While most schools provide students with online help and educational materials, it can be challenging for children to adjust to this new transition, making it much more difficult for parents of children with attention and learning issues.
Parents of students with disabilities who are educated in full-time virtual settings spend more time supporting their child’s day-to-day online learning than parents of students in blended settings, according to the Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities, despite the fact that few parents report having expertise in providing special education services.
This can be a challenging assignment for parents, so the academic writing book team has put together some ideas for parents who are helping their children with learning challenges and attention issues learn at home.
Consult your child’s teacher and/or the education team:
Your child’s teacher is an expert on how children learn and can provide vital suggestions on what works well and how the curriculum might be improved. We recommend that parents check-in with their child’s teacher and ask the following questions:
- What tactics have shown to be effective with their child?
- What is the level of parental participation expected?
- Is there anything that can be done to make things easier?
During this period, your child has the legal right to a proper education. Request a virtual appointment with the education team if your kid has a 504 plan or an IEP to determine what services, accommodations, or modifications can be offered remotely. Ask the team to document the requirement and prepare for compensation at a later date if specific services cannot be provided at this moment.
Make a learning environment:
Make a learning environment for your youngster. For the first time, family members from home often find that it is tough to be equally effective at home with the additional distractions.
During this period, your child has the legal right to a proper education. Request a virtual appointment with the education team if your kid has a 504 plan or an IEP to determine what services, accommodations, or modifications can be define remotely. Ask the team to document the requirement and prepare for compensation at a later date if specific services cannot be provided at this moment.
Make a learning environment:
Make a learning environment for your youngster. Parents who are working from home for the first time may be shock that the added distractions make it difficult to be as effective at home.
While adolescents’ schedules can be not similar (for example, starting later), we recommend that parents maintain their child’s schedule consistent and have the same bedtime every night, especially on weekends. Routines can also be balance with the use of visual schedules. Timers and alarm clocks might help you remember to log into your online lessons. Schedule movement/exercise breaks, and make sure to alternate between preferred and non-preferred activities.
Make use of the technology at hand:
There are numerous free technological resources available for children with attention and learning issues. Audiobooks and text-to-speech software are widely available if your child has difficulty reading.
If your youngster has trouble with spelling or handwriting, graphic organizers and dictation software may be of assistance. To assist with math, utilize common household items as manipulatives (e.g., crayons, coins). Finally, take advantage of technology by changing the speed of videos, enabling closed captioning, and suggesting multiple response styles.
Maintain a cheerful attitude and moderate your expectations:
Small successes should be enjoy. Did your child, for example, take two online classes instead of simply one? If that’s the case, that’s fantastic! Focus on the positive aspects of your child’s behavior and “catch” them doing something excellent by giving them immediate, labeled praise.
Always keep in mind that you are first and foremost a parent. Attempt to avoid causing family strife as a result of academic challenges.
Encourage caregiver self-care: Caregivers often neglect their own needs in order to aid their children, but this can lead to stress and burnout. As a result, they may be unable to assist their youngsters as effectively as they would like.
Obtain an evaluation for your child:
Learn about the specific needs of your child. Read up on the academic, attention, and physical concerns that your child appears to be experiencing. The library is a fantastic place to start, but be wary of fads, opinions, and “cure” suggestions.
With a fair dose of skepticism, read this. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and the National Home Education Network (NHEN) all include special needs pages on their websites, and HEAV’s Virginia Homeschool Manual has an entire section dedicated to special-needs kids. Attention Deficit Disorder and Learning Disabilities by Ingersoll and Goldstein and Larry Silver’s The Misunderstood Child are also helpful. Also, consult your child’s pediatrician.
Maintain a journal on the child’s behavior, including specific examples of difficulties, progress, and strengths. This journal will come in handy later. Keep a few work samples on hand to demonstrate your accomplishments and challenges.
Comprehensive health examination
A comprehensive health examination is must for your youngster. Other illnesses that resemble Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or learning impairments (LD) require different treatments, such as moderate autism, depression, sleep deprivation, Tourette’s Syndrome, and bipolar disorder. Your youngster may have a mix.
Is your youngster in need of a psychological assessment? What is your doctor’s opinion? Has the issue persisted over a period of time and in a variety of settings? Is the child at least seven years old and still having significant academic difficulties? Some parents are apprehensive about having their child assess and “labeled” by a psychologist. A diagnosis, on the other hand, is only significant if you make it so.
These are complex circumstances. You’ll be tempted to diagnose your child yourself once you start reading about learning and attention disparities. (As well as to diagnose yourself!) Professionals have seen hundreds of children and better understand what is normal and what is not. While you know your child best, they have seen hundreds of children and better understand what is normal and what is not.
