Are you worried your teen may be suffering from a learning disability?

As a parent, you can help your teen cope better with learning by preparing yourself. Read on to know more on learning disabilities .

What Is A Teenage Learning Disability?

A learning disability is a condition where your teen’s brain is unable to process information. On account of a learning disability, your teen may find it difficult to receive, process, analyze, and store information it.

Signs Of Learning Disabilities In Teenagers?

Many symptoms of learning disability are part of normal child behavior. Therefore, it is a little difficult to spot a learning disability in your teen, early on. the sudden increase in academic pressure may make these signs more obvious.

1. Your teen may suffer from a learning disability if she displays any of the following:

2. Does not like to read at all.

3. Finds it very difficult to read and wants to avoid it.

4. Finds spelling simple words challenging.

5. Finds it difficult to understand common syllables or sounds in a word.

6. Finds it difficult to remember any list of numbers or words. She may have difficulty in remembering words that have a unique phonetic pattern, math tables, and formula.

7. Can answer verbally but finds it difficult to write and communicate.

8. Has a very bad handwriting.

9. If she is not keen to go to school or seems low on self-confidence.

10. If she cannot concentrate during classes.

11. Always gets confused between upper case and lower case letters. Faces difficulty in reverse writing, like while writing letters like R, P, and N.

12. Has problems in holding a pencil or pen properly. If she takes a lot of time to write something as short as a sentence.

Remember that your teen may not have a learning disability even if she displays a few symptoms. So, do not jump to any conclusion before taking an expert’s opinion.

How To Help Teens With Learning Disabilities?

The first remedial step you should take as a parent is to give your teen time. Do not rush your teen into learning things fast. Schedule an appointment with your teen’s teacher and discuss her overall progress at school. Sometimes, it could simply be a reaction to the increase in pressure at school. A little planning and organizing may help your teen.Sometimes, it could simply be a reaction to the increase in pressure at school. A little planning and organizing may help your teen.Your teen may be low on self-esteem because of her learning disability. Talk to her and tell her that a learning disability is not a sign her lack of intelligence or maturity. 

Your love, support, and a little professional assistance can help your teen overcome her disability and cope with learning

5 Most Useful Tips To Motivate Your Teen

Most teenagers aren’t motivated to do anything unless they see themselves reaping direct benefits out of it. Teenagers sure don’t need motivation for activities like computer gaming, shopping, watching TV, hanging out with friends or simply lazing around. But the moment you mention homework, household chores or picking up laundry, they will turn their back towards you and totally resist doing it.

Understand The Reason Behind Lacking Motivation:

The first step towards motivating your teenager is to know the reason behind this lacking. The biggest reason behind such behavior is the inability to see benefits.

• Sit down and discuss the long term benefits of studying with your teenager.
• Try to make him understand how finishing his homework and taking studies seriously will help mold his future.
• The moment your teenager sees the bigger picture and realizes the importance of certain things, he will be motivated enough to pursue it seriously.

5 Tips On How To Motivate Your Teenager:

1. Appreciate And Compliment

2. Agreements And Deals

• When you don’t see your teenager preparing enough for his upcoming exams and spending more time with friends, it’s time to make a deal.
• Explain how studying should be his priority at this point and he can spend as much time with his friends later.
• The trick here is to stick to your deals.
• Don’t forget the deal once you get what you want.

3. Don’t Nag:

The moment you get into the nagging mode, your teenager will cut off from everything you want him to do.Stop nagging about everything.

Support Your Teenager, No Matter What:

It is important for your teenager to feel loved in every condition. Your support means the most.

• Do not let your teenager feel that you love him only when he does a good job.
• Such feelings create pressure and hence make your teenager lack motivation.
• If you teenager comes up to you and shares about failing, be positive and guide him properly.
• Tell him that you appreciate the fact that he came up and shared the news with you.
• Tell him you are sure about how he can do better and that everyone goes through ups and downs.
• Such positive support motivates teenagers the most.

5. Help Him Start:

Your teenager may find it difficult to get up and start something they should.

• Involve yourself into your teenager’s activities.
• Share your personal stories about how motivated you were in your teens and how it helped you shape life.
• Set a time for everything and help him stick to it.
• When your teenager is trying to do something, try and create an environment that doesn’t distract him.

• Freedom Is Important:
  

  Your teenager just needs that initial push.
  • Be positive and help him sail through this difficult phase of his life with your support and motivation. Yet do not overdo it.
  • Your job is to guide and motivate.
  • But in the process of doing so, do not take away your teenager’s freedom.
  • Give him the freedom to do things as when he feels is right.
  • Do not put too many restrictions all the time. The moment you give him freedom, he will feel entrusted and it will give him a sense of responsibility.
  Tell us how do you motivate a teenager. Do you have any special tricks and tips that you might want to share with others? Leave us your comments below and share with us.