Is your child struggling at school? You’re not alone. Here’s how you can gently support your child through some common learning difficulties.
We all want the very best for our children. We want to see them thrive at school, build confidence and enjoy learning. Sometimes, the opposite keeps happening despite our child’s (and our) best efforts. School becomes an uphill climb, with resistance from your child becoming an everyday battle.
If your child is struggling with reading, writing, maths or even with focus and organisation, it might be more than just a “bad day”. It could be a sign of a learning difficulty.
Learning disabilities are far more common than many parents realise. And while the word “disability” can sound daunting, it doesn’t mean your child isn’t bright or capable. In fact, children with specific learning disorders often have incredible strengths; they just learn in different ways.
Here we’ll explore seven of the most common learning difficulties kids face, what they might look like day-to-day and how you, along with teachers, health professionals and support services, can help your child find their way forward.
1. Dyslexia: Struggles with reading and writing
One of the most recognised specific learning disabilities, dyslexia, affects how a child’s learning brain processes written words. A child with dyslexia might mix up letters, struggle to sound out words or take longer than classmates to read aloud.
Signs:
Your child may avoid reading homework or complain that “the words keep moving around on the page”.
How to support:
- Work closely with your child’s teacher and school to establish an individualised education plan.
- Ask about extra support, such as a reading specialist or support staff who can break down reading tasks into smaller steps.
- Celebrate your child’s strengths, such as creativity, storytelling or problem-solving.
- At home, keep reading fun by listening to audiobooks together or taking turns reading aloud.
2. Dysgraphia: Writing and fine motor skills issues
If your child struggles with handwriting, spelling or putting thoughts on paper, they may have dysgraphia. This isn’t just “messy handwriting”, it’s a learning difficulty connected to motor control and written expression.
Signs:
Difficulty forming letters, holding a pencil or organising sentences.
How to support:
- Ask the school about access to occupational therapy to strengthen fine motor skills.
- Use assistive technology like speech-to-text tools to give your child a break from handwriting when needed.
- Provide positive reinforcement for effort, not just neatness.
3. Dyscalculia: Maths challenges
Some students find numbers confusing or overwhelming. Dyscalculia, sometimes called “maths dyslexia”, affects a child’s learning when it comes to basic arithmetic, understanding maths symbols or remembering number facts.
Signs:
Mixing up numbers, struggling with times tables or difficulty telling the time.
How to support:
- Encourage smaller steps when learning maths concepts, helping to break problems down.
- Use visual aids, games or real-life examples, such as cooking, to practise measuring and counting.
- Ask your child’s teacher about extra time on maths assessments.
4. ADHD: Attention and focus
While not always classed as a traditional specific learning disorder, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) often impacts a child’s progress at school. A child with ADHD may be full of energy, easily distracted or find it hard to sit still long enough to finish a task. This can often occur with younger children who have a stressful home environment and who eat a lot of high-sugar foods. It’s important, before jumping to getting a diagnosis, to ensure that you make every possible effort to provide your child with a thriving, nurturing, safe and healthy home environment, including the foods that will really help them develop, not just taste nice.
Signs:
Your child might start their homework but get up five times before it’s done or forget instructions halfway through.
How to support:
- Create a calm learning environment with minimal distractions at home.
- Break homework into smaller steps with plenty of breaks.
- Ask the school about support services, such as a teacher aide or flexible classroom strategies.
- Celebrate your child’s strengths, like creativity, humour or a strong sense of curiosity.
5. Auditory processing disorder: Trouble understanding sounds
Some children hear perfectly well, but their brains struggle to process what they’re hearing. This can make following verbal instructions or understanding speech in noisy places very difficult.
Signs:
Your child often says “What?” or “Huh?” or seems to ignore you, but they aren’t being rude.
How to support:
- Ask your child’s school about classroom adjustments, like sitting at the front or having instructions repeated.
- Use visual aids at home, like charts, checklists or written reminders.
- Give instructions one step at a time, in clear, simple language.
6. Non-verbal learning disorder: Social and life skills
Children with non-verbal learning disorders (NLD) may excel with words but struggle with non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, tone or body language. This can affect friendships and social skills.
Signs:
Your child might talk constantly but struggle to join group play at school.
How to support:
- Role-play social situations at home to practise responses.
- Encourage activities that develop life skills, such as cooking, teamwork or problem-solving.
- Collaborate with teachers to ensure your child receives support in group settings.
7. Dyspraxia: Coordination and movement
Dyspraxia affects movement and coordination, making everyday things like tying shoelaces, using scissors or participating in sports especially challenging.
Signs:
Your child may seem clumsy, avoid physical activities or struggle with balance.
How to support:
- Speak with a health professional or occupational therapy service to strengthen motor skills.
- Encourage your child to try new activities with patience and positive reinforcement.
- Remember that progress takes hard work and plenty of practise, but even smaller steps are wins worth celebrating.
How parents can advocate for their child
Finding out your child has a learning difficulty can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Here’s how you can help your child get the right support:
- Talk to your child’s school. They see your child daily and can share insights into your child’s learning process.
- Request an assessment. Schools often work with psychologists or health professionals to identify specific learning disabilities.
- Know your rights. In Australia, there are educational policies such as the Disability Discrimination Act that ensure children with special needs are entitled to inclusive education and additional support.
- Ask about support services. Many schools have access to aides, therapy and extra support programs.
- Focus on your child’s strengths. Every child has unique talents; remind them that learning differently does not mean being less capable. Most children with learning difficulties in one area are brilliant in other areas. Try to think of new ideas for discovering your child’s strengths, rather than focusing solely on their challenges.
The bottom line
Your child’s learning journey may take extra time or look different from that of their peers, but that doesn’t make it any less valuable. With the right learning environment, loving encouragement and support services, your child can thrive. Academic struggles, while they can be very challenging, are not the worst things your child could be facing. Instead of trying to force them into an academic mould when it’s obviously not their passion or skill set, direct them towards what they are truly amazing at and harness their energy into something meaningful and purposeful that might be a lot more hands-on than computers, tests and numbers.
Your child’s needs for safety, love, connection, and a healthy diet and exercise are all very important aspects. To ensure your child’s progress is moving forward, it’s important to make every effort to give them a safe and healthy environment, rather than jumping straight to the assumption that they have a learning difficulty.
If your child already has everything they need and there is a learning difficulty, then there are numerous options for support for both you and your child. Remember you are not alone in this. Many parents walk this road and while it may feel daunting, it is also filled with incredible moments of resilience and growth.
Read next: 3 things to do differently to ensure your child achieves academic excellence
