Does Your Child Struggle in School? A Summer Must Read For September Success

Different Learners: Identifying, Preventing, and Helping Your Children’s Learning Problems Jane Healy, Ph.D. Simon and Schuster, April, 2010
Jane Healy did it again! Given parents and teachers a far-reaching, yet specific self-help guide to support children’s optimal development and learning. As in their own now classic book, Endangered Minds, Healy delivers a comprehensive, user-friendly read in her own latest book, Different Learners: Identifying, Preventing, and Helping Your Children’s Learning Problems.
It’s sobering to consider which a child born inside the United States carries a 30 percent probability of being identified as having some sort of learning problem. That about 2.5 million children take medications for attention and hyperactivity. That there are seven million children currently signed up for special education with autism increasing by 800% throughout the last decade. Beginning by describing the extent in the challenges, Dr. Healy shows us that there truly exists today a whole new epidemic of learning problems affecting children from across all levels with the socioeconomic spectrum. In her typical no-nonsense prose, the reader clearly understands one of the most current research, often through vivid examples from parents and succinct quotes from compelling experts.
The book considers different types of learning disorders and/or learning differences using a review with the research on a various successful treatments. Healy then turns to the “heart” from the book-discussing how genetics and also the environment interact to impact brain development. She emphasizes that the difference often does not imply a disability. Instead, Healy demonstrates the role with the environment in shaping a child’s brain and simultaneously his/her learning skills. We emphasize the home environment as an important factor on the Parent Coaching Institute, as anyone who’s been coached by way of a PCI Certified Parent CoachA� knows. By making adjustments, often even seemingly slight adjustments within the child’s home environment many positive changes occur. And environmental changes not only change children, they change parents at the same time. A parent who had previously been tired out and overwhelmed by the child’s poor progress in college, for instance, suddenly becomes infused with energy and new possibilities with the simple act of keeping the tv screen deterred if the child is performing homework. I have seen this happen frequently for numerous parents as well as their children, bringing more engagement in previously “difficult” homework, and enhancing the child’s motivation for learning within the process. On fine motor toys -302, Healy offers a concise explanation from the TV/brain interface that will give parents a reason boost at the same time to generate this straightforward environmental change.
Chapter 6 explains how the child’s brain works, laying a solid foundation for Chapters 7 and 8 which discuss the interplay of genes, learning, and the environment as well as the role of stress to impact optimal development. Since scientists agree the gene pool changes alone cannot explain the recent dramatic development in diagnosed learning problems, the way were made to live nowadays must be taken seriously-hectic schedules, poor nutrition, sleep patterns, not enough workout and play, overuse of TV and screen technologies, and environmental toxic chemicals-are significant factors. “We are in a culture that is certainly both clueless and careless by what kids’ brains actually need,” Healy writes, “No wonder there is certainly problem inside schoolroom.”
Healy explains the answers lie with what she calls “brain-cleaning.” Chapter 10 explains practical solutions to “banish brain disruptors” like toxic chemicals and nutritional risks. Chapter 11 helps parents “tackle lifestyle choices” like sleep patterns along with the media. In these, as in the other chapters, bulleted points throughout help the reader pinpoint the essentials while end-of-chapter summations allow it to be simple to retain and replay the important points.
In today’s increasingly hectic and fragmented world, Different Learners provides clear directives for emphasizing what works to help you all learners-no matter their challenges, styles, or diagnosis. Jane Healy, in her straightforward style and through her indomitable spirit, provides elegant answers for that ugly concerns wearing out countless parents and extracting an incredible number of children. If you are a teacher or perhaps a parent seeking sane advice, helpful ideas, and fresh insights-buy this book. Since it is so jam-packed with useful information, you probably will need to talk about it time and again. Different Learners is going to become a classic by showing you unequivocally your child, at home and inside the classroom, is going to succeed.