Some children find it easy to read while others unfortunately confront challenges. As a parent, you should not give up on your child, nor should you think they will simply grow out of the issue. Children with reading challenges can be emotionally overwhelmed. However, the more a child learns, or at least receives some coaching, the less likely it is for them to feel overwhelmed. As a parent, you should consistently monitor your child’s reading progress. Below are tips on how to help your child who is struggling with reading.
Finding out if your child requires extra guidance
The first step to helping your child overcome reading struggles is finding out if they need help. You can do this by asking their teacher if their child has displayed any reading challenges. If a problem is detected, ask how you can help your child. Depending on the challenges, it also might be important to involve your family doctor or any other health care expert to examine whether your child has any visual or hearing challenges that may contribute to reading struggles.
Consulting with other parents and teachers
It is important to make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher. They will have the best advice on what should be done and the kind of help that should be given both at school and home. Talking to other parents is also important because they may have faced similar challenges and could provide helpful guidance. Consulting with them may give you a solution or much-needed encouragement.
Researching to know available options
You should find out options that are available for children with learning disabilities. For example, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has a policy allowing eligible children to receive special education services at school at no cost to families..
External evaluation
If your school does not evaluate your child, or you are not satisfied with the evaluation, you can choose to pursue a second opinion through an external evaluation. For example, you can consult a specialist outside the school to do an independent education evaluation. If possible, consult with your school district’s Parent Resource Center to explore where you may be able to get an independent education evaluation free of charge.