Self esteem and learning

Inspired by Mental Health Week, this month I'd like to share with you some lovely books that may help you to support your child's self-esteem.

"The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses" by Barbara Esham is a series of six picture book stories about children with learning differences, for primary aged children. I like them because they're funny, engaging and positive.

"Indigo Solves the Pzulze" by Wendy Fitzgerald is the heart warming personal story of a 10 year old girl with Dyslexia. This little girl launched the Indigo Express Fund to raise literacy in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Mental health problems including anxiety and depression are more common in children with learning disabilities than in their peers (I say 'more common' when I'd love to give you a figure, but the exact criteria and statistics vary across the research.) From my own clinical experience I find parents often report that their child's self-esteem takes a hit when they are struggling with learning in school.

Understanding themselves, and feeling understood by others, is a great first step for a child with a learning difference to develop their self-advocacy skills (see the Self-Advocacy blog entry below from March'14).