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Tips for Parents 

Table of Contents

 
  • Learn about LD. The more you know,the more you can help yourself and your child. See the two boxes in the right column (at the top of the page) entitled "Related Information" and "OSEP Resources"? These will connect you with organizations and publications on LD.
  • Praise your child when he or she does well. Children with LD are often very good at a variety of things. Find out what your child really enjoys doing, such as dancing, playing soccer, or working with computers. Give your child plenty of opportunities to pursue his or her strengths and talents.
  • Find out the ways your child learns best. Does he or she learn by hands-on practice, looking, or listening? Help your child learn through his or her areas of strength.
  • Let your child help with household chores. These can build self-confidence and concrete skills. Keep instructions simple, break down tasks into smaller steps, and reward your child’s efforts with praise.
  • Make homework a priority. Read more about how to help your child be a success at homework. (See the resources listed in the "Related Information" box at the top right of your screen.)
  • Pay attention to your child’s mental health (and your own!). Be open to counseling, which can help your child deal with frustration, feel better about himself or herself, and learn more about social skills.
  • Talk to other parents whose children have learning disabilities. Parents can share practical advice and emotional support. You can identify parent groups in your area via NICHCY's State Resource Sheets. Go to the section entitled "Disability-Specific Agencies" and scroll down until you reach "learning disabilities."
  • You can also use the State Resource Sheet to find your parent training and information center (PTI). Click on "Organizations Especially for Parents" and your state's PTIs will be the first organizations listed. PTIs know local and state politics, can connect you with resources in your community and state, and offer you a lot of other useful information and guidance.
  • Meet with school personnel and help develop an educational plan to address your child’s needs. Plan what accommodations your child needs, and don’t forget to talk about assistive technology!
  • Establish a positive working relationship with your child’s teacher. Through regular communication, exchange information about your child’s progress at home and at school.
Note: This article is an excerpt from Learning Disabilities (LD).


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Readers are encouraged to copy and share this information, but please credit the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY). NICHCY relies on feedback from users to enhance our collection, development, and dissemination of information. We encourage you to share your ideas and feedback with us! Please contact us at our email address (nichcy@aed.org) or visit the NICHCY Feedback Page at: www.nichcy.org/Pages/Feedback.aspx.

NICHCY thanks our Project Officer, Dr. Judy L. Shanley, at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education.

Publication of this Web resource page is made possible through Cooperative Agreement #H326N030003 between the Academy for Educational Development and the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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