Tips for Parents
1. Have the child evaluated if you suspect a specific learning disability as early as possible.
2. Enroll the child in a remedial program employing one-to one instruction utilizing highly structured material and multi-sensory approach.
3. Tell your child that he learns differently and is attending a remedial program because you love him. Don’t accept that he is “immature”, “lazy”, or “unmotivated.” Don’t give up!
4. ESTABLISH PRIORITIES. The most important activity for your child is remediation.
5. Learn all you can about your child’s disability through reading, attending meetings, workshops, etc.
6. Do not feel guilty because of your child’s disability.
7. Become personally involved in remedial process by tutoring another child while your child is receiving help. Do not tutor APSL with your child.
8. Do not expect remediation to be instantaneous. Remediation is hard work on both the part of the child and the parent.
9. Recognize the child’s strength, as well as his weakness.
10. Be supportive of all demands of the remedial program; i.e. hair cuts, dress code, discipline, etc.
11. Provide a highly structured home environment. This entails an extremely heavy routine.
12. Maintain a regular bedtime. These children require more sleep than others.
13. Insist on a lowered carbohydrate intake (between 60-120 daily). Completely eliminate refined sugar. Consult your pediatrician about vitamin supplements.
14. Believe that parents have rights. Do not have child-centered homes.
15. Have definite specific rules, and specify penalties for infraction. Try to make the penalty fit the infraction.
16. Do not nag. Give the child instructions and follow through.
17.Do not argue with your child. He will win.
18. Eliminate or drastically reduce corporal punishment.
19. Be CONSISTENT. Never allow inappropriate behavior.
20. Enunciate family values. Adhere to such values personally. The child sees what you do far more clearly than he hears what you say. Make sure there is agreement between parents.
21. Praise your child for any accomplishment.
22. Make demands on your child as he becomes more proficient.
23. Realize that your job as a parent is not to make the child happy today, but adequate in the future.
24. Have regularly scheduled study periods.
25. Read to your child until he is competent to read for himself.
26. Provide a memory board for home study.
27. Be aware that no one can do more for your child than you will allow.
28. It is imperative that you and your child attend every remedial session. There are no excused absences.
29. Support your local organization in every way possible.
30. Do not remove your child from a program until remediation is completed as determined by your local director.