Breaks, Rewards, and Wins! 🏆Simple learning hacks. 🌟

I am often asked by parents how they can help their child get the most from their schooling and support them effectively. For those with neurodiverse children, it’s clear that the current school system isn’t always set up to cater to different learning styles. As a result, these children, regardless of their age and intelligence, are often placed in groups below their capability due to the way their brains naturally process language.

Contrary to what educators and policymakers might suggest, the human brain initially evolved to encourage exploration, innovation, and invention—skills essential for our development from cave dwellers to the modern homes we live in today. This part of the brain, responsible for problem-solving and creativity, predates the 'reading brain' and is located in a different part of the brain. Unfortunately, this visual and creative brain (the right side) faces challenges when processing written information and must work harder to transmit messages to the left side of the brain where reading and language processing occurs.

Here are some ideas you can suggest to your loved one’s teacher to help make their school day more productive and meaningful.

 Focus & Break Strategy
To help your child stay engaged, suggest the “15-minute focus, 5-minute body break” method. Using a visual timer like a sand timer (sets available on Temu), they can work for 15 minutes, then take a short body break—like running to a specific point and back, followed by a quick drink (before the 5 minute timer runs out). This break helps reset the focus and can be easily self-monitored. 

Reading Tips
 Keep It Short: In group reading, suggest reading just 1-2 sentences before moving on to the next person to keep the flow. This way, they won’t feel like they are holding up the group. Ask about reading plays where everyone gets a part. This makes it interactive and enjoyable.

Daily Rewards
Motivate them with daily rewards. If they complete their tasks the best they can, allow them to go outside 5 minutes early or have 10 minutes of 'fun time' or playtime with a buddy before the end of the day.

These are just a few ideas, but if you'd like more suggestions or have your own thoughts on how we can create a more supportive environment for our kids, I’d love for you to share! Feel free to reach out or click the link below to get in touch.
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