The Vision Development Center of Lancaster understands that children are naturally curious. They develop and grow into a newer and better version of themselves almost every single day. For many children, satisfying their curiosity and learning about the world around them is a relatively straightforward experience. For others, it can be frustrating, challenging, and lead to confusion. While it is completely normal to be confused about learning something new, for some children, this confusion is a relentless struggle that is difficult to overcome.
You may recall as a child being made to believe that confusion is a “bad thing” and associate it with not being smart enough. At the end of the day, confusion comes from a simple lack of understanding, and learning is essentially the processing of understanding the unknown. Confusion is a normal and typical part of learning and children should not be made to feel as they are less than for feeling confused. The discomfort that comes along with this confusion can create a vicious cycle that children may associate with learning and can be difficult to break.
So, what exactly can you do as a parent to help your child through their confusion?
The first thing that you should do with a confused child is help them understand that the way they feel is ok and that it is completely natural. Helping them realize that everyone, including yourself, has felt this way and goes through this every day may help them feel more comfortable about their confusion. Show them that confusion is a normal part of everyone’s day.
Supporting your child through confusion can be difficult and there is no “one size fits all” solution to help them. Every child is different and what helps one child may not help another.
That being said, here are a few helpful tips that you can try with your child to help them get through their confusion.
1. Break things down. When your child is learning something new, it may help to break it down into its simplest form. Create segments that are easier to digest in smaller chunks. When learning a new word, find one your child is already familiar with and use that as a basis for understanding the new one. When learning a new skill, take things one step at a time and wait until your child can grasp one step before moving on to the next. These things may help boost your child’s confidence and lessen their confusion.
2. Set some realistic goals. Rome was not built in a day and your child’s confusion will not be solved in a day either. Make sure that when you are helping them through their confusion that your ambitions are practical. Talk with your child about their progress from day to day and help them assess what they want to accomplish. Helping them set a goal can be a motivating tool that may be helpful in overcoming their confusion. By communicating with your child frequently about their progress, you can aid them in setting a goal that they can actually achieve. Reaching these goals can be a great way to show your child that their confusion can be overcome little by little.
3. Use their interests as a tool. What are the things that interest your child? Talk with them about the things that they already like and how they discovered them. How did they learn about that interest? It may be the key to understanding the best way to help them through their confusion. It can also be a great way to get them to be more comfortable when learning something new. Find a way to make a connection between something they are already interested in and the new skill or concept. Making those connections can be a big help and may lower your child’s guard enough to show them that their confusion is not as bad as they might think it is.
4. Get help when you need it. Finding the right strategy for your child may take some time and you may want to seek the help of some experts. This could come in the form of talking with your child’s teacher about a new game plan for how to help your child. You may even want to speak to your child’s doctor about this to see if they have any suggestions on the matter.
The most important thing is to help your child know that they are not alone. They may be frustrated, but knowing that you are there to support them can be a great comfort for them. The solution to your child’s problems may even be one that you have not even considered. Have you ever thought that some of your child’s issues may stem from poor vision? Bringing your child to the Vision Development Center may be a great benefit.
Click here to learn more about our vision therapy program and how it can help your child!