Does My Child Have a Learning Difficulty?

Have you ever wondered if your child is progressing the way that he or she should? 

When parents start the homeschooling journey there usually comes a point when you question if you have the right tools or skills to effectively teach your children. Perhaps you have even looked around at other children of similar ages and started to compare skill sets between your child and them. 

Whether you are teaching one child at home or many, you will soon discover that no two children are exactly alike. As the parent at home with your children, you will learn how each child differs in learning style preference and ability. You will begin to realize that many of those differences are not wrong: each is simply what is ‘normal’ for your child.

However, it sometimes becomes apparent that what is ‘normal’ for your child may actually fall into the category of an exceptional need. As parents teaching your children, you will be the first to notice if something isn’t quite right, which, in some cases, could be a sign of a learning difference. If in fact there is a developmental or learning difficulty, the earlier you get the support your child might need, the more likely they will be successful in school and in life. 

The Short List: What May Indicate a Learning Difficulty

Grades K-2

• Late establishing a dominant hand
• Difficulty learning to tie shoes
• Poor pencil grasp

Grades 3-5

• Difficulty with handwriting
• Difficulty expressing thoughts orally or written
• Confuses left and right

Grades 6-8

• Trouble with word problems
• Slow or poor recall of facts
• Avoids reading aloud