eHealth Connection | Cooper University Hospital

by Richard Selznick, PhD

School-struggling can be very debilitating for a family. Tensions rise as the patterns of avoidance and non-compliance emerge as the school year progresses. Parents can feel hopeless and directionless relative to the mounting school problems.

The Matthews family came in to consult about their child, Elijah, age 14. Speaking eloquently and passionately about their family challenges, Mr. Matthews stated, “Every night it’s the same thing. We live under constant stress around school and homework issues. If it were not for my wife providing Elijah with daily support, he would be sinking like a stone. We’re just depleted and exhausted.”

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By Richard Selznick, Ph.D.

Throughout preschool and her early elementary grades, Emma was sunny, confident, and engaged in school. Now 12 and in Grade 6, her teacher’s comments paint a different picture:

Emma enters class pleasantly and she seems to get along nicely with the other kids. During class, however, Emma never participates and it seems that her mind is elsewhere. Emma’s work reflects a general lack of effort. It’s almost as if she doesn’t care.

What happened to the sunny, confident and engaged Emma?

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This month, the Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper offers tips for parents who have children struggling in school. Director of the Cooper Learning Center Richard Selznick, Ph.D., has extensive experience assessing and treating children with a broad range of learning problems. He has also written about children discouraged with school in his new book, The Shut-Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child (www.shutdownlearner.com). Dr. Selznick coined the phrase “shut-down learner” to describe children who thrive with hands-on tasks requiring visual and spatial abilities, but who have difficulty mastering core skills such as reading and writing. Read the full story