Does your child complain of headaches and tummy aches on school days? Does he or she refuse to show you report cards or test papers? These early signs suggest that your child is having academic difficulties - which are not uncommon among children with ADHD. It's often a struggle for them to keep up with the pace of their classes, especially if they have problems sustaining their attention. It's important that you be aware of your child's problems at schools and give him or her the help needed.
Not sure if your child needs extra help with schoolwork? Watch out for these signs:
Your child works hard, but his or her grades keep slipping.Your child feels anxious and nervous before tests.Your child's homework is frequently incorrect or incomplete, no matter how much time he or she spends doing it.Your child is no longer a straight A student; his or her report card is dotted with C's and D's.Your child is no longer interested in learning. The teacher reports that your child never pays attention in class or that your child's behavior disrupts the class.If you think your child has a problem, it's important to take action as soon as you can. Once your child fails to keep up, he or she will stop trying, and the risk of repeating a year or dropping out of school increases. Here's what you can do.
Meet with the teacher
Begin by setting an appointment with the teacher. Find out what subjects your child has trouble with, what your child's academic strengths are, and his or her current class standing. Does your child need to polish some basic skills, or is the problem due to a newer topic he or she can't understand? Ask if the teacher can help your child master a few basics; if not, consider getting a tutor.
Tutoring options
Hiring a private tutor can be expensive, but there are ways to get help for free. Most schools have free after- or before-school tutoring sessions, thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2001. Some public libraries also have volunteers who help students with homework or research after school.
If these resources aren't available to you, you can hire a private tutor or enroll your child in a learning center. The best tutors are often found through word-of-mouth, so ask for recommendations from parents or teachers.
Tutorial services are also available online. Options include real-time live tutoring over an instant messenger or video chat, correspondence tutoring via email, or time-monitored tutoring that charges a certain fee for a fixed number of hours.
Lastly, don't overlook the best tutor your child can possible get - you! If you have the time, knowledge, and patience to tutor your child, do so. Not only will your knowledge of your child's ADHD make it easier for you to break lessons down in ways he or she can understand; it's a great opportunity to spend some quality time together.
Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is ADHD.
No comments:
Post a Comment