It can be difficult to watch your child struggle with a learning disability. Nobody wants to watch their child struggle. You want to do something to help or even to fix it. It may be nerve-wracking but the things you can do may never seem like enough. Here are three things you can do to help your child deal with a learning disability.

Be Patient

Your child is already struggling. The last thing he needs is someone at home making him feel like he is not measuring up. After a long day at school, your child needs a soft place to land. He needs to know that you are there for him. The best thing you can do for yourself and your child is to learn as much as you can about your child’s learning disability. This can help you to be sympathetic and patient.

Be Persistent

While it is good to be patient, you also need to be persistent. This means making sure he gets his homework done. It also means checking in with teachers and counselors. If you feel that your child needs something he is not getting, be his advocate. Keep being proactive and make sure he receives the assistance he needs and the education he deserves.

Being persistent also means staying up to date about the latest findings on his condition. Make sure you do your own research to understand the newest options that may help your child. It’s also important that your child interact with and be helped by education professionals equipped to help them, meaning they have a formal education like an online masters in special education. This will help your child be around the tools they will need.

Be Encouraging

Just as you are your child’s advocate, you are also his biggest cheerleader. His teacher’s praise is great and encouragement from others is wonderful, but nothing compares with the faith and encouragement that his parents have to offer. Yours is the approval he seeks most. When he accomplishes something let him know you are proud. Tell him what a great job he’s done. And when things do not go his way, let him know that nobody gets it right all of the time and that there is always another day. Encourage him to keep trying.

It is not easy to watch your child struggle with a learning disability. As his parent, you want to do something to help. Sometimes the best things you can do are just being there for him as an advocate and cheerleader. Most importantly, however, encourage him to keep trying.