Navigating learning challenges in a society that places immense value on academic achievement is like trying to climb a mountain with weights strapped to your ankles. The pressure to excel can be overwhelming for students facing learning difficulties.
With the demands of having to keep up with the academic expectations, students may feel that they are falling short of expectations. What may seem like simple tasks, like reading aloud and solving Math problems can often leave students with learning differences feeling frustrated and defeated. They hesitate to ask for help or speak about their struggles for fear of being labelled as “slow” or “lazy”.
In addition, the constant cycle of studying, testing, and feeling disappointed in their academic performance can take a toll on the self-esteem and mental well-being on the long run.
Hence, children with learning challenges may experience emotions of:
Children facing learning difficulties may encounter anxiety stemming from academic performance, social interactions, and apprehension about failure. They harbour worries about fitting in, meeting expectations, and potentially disappointing their parents.
Consistent challenges with no or little progress can impact a child's confidence. This may lead them to form negative beliefs about their abilities and intelligence, fostering feelings of self-doubt.
Children experiencing learning difficulties might feel ashamed when they make errors or need extra assistance. They may fear comparisons, judgment, or teasing from others.
Children grappling with learning difficulties may experience a sense of disconnection from their peers, a feeling of being misunderstood by adults, and challenges fully engaging in classroom activities or social gatherings.
Certain children facing learning difficulties might experience frustration due to the constant challenges they encounter, occasionally leading to meltdowns. They may harbour feelings of anger or resentment towards themselves, their parents, teachers, or peers, particularly those who appear to excel academically or socially more easily.
Understanding the learning difficulties of their children can be challenging for parents. While it’s natural to feel overwhelmed when supporting a child with learning needs, it’s equally important to recognize that children are vulnerable and experience their own stress while coping with their challenges.
Therefore, parents should be vigilant for various signs that may indicate learning difficulties in children such as struggles in academic tasks such as reading, writing, Math and understanding instructions; deficits in attention; language disorders; executive functioning challenges, social communication difficulties, and developmental co-ordination issues.
For the well-being of their children, it is important to create a supportive and nurturing atmosphere that offers words of
encouragement and reassurance. Assisting children in developing effective coping mechanisms can profoundly impact their
emotional well-being and academic achievement.
Copyright © 2024 The Hidden Genius
