Wait & See Now = MORE TIME & MONEY LATER

A newsletter from Ann Dolin linked to a great article at ReadingRockets.org, "Waiting Rarely Works: Late Bloomers Usually Just Wilt". During my teacher training in college and the classroom, it was repeatedly emphasized that "kids learn at different speeds" and "one day things will just click". Sadly, many of my clients are the victims of the "late bloomer" fallacy and have suffered the consequences:

• students getting further and further behind

• students suffering emotionally - anxiety & frustration about learning struggles leads to depression, "shutting down", acting out, and other behavioral / emotional problems

• all family members and relationships suffer due to homework battles, unsatisfactory grades, poor behavior, etc.

Although it is never to late to get help, research and common sense show time and again that EARLY intervention is key. The sooner a child receives help, the better.

Think of an onion... every time a child associates a negative experience with learning, the pattern gets stronger, creating layer upon layer of negative associations and coping behaviors. When parents and students are referred to me, we all work together to peel away those "negative" layers by:

• identifying the root cause(s) of learning difficulties through comprehensive assessments
• showing the student the beauty of neuroplasticity, the importance of training the brain to make new connections and making those connections more efficient through continued practice.
  
• training up weak skills to increase learning efficiency
• working with teachers, parents, and student to reduce stress & anxiety while increasing postive learning experiences.
  

Please do your part to eliminate the "late bloomer" fallacy. Problems that aren't dealt with bloom & grow -- like an invasive weed.

Also, realize that different students will hit learning stumbling blocks at different points depending on the individual's skill strengths and weaknesses. For example, a student who has very strong visual memory can "regurgitate" information quite well, so this student will do great until school demands more advanced applications of information learned. Students who hit learning stumbling blocks later may actually suffer MORE, since parents and teachers may assume the student "just isn't working hard enough" or "just needs to study more". So, whether learning struggles happen in Kindergarten, 3rd, 4th, middle school, high school, or college -- seek immediate professional help! Difficulties during transition years in middle and high school are often dismissed, but a poor transition year usually leads to continuing problems.

Lastly, don't UNDERESTIMATE your child's learning potential -- each child has great gifts, and training up weaker skills enables a child to harness those gifts. We all suffer when a child with "A" potential is labeled as a "C Average"!

***REMEMBER: Taking the "wait and see" approach now means spending more time and money to remedy problems later -- not to mention the emotional damage. Don't wait to get help!

TAX DEDUCTIBLE TUTORING?

Please note that I am NOT a tax professional, and you will need to consult one to determine if tutoring and other learning related expenses are deductible. However,

I highly recommend that you take a look at this guide to 2008 Tax Benefits for Parents

According to the tax attorney authors:
The following expenses may qualify for the deduction if a medical professional recommends the service or treatment for the child and there is a medical diagnosis of a neurological disorder, such as a severe learning disability:

* Tuition for a private school
* Tutoring
* Specialized materials (e.g., books, software and instructional materials)
* Diagnostic evaluations (by a private practitioner)
* Therapy
* Transportation expenses for a private school or tutor

The guide covers:
Tax Benefits: Deductions vs. Credits
Retroactive Claims for Refunds
Medical Expense Deductions
Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Savings Arrangements
Deduction for Disability-Related Conferences
Child and Dependent Care Credit
Exemption for Dependents
Earned Income Tax Credit
Where to Get More Information
Tax Counseling and Tax Preparation Assistance
Disputes With the IRS

Please note that "SEVERE learning disability" does NOT seem to be clearly defined as the online article Tracking ADHD Medical Expenses: How to organize medical invoices and insurance paperwork and save a little, too. by Patricia Quinn, M.D. at Additude Magazine's website states:

"Tutoring services prescribed by a physician can also be considered a medical deduction."

So, definitely review both the 2008 Tax Guide for Parents as well as the article on Tracking ADHD Medical Expenses!