By: Alissa Talamo, PhD
Pediatric Neuropsychologist, NESCA
Children will do their best when they feel safe and encouraged to try their best. Thus, a structured and supportive learning environment at home is recommended to support the development and well-being of your child. Establishing a structured learning environment involves several key components. Here are some ideas to consider:
- Developing a daily schedule with consistent routines helps children understand what to expect, offering them a sense of security and predictability.
- Visual aids, such as pictures or timetables, can be used to help children follow these routines.
- Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps can keep your child from feeling overwhelmed and can promote success, with each accomplishment celebrated to reinforce progress.
- Designating a specific area in the home for learning activities is important. This dedicated learning space should be free from distractions and should provide your child with the necessary materials to encourage independent learning.
- Engaging your child in multi-sensory activities, such as sensory play and interactive games, can enhance understanding and retention.
- Clear, concise instructions supported by visual and auditory prompts help children stay on track and complete tasks effectively.
- Setting achievable goals and celebrating small successes to build their confidence and motivation, while emphasizing effort and progress rather than just achievements.
- Identifying and encouraging the child’s strengths and interests.
- Maintaining open communication with educators and therapists, maximizing the effectiveness of interventions.
Overall, emphasizing effort and progress, providing consistent positive reinforcement, and encouraging strengths and interests, can help create a calm, organized, and predictable environment in the home setting, while collaborating with teachers ensures consistency in strategies between home and school.
By implementing these strategies, parents and caregivers can create a nurturing space where their children can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. Each child is unique, so it may take time to find the best approach for each. Be patient, flexible, and adaptive, while celebrating progress and all those small victories along the way! For additional resources and support, consider visiting websites, such as childcare.gov, LDA America, and Understood.org.
Resources
https://www.helpguide.org/family/learning-disabilities/helping-children-with-learning-disabilities
About the Author
With NESCA since its inception in 2007, Dr. Talamo had previously practiced for many years as a child and adolescent clinical psychologist before completing postdoctoral re-training in pediatric neuropsychology at the Children’s Evaluation Center.
After receiving her undergraduate degree from Columbia University, Dr. Talamo earned her doctorate in clinical health psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University.
She has given a number of presentations, most recently on “How to Recognize a Struggling Reader,” “Supporting Students with Working Memory Limitations,” (with Bonnie Singer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP of Architects for Learning), and “Executive Function in Elementary and Middle School Students.”
Dr. Talamo specializes in working with children and adolescents with language-based learning disabilities including dyslexia, attentional disorders, and emotional issues. She is also interested in working with highly gifted children.
Her professional memberships include MAGE (Massachusetts Association for Gifted Education), IDA (International Dyslexia Association), MABIDA (the Massachusetts division of IDA) and MNS (the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society).
She is the mother of one college-aged daughter.
To book a consultation with Dr. Talamo or one of our many other expert neuropsychologists, complete NESCA’s online intake form.
NESCA is a pediatric neuropsychology practice and integrative treatment center with offices in Newton, Plainville, and Hingham, Massachusetts; Londonderry, New Hampshire; the greater Burlington, Vermont region; and Brooklyn, New York (coaching services only) serving clients from infancy through young adulthood and their families. For more information, please email info@nesca-newton.com or call 617-658-9800.
