Why Leaving the School in Charge Won't Fix Your Child's Learning Struggles
Why Leaving the School in Charge Won’t Fix Your Child’s Learning Struggles
Do you have a child who is struggling in school with focus, attention, behavior, learning, memory, or fine motor skills? What if I told you that leaving it up to the school might actually be making things worse?
The School's Role: What They Can and Can't Do
Let’s start with what schools are good at. Schools excel at teaching the general curriculum—reading, writing, math, and history. But here’s the thing: teachers are not trained in brain development, cognitive remediation, or understanding how to truly 'fix' learning disabilities. Even special education programs, while well-intentioned, are often focused on helping students compensate for their struggles rather than reversing them. The goal is usually to help students get by, not to address the root cause of why they’re struggling in the first place.
Why Schools Aren’t Fixing the Problem
When it comes to learning challenges like working memory deficits, dyslexia, or behavioral issues, schools are often putting short-term solutions in place. These might help your child keep up with schoolwork for now, but they don’t address the underlying cognitive or neurological issues. What does this mean for your child?
Band-Aid Solutions: Schools may provide accommodations like extra time on tests or modified assignments but fail to strengthen the brain functions that are causing the struggle.
Falling Further Behind: Without addressing root causes, your child may grow frustrated, feel incapable of learning, and continue to struggle academically.
The Long-Term Consequences
Now, let’s talk about the long-term effects of leaving it all up to the school. Studies have shown that kids who don’t get the right kind of intervention are more likely to:
Struggle with self-esteem.
Turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, like self-medication.
Disengage from school entirely.
Face higher risks of dropping out and encountering challenges as teens or young adults.
If a child feels like they’re constantly failing or not able to keep up, they’ll find other ways to cope—and those ways are not always healthy.
How to Take Charge as a Parent
Here’s where you come in. You, as the parent, have more power than you might think. It’s time to stop treating the school as the solution and start being proactive about getting your child the support they truly need.
Seek Outside Help: Look into cognitive training, brain-based therapies, or specialized interventions that target the root cause of your child’s struggles. These programs are designed to strengthen brain function, not just manage symptoms.
Advocate for Real Interventions: Push for more than just accommodations. Ask about interventions that promote brain development and cognitive growth.
Build a Team: Partner with experts who understand brain health and development, and who can work with you to create a plan tailored to your child’s needs.
5 Steps to Restoring Brain Health
As a parent struggling to figure out how to get to the bottom of your child's school challenges, you have been looking for the right tools and resources. Pick up a copy of my book and companion course to finally learn why your child is struggling so hard in school, and what to do about it.
Final Thoughts
If this is resonating with you, it’s time to take action. Don’t wait for the school to fix the problem—because they won’t. Instead, step into your role as an advocate and partner in your child’s growth. By addressing the root causes of their struggles, you’ll help them build confidence, capability, and resilience for the future.
If you found this article helpful, share it with other parents who might be facing similar challenges. And don’t forget to subscribe for more insights on brain health and learning. Together, we can create a brighter future for our children.
