Here are some tips for parents to keep in mind when trying to work with kids who learn differently.
By Vikas Sharma
Dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and dyscalculia are some common learning disabilities that make life tough for kids at school. They have difficulty picking things up because their brain works differently. However, having a child with a learning disability does not make them any less intelligent from other kids their age. It simply means that they are eager to learn, but require a distinct approach to learning.
Fast-paced innovation in technology has made it easier for parents today to indulge in activities that can help their kids overcome such disabilities at an early age. Depending on the child, they can formulate tactics that will help them understand concepts better and learn faster. There are umpteen extracurricular and out-of-school activities that can help children with learning disabilities succeed beyond the regular learning environment.
Here are a few simple solutions that parents can keep in mind when trying to work with kids who learn differently.
Theatre/Drama
Not being able to perform as per others, can sometimes lead to frustration amongst kids. A kid with a learning disability needs a confidence-boost which makes them feel they are no less. Theatre and drama are one such activity that can help kids with dyslexia a lot. While reading scripts they are able to improve their reading fluency, vocabulary and reading accuracy, without finding it to be a burden. It is a creative outlet that lets them express their feelings in a much better way. It is also a fun environment to teach them interactive and social skills.
Learn by doing
Some kids are more hyperactive and impulsive than others. The usual chalk and board methods don’t seem to sustain their attention for long, owing to which they lag behind in class. Many people think this problem is incurable but there are solutions available that could stimulate the sensory system, improve learning by activating the gross motor function and also help break the ice by developing collaboration and teamwork amongst the children. One such example Step and Learn (Wizefloor). This is a supplement to classroom teaching that promotes collective and differentiated learning styles and needs through play and physical activity. From a projector in the ceiling, different learning games are projected onto the floor. The children use their hands and feet to interact with the floor allowing them to solve the games. Young children diagnosed with ADHD will find this activity a lot of fun as it retains their attention and focus longer than other things.
Interactive Learning
A child can take multiple paths to learn. You just need to find the right way. Children with autism curtail themselves from communicating and interacting. This doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn. It’s just they don’t want to engage themselves with others so often for it. But like any other problem, there is a solution to this as well. Parents, schools, and libraries around the world trust a simple and effective program Muzzy by BBC. Designed for children of all ages, this program works by teaching children through fun and animated stories featuring Muzzy and friends. These stories use the natural immersion method, which is modelled after the way children learn their first language. Extremely helpful for autistic children as it clears their concepts by the use of repetition and spiraling, which makes learning come naturally.
Personalised Learning
Every child is unique and so are their learning needs. This is why parents need to create a personalised learning path for their kid, which will enable them to know about their kids grasping power through a step by step analysis. Children with learning disabilities like dysgraphia or dyscalculia need a learning solution that tells them about their individual IQ, learning style, learning gaps, and proficiency. Artificial intelligence and adaptive learning are actually helping many overcome this bridge in more ways than one.
Voluntary Work
Voluntary work is an exceptionally interesting way of helping children overcome their learning disabilities. The more exposed they are to the world in terms of communication, the better they understand what’s happening around them and so more enhanced is their self-esteem.
Every child has its inherent potential, strengths, and weaknesses. Since teachers struggle with lack of time, they can only teach at one level to the entire class. With these methods, you can ensure that your doesn’t child lag behind.
(The writer is AVP-Marketing, Eupheus Learning.)
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