Children have learning difficulties… Parents can help if they understand

“Dear teachers, dear parents, I am not stupid, I am not an irresponsible child, I do not intentionally refuse to do homework

I have tried. I want to be better. Please don’t scold me. Please understand me.”

Learning problems are very common nowadays and can arise from many causes. However, one common cause is slow learning in certain subjects despite having a normal IQ (LD: Specific Learning Disorder, formerly called Learning Disorder), which is found in about 4-10% of children. These children usually have normal intelligence and IQ levels (only a small number of children with learning problems have low IQ).

Many children are scolded as “not smart, not attentive, irresponsible, disobedient”, but from the child’s perspective, do you know that “they have tried their best”? They want to be better and can improve quickly if you start with learning and understanding.

Normal IQ but problems with reading, writing, and math

Often, we find children with normal IQ or intelligence who have problems with reading/writing/math. These children often read incorrectly, slowly, hesitantly, spell while reading, and cannot grasp the meaning. Their writing is often misspelled, mixed up with tone marks, or reversed letters such as b-d or ด-ค. In math, children may not understand numbers and mathematical symbols, cannot do simple addition or subtraction, but perform well in other subjects and are often intelligent in other areas such as general knowledge or social play. This is a sign that these children may have slow learning in certain subjects (Learning Disorder: LD).

Unfortunately, these children are often misunderstood as not smart or intentionally not doing the problematic subjects (in fact, they have tried but cannot do it). This condition is caused by slower development in certain brain areas related to learning those subjects compared to children of the same age. Importantly, this condition can be improved if teachers and parents open their hearts.

Punishment is not the solution

These children are often scolded or hit because teachers or parents worry and want them to do better. But do you know? Often scolding or hitting does not always have a positive effect but instead causes stress, loss of confidence, decreased self-worth, feelings of inferiority, discouragement with learning, and makes learning seem unpleasant. This can lead to defiant behavior or even depression. However, you can help these children by starting with learning and understanding and “if you make the learning environment warm and fun, you will greatly help these children improve their learning.”

People succeed by starting with “Chantah”: liking, happiness, and fun in what they do… Therefore, learning should come with happiness, fun, and willingness to learn… From the perspective of parents, teachers, and doctors, scolding and hitting come from concern and not knowing how to help. But from the child’s perspective, doctors sympathize because children often feel bad, blame themselves for being bad children, feel inferior, and some even do not want to learn or develop defiant behavior or depression.

Just understanding will show progress

Some children who used to be at the bottom of the class can be happy and learn much better when properly helped. Helping children with such problems requires knowledge and understanding from parents, teachers, doctors, special education teachers, and everyone involved.

Starting with understanding, then trying to fill the child’s weaknesses, creating a supportive learning environment, giving children assistance, making learning fun without stress or excessive pressure—for example, children with reading or writing problems may have the teacher read the questions aloud and let the child choose answers or explain. Children with spelling problems may use assistive devices such as tablets to type answers instead of writing. Children with math problems may need extra time and simple calculation techniques taught. If the problems are more severe, special education teachers who are trained to help these children may be needed.

Doctors have encountered children with slow learning in some subjects or LD who, when properly helped, such as children weak in spelling but whose parents and teachers understood and provided assistance by allowing the use of substitute tools like computers for typing assignments and exams to compensate for weaknesses and find strengths by encouraging children to study subjects they like and are good at. Some children have been able to study to their full potential, graduate with a master’s degree, and succeed in careers they are skilled at, just like other children.

Finally, whatever problems you face, I want to encourage you: “There is a problem, there is a solution.”