Hi mama, I’m so sorry to see you’re going through this. There’s no greater pain than watching your child in pain. If you’re noticing that your son has trouble learning and your teacher agrees with you, I would certainly go to his pediatrician for confirmation that he has a learning disability.
The telltale signs of learning disability in young kids are trouble with concentration, learning, poor memory retention, and trouble following directions.
It seems that he already has trouble with learning and following directions (getting angry when you tell him to do his homework). From a fellow mama with a kid who has a learning disability, here are some things to keep in mind when your child has a learning disability:
You’re Your Child’s #1 Advocate
You mentioned that you don’t want to give your young child meds. That choice is completely up to you as his parent! While it’s great to get advice from professionals, the decision ultimately comes down to what you believe is best for your kid. If there’s anything I’ve learned throughout this entire process, it’s that parents know their children the best. You’re your child’s #1 advocate and shouldn’t feel pressured into doing anything that you feel won’t be beneficial for him.
Work With Your Child’s School
You should discuss a comprehensive educational evaluation with your child’s school administration. Once you give written permission, the school will begin to conduct the evaluation to help you navigate his strengths and weaknesses in a learning environment. They’ll watch him in the classroom, interview his teacher, interview him, and also review any medical records.
You can also request that your child’s teacher create an Individualized Education Program for him. I worked with my child’s teacher to make an IEP for my daughter, and it was the best thing I could’ve ever done for her. It gave us the ability to really track her progress at school and help her in the areas she was struggling with.
Be Honest With Your Child
Lastly, you should be honest with your child. You mentioned that he is getting frustrated — he may not fully understand what is happening. Once you have an open and honest conversation with him about his learning ability, he may not get so angry when it comes time to do homework. He will understand that he has something to work through. You guys can tackle this together! It’s good that you caught his potential learning disability while he’s young because it gives him a better chance to overcome it with the proper tools and parental support. I’m rooting for you, mama!
