Mentor San Diego Child Day Care Services in San Diego and Orange County

    ExciteSteps.com

 Article by: Stefan Hochfilzer (ClubXcite Founder)

Have you been told by a teacher, doctor or friend that your child may have a learning disability? Learning disabilities are very common and can range from mild to very severe. A learning disability (LD) is a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to receive, process, store and respond to information. Many children with learning disabilities have difficulty with acquiring or focusing on basic academic skills. Without these skills children with learning disabilities are often left behind or fall through the cracks in our school system. 

The types of LD are identified by the specific processing problem. They might relate to an “input” problem, getting information into the brain through the auditory or visual inputs.  Integration difficulties are when a child has a hard time making sense of certain information either through sequencing, abreaction or organization. Memory problems are identified with difficulties storing and later retrieving information. Lastly a child may have issues with output, getting this information back out through language or motor capabilities.

How can you tell if your child has a learning disability? Most frequently displayed symptoms are the following:

• Poor memory, reading and/or writing ability

• Problems with organization and some sensory difficulties

• Short attention span

• Hard time following directions

• Inability to differentiate between/among letters, numerals, or sounds

• Difficulties with Eye-hand coordination and sequencing

Some other characteristics that you should look out for are:

• Disciplinary problems

• Always distracted, impulsive and restless

• Performance differs from day to day

• Inappropriate responses to circumstances

• Difficulty adjusting to changes

• Difficulty listening and remembering

• Difficulty telling time and knowing right from left

• May have difficulty sounding out words

• Letters may be reversed

• Delayed speech development; immature speech

Children with learning disabilities are unaware of the level of achievement that is expected and what is actually being achieved. It is very common for children with LD to have difficulties with socio-emotional skills and behavior.

A learning disability is not a disease, so there is no cure, but there are ways to overcome the challenges it poses through identification and accommodation. Having your child work with a mentor who helps them with homework and involving them in outdoor activities has proven to be a very effective way of overcoming learning disabilities.
 
 

What is ClubXcite?

Xcite! is dedicated to providing opportunities for individuals to grow as athletes, students, and friends. The “Xcite! Way” is the philosophy that an enjoyable teaching style translates to accelerated learning and unmatched performance. With a fun, non-competitive, and encouraging environment, motivated and well-rounded students are created who reach their utmost potential.

Personal growth
Xcite! programs offer a way for children to gain valuable social and team working skills. The “Xcite! Way” inspires students to think positively and encourages self-motivation. Instructors identify student’s strengths and weaknesses so that participants can effectively utilize natural talent while developing weaker areas. Our approach helps students become well rounded and motivated individuals.

Making friends
Sports teams and other extracurricular programs provide for a healthy environment in which students can make friends with individuals in the same community. It is our goal to provide students with a strong foundation so that they feel comfortable interacting with their new neighborhood friends both in and outside of the Xcite! program. Xcite! encourages its participants to form ad hoc teams or practice sessions so that they may build upon the skills that Xcite! has taught them.

Family oriented
Xcite! realizes the importance of building a strong family network throughout the community. Upon creating an environment where families are involved in the children’s successes and achievements, Xcite! strives to create a united and spirited community.

Investing in your child’s future
Our mentors understand what it takes to optimize performance. It is our desire for children to take the skills learned at Xcite! and translate them into measurable successes. Whether it be joining a high school team, or gaining a college scholarship, Xcite! mentors individuals who desire to be top performers.

I encourage you to contact me personally if you would like more information on customizing a program to match your child's needs.