A learning disability can be minimised in children until the age of six – a delicate phase in the development of a child’s brain.
Matshidiso Atanasiu of Barachel Christian Academy, who has over 20 years of experience in working with children with learning disabilities, said sometimes children are born with inherited disabilities, hence parents and teachers have a role to play to better these children’s future.
“A child has a learning disability when that child can’t grasp the concepts or do the activities most other children of the same age are able to do,” Atanasiu explained, adding that when children grow up, they should have the same cognitive function as others in their same age group.
She warned that if children are not stimulated properly during this tender stage, they may have a learning defect growing up.
She said in order for teachers to teach a child with a learning disability effectively, they need to make extra efforts and not only follow textbook methods.
“Any exercise or topic you do in class has to be as practical as possible.”
She explained these types of children have to do perceptual, auditory, visual and textile activities – techniques that may facilitate progressive learning.
“Something as easy as sticking sand on a paper in the shape of any letter might help them to memorise various shapes,” she added.
Atanasiu said because working with these children is not easy, it takes dedication from both parents and teachers.
“Sometimes, all it takes is someone to listen and look closely, and find where these children are struggling so that they can give the extra support,” Atanasiu said.
She appealed to parents not to make school work the responsibility of teachers only.
“It really doesn’t take a lot; as a parent you can engage your child in activities that will help with coordination. Learning is not only limited to textbooks, we have to think out of the box to help these children, because we can’t give up on them,” Atanasiu said.
