| Making the decision to home school your child is | | | | what's available, even before you need them! |
| not the easiest decision at the best of times, but | | | | It is important to focus on your child throughout |
| what about when the weight of your decision is | | | | his/her education - never the disability or |
| compounded by the fact that your child has been | | | | perceived disability itself. While your child may |
| diagnosed with a learning disability? Firstly, do not | | | | have some more challenges on the educational |
| despair that your child has been 'categorised' as | | | | pathway, it is important that the focus stays |
| having a learning disability. This may or may not | | | | where it belongs. The focus is the outcome to be |
| be correct. It may simply be that the classroom | | | | achieved, or the concept to be mastered, rather |
| that the child is in follows a teaching style not | | | | than the difficulties met along the way. Whatever |
| optimal for your child's learning style. If this is the | | | | it is you focus on becomes bigger, so ensure that |
| case, then more personalised and focused | | | | it is the destination rather than the bumps along |
| attention may yield very different results. | | | | the road. |
| Even if your child has been diagnosed with a | | | | Focusing on the disability itself also practically |
| learning disability by more than one professional, | | | | ensures that the child will not achieve as highly as |
| you must remind yourself that this label should | | | | they are capable. A learning disability is a challenge |
| only be used as a tool, rather than an excuse. If | | | | to be managed rather than an excuse for not |
| categorising or labelling of your child does not | | | | achieving. If your child give their disability too |
| produce improved results, or worse, your child's | | | | much consideration, it will become a anchor that |
| ability seems to deteriorate even further, then | | | | drags them, and may become an excuse to not |
| what use is this label? | | | | even try. |
| Homeschooling is an ideal environment to provide | | | | Remember, even though as a homeschool parent |
| the sort of one-on-one attention that may be | | | | you are responsible for your child's education, kids |
| required for your child to thrive academically, | | | | are kids. Sometimes, their attention and behaviour |
| whether learning new things is a challenge for | | | | will fluctuate. This is normal and, what's more, I |
| them or not. The important thing is to focus on | | | | suggest that sometimes you just go with it |
| what they can do, rather than what they can't do. | | | | rather than trying to fight it. When your child is |
| And, if your child has some acute difficulties, | | | | being extremely uncooperative, this may be your |
| educating your child at home does not necessarily | | | | sign to take a break, step back, change gears |
| limit your resources. Acute learning difficulties may | | | | and focus on something else. Sometimes a |
| need particular strategies to overcome hurdles, so | | | | change of subject will suffice. At other times you |
| your child's facilitation may require that you learn | | | | may need to take a break, have a snack or |
| some of these strategies from a professional, and | | | | better yet, go out and do something fun. |
| continue to employ them from home. Remember, | | | | Keep in mind, too, that if you are frustrated, your |
| even at a school specially catering for 'special | | | | child will pick up on that frustration. Relax, keep |
| needs' children, will not have the time and | | | | things light, and calm. Stress inhibits the learning of |
| resources to give your child the attention that | | | | new concepts. |
| you can. | | | | Learning is fun, even with a child with learning |
| If your child has an acute learning disability, you | | | | challenges. By taking responsibility for their |
| may need to contact your local General Medical | | | | education, you are doing the best you can for |
| Practitioner for details on what resources are | | | | your child. |
| available locally. It is best to at least be aware of | | | | |