Is your child a slow learner? Are you concerned about how they are going to keep up in today's fast-paced world? Read on to see what exactly a slow learner is, the common causes and 6 tips to help them keep up with the world around them.
We even have some great book suggestions for more information at the bottom of the page!
What is a Slow Learner?
A slow learner is defined as a child who typically learns things at a slower pace than his/her peers. It may take these children longer to grasp certain concepts taught in school, they may take longer to learn to express themselves or they may even have delayed speech.
It is important to note that this does NOT mean they are "dumb", "a failure" or incapable of learning! Every child learns and develops at a different pace and in different ways. A slow learner just seems to be a bit behind the crowd. Although there is nothing wrong with taking their time to learn, it may be a bit more difficult to adjust to school life where there is a curriculum to keep up with.
This does NOT mean they are "dumb", "a failure" or incapable of learning!
There are 4 different areas of slow learning: developmental, social, personal and educational.
The characteristics of a child with developmental learning disorders include poor memory and a delay in speech and language developmental patterns. This means your child could take longer to start speaking than others or may need more prolonged and repetitive lessons to learn most concepts.
A child who has social learning disabilities is usually known to relate to children younger to him more often and avoid interacting with peers. Such children are also prone to behaviour that is associated with children younger than their age. These children are often just labelled as introverts due to the inability to connect with their peers leading them to be quieter or more reserved.
Children with personal learning problems seem to have less control over their emotions. They tend to fall back to anger quickly, get frustrated faster than most, express emotions like anxiety for seemingly minor issues or get depressed over setbacks. These children are most likely to have significant problems with self-esteem, confidence and are prone to acts of aggression or emotional instability.
Children with learning or educational disabilities take longer to process and understand the information provided to them. These children may be proficient in intellectual knowledge, but it takes them longer to understand & grasp the concepts.
What are the Causes of Slow Learning?
There are a few reasons a child may be a slow learner. They could have gone through some traumatic event in their life that could slow down emotional and mental development which in turn could make it harder for them to retain information or comprehend new concepts.
A second cause of slow learning in children could be premature birth, which could also be a reason behind your child having a slower rate of brain development.
A third reason behind slow learning could be a medical reason. A number of medical problems could be behind slow brain development, slow emotional development and even affect memory.
However, the main cause of slow learning in children is pampering. Yes, over-pampering a child by making decisions for them, giving solutions to their every problem and doing everything for them means that children will never have the chance to experiment their problem solving skills, learning how the world works up close and personal. Much of what we learn in life is from trying and failing and learning from that failure. If children never try, fail or experiment they will never be able to learn or adapt.
The main cause of slow learning in children is over-pampering.
Helping Slow Learners
1. Rewards
It's always easier to stick to a task or work a bit harder when there is a reward at the end of it. Having something to work toward can really help a child to stay focused on the task at hand and see the end goal. Setting rewards for each milestone will help a slow learner stick through the course and learn as much as possible.
2. Praise
Motivation is one of the biggest aids in helping slow learners to stay positive and keep going, even when it may seem they aren't getting very far. That is why praise and commendation from parents and teachers works so well in helping a child stay motivated to keep up the effort to learn and develop. Even small accomplishments should be acknowledged and given praise.
3. Small Targets
Breaking up a task or course into smaller chunks will help a child see their goals as reachable and realistic. Also, reaching each goal will give children the motivation to reach the next one and will teach them that they can achieve what they put their mind to - the confidence boost they all need. Unlike having one big goal which may take a while to reach, and may seem like the process drags on for the child; smaller targets will help keep a child positive, optimistic, motivated and focused.
4. Visual Aids
Having small reminders about a goal, course or concepts newly learnt around the house will be helpful reminders for a child. Post it notes or reminders on calendars are a great way of almost sub-consciously helping a child to remember new things they may have recently learnt.
5. Your Attitude
A parent's attitude towards their child's development is a key factor in helping slow learners. If parents are supportive and positive about their child's progress and effort in learning, they will be much more encouraged to keep going and not give up. It will give them the 'I can do it' attitude and know that they have their parents to fall back on if needed. This will also give them the encouragement and courage to try new things and be more open to failure - which is a great learning tool.
Patience is also a very important quality to have. It will take slow learners longer to learn even simple concepts and may even have to 'relearn' things that you have taught them already. Being patient will show your child that you have faith in their ability to progress and improve and accomplish whatever they want to.
Your attitude is noticed by, and rubbed off on, your children.
6. Communicate with Others
Be open with others that have a share in helping your child or spend a lot of time with them; for example, teachers, care givers, baby sitters or nannies. Let them know your child's personal challenges when it comes to learning and how you want them to respond to it. Tell them about your success stories in helping your child and ask advice from them, as they may also have experience in this area.
Good communication will help your child to always feel like they are in a safe learning environment and will feel comfortable learning at their pace and yet at the same time, motivated to always try harder.
For more information, check out this list of books we've put together that talk more about dealing with and helping slow learners:
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