What can parents do?

Press, 19 October 1976, Page 21

What can parents do?

Although it takes an extensive battery of tests to diagnose accurately the areas of disfunction, parents can be alerted to the problem at its early stages if any combination of these signs is present Difficulty with abstract thinking. Left-right confusion. Reversals in numbers or letters. Poor judgment of size or space. General awkwardness and poor co-ordination. Difficulqv in following directions. " Poor performance in one or more school subjects. Hyperactivity and poor concentration.

There are a number of things parents should do. Read to your child regularly. This will keep his general Knowledge good. Tape record his assignments so he can play them later. Work constantly to expand his vocabulary. Define words constantly. You may be dismayed by his difficulty but don’t led him see it. Reduce TV watching. Good watchers never become good readers. Teach him the habit of success. Give him tasks at which he can succeed and compliment him profusely. Believe in him. Believe that he can learn and he will.

Have plenty of physical contact with him. Some children with specific learning difficulties feel very strongly that they do not deserve love. Have a positive attitude towards the school and its teachers. That will help keep him there. But do not tease him; yell at him; destroy his will to achieve; complain about the quality of his reading. Do not dream of changing your nice little child with average intelligence into a brilliant physicist, doctor or scholar. But do believe he can do well at school.