Wherever there is a child struggling in school, the odds are there are parents struggling to figure out how to find the most effective help for that child.
Some kids find themselves falling behind their peers, despite a lot of effort, because they are frustrated by learning disorders. Some fall behind because they have a hard time focusing on learning, or making an organized effort to get homework done.
Some of the kids who are struggling will get the support they need to succeed from specialists at school, in the classroom or in sessions outside of class. But many, many parents each year find themselves looking for help after school.
That’s where things can get confusing: Are you looking for a tutor, a homework helper, or an educational therapist? That depends on what your child needs.
Subject Support
If your youngster is failing in one particular subject, a tutor might be the way to go. It’s easy to understand what a tutor is and does: she is knowledgeable in a particular subject area, and she can bolster a child’s success in that subject by filling in background information your child might have missed, and offering more explanation and practice to help the student acquire the necessary skills.
Homework Support
If your child’s challenge isn’t a particular subject, but trouble settling down and tackling the work itself, a homework helper might be the ticket. A homework helper does just that: help with homework by providing structure and support. Many, if not most, parents fill that role for their kids, being present and providing back-up when kids get confused or unfocused.
But when children have unusual difficulty with the work, and homework becomes a major area of conflict, having a professional homework helper on the case can be a big relief for both parents and kids. It’s not a form of therapy, notes Matthew Cruger, PhD, senior director of the Child Mind Institute’s Learning and Development Center, but the result can be therapeutic: Helping a child succeed at homework without involving mom or dad can remove a lot of stress from the whole family’s evening.
LearningSupport
For a child who has serious learning issues, an educational therapist works with him not so much to get the homework done as to strengthen the skills he needs to be able to keep up. Educational therapists come to the task with a range of professional backgrounds, from special education to speech and language therapy to psychology. What they have in common is that they come to understand an individual child’s learning style, and then help him develop skills and strategies that will enable him to build on strengths and compensate for weaknesses.
For a child with dyslexia, for instance, that would mean help with reading, as well as strategies for compensating for that difficulty with reading. For a child whose challenge is focusing on learning, the therapist would help with strategies for getting started, for organizing a project, for remembering information, for practicing skills. Educational therapists recognize that kids who have been falling behind in school are often discouraged and anxious, so their mission is to build a child’s confidence along with her skills.
This article was last reviewed or updated on May 31, 2023.
FAQs
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What age does Child Mind Institute treat? ›
Fort Health's clinicians offer telehealth treatment for children and youth aged 4–22 experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, mood, behavioral, or ADHD disorders.
How much does Child Mind Institute Neuropsych cost? ›
Neuropsychological evaluation for learning disorders: $5,500-$7,000. Ongoing treatment: $300-$560/hour, depending on clinician seniority.
Who funds Child Mind Institute? ›
With the support of a $25 million grant from the State of California, the Child Mind Institute has developed engaging videos and study guides in English and Spanish that provide caregivers and educators in California with foundational tools to help children manage their emotions.
Why is my child struggling to learn? ›
Common Causes for Academic Struggles
These might include learning or developmental disorders or mental health conditions like anxiety, social anxiety, or depression. Kids who are ill, who have difficulty sleeping, or who are experiencing stress or trauma at home may all struggle academically.
What causes a child to have learning difficulties? ›
Sometimes it is because a person's brain development is affected, either before they are born, during their birth or in early childhood. This can be caused by things such as: the mother becoming ill in pregnancy. problems during the birth that stop enough oxygen getting to the brain.
What is the therapy for learning difficulties? ›
Therapy modalities such as creative arts therapy and occupational therapy can prove very beneficial, children can also benefit from play therapy (such as art and drama and narrative therapy) as well.
What are the top 5 learning disabilities? ›
The top five most common learning disabilities are dyslexia, ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia. Each of these conditions can present with a range of symptoms and can be diagnosed through a combination of medical and educational assessments.
What is the reputation of Child Mind Institute? ›
Child Mind Institute has an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5, based on over 100 reviews left anonymously by employees. 24% of employees would recommend working at Child Mind Institute to a friend and 22% have a positive outlook for the business. This rating has decreased by 18% over the last 12 months.
How does Child Mind Institute work? ›
We're the leading independent nonprofit in children's mental health, operating three Mission Areas that work together for greater impact: Care, Education and Science. Our clinical experts are some of the finest in the country. Learn more about their backgrounds and why they're passionate about helping kids.
CBT not only helps treat childhood anxiety and depression, but it is also useful in treating the following conditions in youth: Eating Disorders. Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Is the Child Mind Institute scholarly? ›
The Child Mind Institute's Scientific Research Council is an advisory group composed of some of the nation's most respected thinkers from leading academic institutions.
Is KidsHealth org credible? ›
Nemours KidsHealth is the most-viewed site for dependable information on children's health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
Is Mind org a reliable source? ›
Our mental health information has been certified as trustworthy and reliable by the Information Standard.
