Lazy or Lost? How to Identify Learning Difficulties in your Child

While every child has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses and shouldn’t be expected to fit a standard mould, there are universal indicators that professional help may be needed for identifying learning difficulties.

Many parents, especially towards the second quarter of the school year, express concerns that their child’s learning journey isn’t progressing as hoped. Questions arise about whether to “wait and see” if challenges with reading, attention, independent work, or planning will improve, or if it’s time to seek professional help. These are common worries for parents across various schooling systems, including those homeschooling in South Africa.

Spotting the Signs: Universal Indicators for Identifying Learning Difficulties

Recognising the early signs of learning struggles is the first step. Here are some common indicators that your child might need additional support:

Task Management & Attention:

• Difficulty multi-tasking or easily distracted.
• Battling to ignore distractions and maintain attention.
• Rushing through tasks, missing details, or struggling with planning, organising, starting, and finishing tasks.
• Taking a long time to complete tasks or battling with time-restricted assignments.

Academic Performance & Comprehension:

• Frequent, similar mistakes despite practice.
• Struggling with maths concepts and problem-solving.
• Difficulties with reading, reading fluency, or reading comprehension.
• Doing poorly in tests or exams despite studying.
• Having to re-study the same information multiple times.

Information Processing & Recall:

• Difficulty retrieving information on the spot or under pressure.
• Trouble relaying information, especially in their own words.
• Difficulty visualising processes or formulas.
• Frequently asking for instructions to be repeated or struggling to remember/follow multi-step directions.

Independence:

• Struggling to work independently without constant guidance.

If you notice a persistent pattern of these challenges, it’s important to consider the underlying causes.

Understanding Cognitive and Executive Function Skills

Often, these learning frustrations stem from underdeveloped cognitive skills development or weaknesses in executive function skills children need to learn effectively.

• Cognitive skills are the core mental abilities we use to think, learn, remember, reason, and pay attention. They include auditory processing, visual processing, memory (short-term, long-term, working), processing speed, and attention skills.
• Executive functions are a set of higher-level mental processes that help us manage ourselves and our resources to achieve a goal. Key executive functions include planning, organisation, task initiation, time management, working memory, self-monitoring, and cognitive flexibility. Bangkok Hospital describes executive functions as “cognitive abilities needed to control thoughts, emotions and actions,” helping children with teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving (Executive functions in child development | Bangkok Hospital).

Difficulties in any of these areas can create significant barriers to learning. “Get to know your child’s learning skills profile: their cognitive and executive function skill strengths and weaknesses,” I always advise. “Only then can a plan of action be put together to permanently address frustrations.”

Know When to Seek Help to Identify Learning Difficulties

It’s natural to hope that a new year, a different tutor, extra classes, a new curriculum, or a change in study methods will resolve learning struggles. While these adjustments can sometimes bring small or temporary improvements, if the core issues persist, it’s a sign that deeper investigation is needed.

The crucial first step is pinpointing the cause of the frustrations. My guideline is straightforward: “If a child’s already getting assistance in the form of extra time, tutoring, occupational therapy, extra classes/programmes or frequent help from a parent, yet is still struggling or unable to function as an independent student, it’s time to get help as soon as possible.” This is a critical point for when to seek help for learning struggles.

The “wait and see” approach, while sometimes tempting, can unfortunately delay crucial support. Some parents might think:

• “I struggled in school but I’m successful now.”
• “My child excels in sports, so academics aren’t as vital.”
• “Things will just get better on their own.”
• “They work hard and are doing okay, even if they need a lot of help.”
• “We homeschool so we can do things our own way, avoiding these labels.”

While these perspectives are understandable, ignoring persistent red flags can mean missing an opportunity for early intervention. The world our children are growing into is vastly different from the one we experienced. They face intense international competition for tertiary studies and employment. The future workplace demands an ability to learn continuously, operate at a fast pace, think critically, problem-solve, and work independently. If children are unable to keep up due to not identifying learning difficulties, they may face fewer choices and opportunities later in life. Research from organisations like the Mayo Clinic emphasizes that early treatment for learning disorders is key, as problems can compound over time (Learning disorders: Know the signs, how to help – Mayo Clinic).

The Homeschooling Parent’s Role

Homeschooling parents in South Africa are in a unique position. You observe your child’s learning patterns, frustrations, and successes daily. This intimate understanding can be invaluable for identifying learning difficulties early. However, it can also lead to self-doubt: “Am I doing enough?” or “Is this a normal developmental phase, or something more?”

If you are providing significant support, adapting curricula, and yet your child continues to struggle with the indicators listed earlier, it is a strong sign to seek an external perspective. An educational psychologist can conduct a comprehensive assessment to understand your child’s learning profile. PsychMatters, a centre in South Africa, notes that “a psychological assessment generates a profile of the child’s strengths and weaknesses, and provides a formal diagnosis, if applicable,” which then guides interventions (Children with learning difficulties – PsychMatters).

Taking Action: The Path Forward

1. Acknowledge Your Concerns: Trust your parental intuition. If you feel something isn’t right, it’s worth exploring.
2. Seek a Comprehensive Assessment: Consult with an educational psychologist to evaluate your child’s cognitive and executive function skills. This provides a clear roadmap.
3. Develop a Targeted Plan: Based on the assessment, a specific intervention plan can be created. This might involve cognitive training, specific therapies (like occupational or speech therapy if not already in place and deemed necessary), or tailored educational strategies.
4. Collaborate with Professionals: Work closely with therapists, educators, or specialists. For homeschooling families, this means learning how to integrate recommended strategies into your home learning environment. There are resources and curricula, like those offered by Saving Grace Education Group in South Africa, specifically designed for learners with special needs in a homeschool setting (Special Needs Curriculum – Saving Grace Education Group).
5. Focus on Strengths: While addressing weaknesses, continue to nurture your child’s strengths and interests to build confidence.

The importance of early intervention learning support cannot be overstated. Addressing challenges early provides children with the tools and strategies they need before gaps widen significantly and secondary emotional issues like anxiety or low self-esteem take root.

Are you in the process of identifying learning difficulties with your child? Share your experiences or questions in the comments below. We encourage you to share this article with other parents and educators, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for ongoing support and insights.