The Breakthroughs in Learning Blog

Busy children are often the result of busy adults.  Being busy is often considered a badge of honor in our modern day, and those values are often placed onto children as well.  Well-meaning parents will also pack a child's schedule with activities in order to keep her out of the wrong peer group or away from excessive video game playing. 

Superstition regarding left hand dominance was so strong that in medieval times the word "sinister" was used to describe the left hand. Even up to the 1970's, parents received tips on how to encourage right-hand dominance over left.

Some children are more naturally social than others.  If a child's tendency to withdraw is not by choice, but out of anxiety, that child will require more encouragement.  Otherwise, that child may have difficulty relating to peers and risk depression and low self-esteem.

Social skills and comfort level with other people varies between individuals, including children.  It can be discouraging if very outgoing parents find they have a quiet child or a child that seems to have no social interests.  Parents may regard “quiet” or “withdrawn” behaviour as a sign that their child needs help socially, but social withdrawal needs to be regarded objectively.

If a child has a learning disability there is a good chance that she suffers an attention deficit as well.  Likewise, children with attention deficits often have learning disabilities.  There can be varying degrees of severity in each area.  Low severity in each area can have a cumulative effect and hinder school success.

You’ve probably heard about the Brain Training Games on Lumosity.com.  Lumosity offers scientifically-designed training to challenge your brain. They offer programs so that you can train your memory, improve attention, flexibility and problem solving etc. through their Personalized Training Program. Lumosity has an aesthetically appealing site with a wide range of game options and the ability to track your personalized development.

When parents learn of a child’s learning disability it is not uncommon for them to experience a grieving process similar to the stages of grief described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.  While not grieving a death, there is grief surrounding expectations parents may have held for that child.

It happens to everyone at least once.  You enter a room in your home, get in the car, or simply step outside and realize you do not remember why you went there, or what you needed, in the first place.  Leave the area, and then frustration mounts when you realize after you leave home that the library books are still on the kitchen counter. 

In Canada, adult literacy is measured in levels, with Level 3 considered optimal for everyday demands.  Unfortunately, four out of 10 Canadians, ages 16 to 65, struggle to reach Level 3—the level that should be attain by completing high school. 

When learning disabilities first manifest, they are often interpreted as behavior problems that are best countered with discipline or stringent structure.  School officials may even suggest that the student will "grow out of" the behavior and develop an interest in school when the discipline helps the child develop self-control.