Let's Talk Life

Yvonnie Bailey- Davidson, Contributor

What shall I do? My son hates books

Dear Counsellor,

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. My son is 11 years old and is not reading well. I am very concerned as he seems to hate books. How can I help him?

- Margie

Dear Margie,

Season's greetings and all the best for the New Year.

There are many children, especially boys, who are not reading at grade level. Some have a learning disorder or intellectual disability. Children learn at different rates and some are slow learners. When a teacher discovers that a child is a slow learner, strategies should be put in place to ensure that the child does not get lost in the system. You need to get a psycho-educational assessment done, and this will determine his strengths and weaknesses. The assessment is not cheap when it is done privately, so you will have to consider it an investment in the future of your child.

Some slow learners have very good survival skills and are street smart. Not every child will get eight Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects and we will have to provide skills training for all groups of students. We need to ensure that each child will leave school with a skill. The objective of going to school is to get a skill that is marketable and the child can be self-sufficient.

Help him at home

At home, you will have to teach him phonics skill so that he can read unfamiliar words. Read to him and question him about what you have read. You will be teaching him to remember stories and write them for himself. Let him tell you stories that he creates and writes about them. You need to have a dictionary nearby to look for the new words. Dictionary skills are important and he needs to learn them.

You will have to try and motivate him by focusing on his strengths. What is he good at doing in the home or at school? He needs to have a steady source of encouragement so that he is motivated to read. Self-esteem is important and many students with learning problems have low self-esteem. He needs to be successful at something to bring good cheer to himself. He may be good at mathematics or sports or enjoy being in a club. Encourage him to join a club whose activities he likes.

The close bond that will evolve between both of you will help him to feel wanted.

Nervous about autism

Dear Counsellor,

My son has been diagnosed with autism and I am scared.

- Lorna

Dear Lorna,

Autism is a common condition. Help is available. There are support groups for families in Jamaica. These support groups provide useful information for parents. Parents help each other cope with the difficulties. There are special schools for children with autism. All is not lost because some children improve with time.

Email questions and feedback for Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson to yvonniebd@hotmail.com or call 978-8602.