A child with learning differences experiences on average 5 times more failure situations per day than a typical child. Protecting and building their self-confidence is as important as the therapy itself.
Chronic stress from repeated failure releases cortisol, which inhibits the hippocampus (memory) and the prefrontal cortex (thinking). A stressed child learns less well, which creates a vicious circle.
Conversely, self-confidence and pleasure release dopamine, which boosts memorisation and motivation.
Neuroscience
Carol Dweck’s research at Stanford shows that praising effort rather than talent builds a “growth mindset” that increases resilience in the face of difficulty.
Find every exercise for self-confidence in our interactive ebook. Pick the ones that suit your child and download them as PDFs.
Access the exercisesDyslexia
Dyslexia is a specific reading learning difference that affects 5 to 10% of children. It is not a lack of intelligence or willpower — it is a neurological difference in how the brain processes the sounds of language.
Dysorthography
Dysorthography is a specific spelling learning difference, often linked to dyslexia. The dysorthographic child makes persistent errors despite suitable, repeated teaching.
Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia affects 3 to 7% of children. It is not “being bad at maths” — it is a neurological difficulty understanding quantities, numeration and calculation.