Learn How To Support Good Emotional Health In Children With Learning Disabilities

We are constantly learning new things about learning disabilities in children. As society has evolved, it has become clearer that we have to adapt content and teaching styles for children with learning disabilities.

That is why schools have started to receive support. They usually have specialists in both special education and hearing and language. But even with all these advances, we still neglect a fundamental aspect.

This aspect is the emotional health of children with learning disabilities. So now the question is: what can you do to support them and make sure they do not feel stigmatized?

How do children with learning disabilities feel?

It is very common for children with learning disabilities to experience emotional discomfort due to their disability. These feelings can range from frustration and sadness to anxiety. Of course, do not forget that these emotional problems occur in all children.

But how can parents see if their children are experiencing this discomfort? There are many warning lights you can look for. It is always possible that the emotions we just mentioned will appear, especially in school-related situations. They can express them in different ways: crying, worry, headache, abdominal pain and acting out, for example.

Having learning difficulties does not mean that you are less intelligent

The emotions we mentioned above can have many different causes. One of them is that children with learning disabilities often think they are “stupider” than other children. It is extremely important for parents to help them work through these thoughts, because they are not true.

On the one hand, parents must explain (clearly and at an understandable level to their children) what learning difficulties are. Their children should have a clear understanding that it has nothing to do with how intelligent they are.

Parents must also convey that their learning difficulties do not make them less valuable. The people around them will not love them any less.

This last part is very important. If children see that their parents do not take the diagnosis well, they will feel that something is wrong with them. Parents must take control and always have a positive attitude towards their children.

Am I different because I have learning difficulties?

As you grow older, you begin to understand that everyone is just who they are. In psychology, we call this concept “individual differences.” But when you are younger, all you want is to be like the other kids. Or at least, if you’re different, you do not want it to be a bad thing. That is why it is so important to come in and help your children understand the background and impact of this that they feel makes them different.

If you want to help them here, make sure they also get attention when they are right. Not just when they make mistakes because of their learning disabilities.

Because no matter how good your intentions are, it does not help to focus only on their mistakes. Therefore, it is important to make an effort to give them positive recognition when they do something right.

Finally, find out if your child’s support system and adapted curriculum work for them. There may be a need to adjust these things due to any emotional and social changes. In that case , parents and teachers must work together to give the child the absolute best.

All this effort wears me out: Overloaded children with learning disabilities

Do not forget that children with disabilities usually have to spend more time and effort on their homework. All this extra concentration can make them frustrated and angry, so it is important for parents to help them work through it.

It can also be very motivating and productive for them to work on smaller, simpler tasks where they have the opportunity to achieve the goals. That way, they will feel like they are moving forward, instead of looking up at an impossibly high mountain. This simple step is very basic.

Before we end, we want to mention one thing that will have a big impact on the emotional well-being of children with learning disabilities:  find something they are good at.  An activity or sport that they enjoy, which makes them feel happy. Having learning disabilities can affect children emotionally, but you have the strength to help them feel better about themselves.

Photos by Ben White, Michal Parzuchowski, and Element 5 Digital.