the warning signs early on can make all the difference for your child’s ability to not just like school, but also excel at school. By supporting your child at the first sign of struggle, you can set them up for a confident and successful school year.

Hating School or Avoiding Homework

One of the most obvious warning signs of learning struggles is when a child expresses a strong dislike for school or consistently tries to avoid doing schoolwork. A persistent aversion to school work could indicate deeper issues. It’s important for parents and teachers to investigate the underlying causes, such as difficulty understanding the material, feeling overwhelmed, or experiencing bullying or social challenges. Be aware of all these possibilities.

Lack of Reading or Math Progress

Reading and math skills are fundamental to a child’s academic success. If a child consistently lags behind their peers in these areas, it may be a sign of bigger problems. Struggling with basic phonics, reading comprehension, or number concepts could indicate a need for additional support or intervention. A good reading and math foundation is so important for school success.

Instead of letting them flounder, take steps to find out why they’re struggling. Step in and step up to find out why and provide support. Read more about our reading program here.

Is it Organizational or Poor Time Management Contributing to Learning Struggles

Disorganization and poor time management skills can significantly impact a student’s ability to succeed academically. If a child consistently loses assignments, forgets deadlines, or struggles to prioritize tasks, it’s an indication of poor executive function and forethought.

Weak organizational skills or difficulties with planning and time estimation impact every area of life. Breaking tasks into smaller steps, and using visual aids can be beneficial in supporting these students. Long-term support relies on building up these skills in the brain so the root cause of the issue can be addressed.

“Fight, Flight, or Freeze” in Kids – Stress Responses to Learning Struggles

When confronted with challenging tasks or situations, kids may exhibit stress responses, commonly known as the “fight, flight, or freeze” response. These responses can manifest as:

If your child has these learning struggles, it’s not just a behavior problem. It’s a signal that their brain is stressed out, and they don’t know how to pull themselves out of it. While mindfulness, stress management strategies, and positivity can help address these concerns, it’s important to look for ways to build your child’s resilience as well.

One of the things you can do to expand your child’s ability to handle stress in learning environments is to strengthen their cognitive skills.

When their brain can adequately process the world around them, learning struggles become less burdensome and overwhelming.

What to Do When You Notice Learning Struggles

At the first signs of learning struggles, you may jump immediately to asking what accommodations you can put in place for your child. While these can help temporarily, they are not a long-term solution to fixing the reason WHY your kids are struggling.

Getting an inside look into your child’s brain is a critical starting point when you notice warning signs of learning struggles. This will allow you to find the “why” AND a clear direction to help them overcome.

LearningRx assessments tell us where to start with training, so we begin where resources are most needed. Our approach is a cognitive approach, not a tutoring type of memorization. Take a look around our website to learn about our Brain Training Program. Take this first step with an assessment here.