Dyscalculia in Children

Children with Dyscalculia often struggle with math problems.

This specific type of learning disability often presents itself early in the child's educational career. A child with Dyscalculia often has problems in the following areas:

-Has trouble with spatial problems and lining up problems correctly for solving.
-Has trouble sequencing problems and often write numbers backwards or out of place.
-Often confuses numbers that are similar.
-Has trouble using a calculator.
-Often has trouble telling time.
-Struggles with money and budgeting.
-At times seems to know basic math facts, at other times may not remember them.
-Has trouble mastering concepts.
-Has trouble remembering locations of states, cities, countries, etc. on a map.
-Gets lost easily.
-Has trouble keeping score when playing games.
-Has trouble with number recall. Often omits numbers or adds extra numbers when doing mathematical problems.

If you think your child may have Dyscalculia, please consult with your school's counselor for further advice.

Dyslexia and Memory

Dyslexia is the most common form of a learning disability. Memory problems are a common problem for people with Dyslexia. The main areas of concern for people with Dyslexia are as follows:

-Trouble sequencing things, putting a story in the proper order or putting sentences in the correct order.

-Poor auditory discrimination and memory. People with Dyslexia often times can't put letter sounds to words.

-Poor visual discrimination and memory. The person has trouble remember things shown them or things they have seen. Dyslexic people often can recognize a word, but when used in context, the word is unrecognizable to them.

-Poor short-term memory. People can't remember something they learned in the not too distant past.

-People with Dyslexia often have a good long-term memory for dates, faces, names and places.

Tips for Getting Kids to do Homework

Many children come home from school with homework the last thing on their minds. However, it is essential for a parent to make sure that homework gets completed. What can parents do to make sure homework is completed?

Setting a time for your children to complete homework is a must. Designate a daily time, let's say from 4:00p.m-5:00p.m. Do not sway from this time, and make sure someone is there to help with any questions.

Once you have set a time and discussed the time with your children, make sure they know that they will not be allowed to do anything else until his or her homework is completed. Children should not be allowed to watch television, play outside or play games until homework is completed.

Monitoring homework completion is important. Often times a child will rush through the homework assignment in order to go outside. Parents or caregivers should go over the work with the child and make sure it is done correctly, neatly and completely. A child should not be allowed to say he is done with homework until it is done completely and appropriately.

Make sure your child is doing his or her homework in a quiet spot with no distractions. Such distractions may be: a radio, a television, or a ringing phone. This can interfere with homework completion. Find a spot where your child can work without interruptions or distractions.

Sometimes it may take some good old-fashioned rewards to get your child to do homework. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as parents remember to wean the children from the rewards once it has shown to successful in getting the child to complete homework. Perhaps set a homework goal, and once a month if the goal is reached, the child gets to pick something special to do.