It’s the beginning of a new school year, and for many families, this season brings excitement and hope. But for some parents, there’s a nagging feeling: What if this year isn’t any better than the last one? What if my child continues to struggle in school—academically, emotionally, or both?
While every child can have a tough day or week adjusting to school routines, there are some clear signs that point to deeper issues—often rooted in cognitive skill weaknesses that make learning harder than it should be.
Here are five red flags that may indicate your child is at risk of falling behind or burning out this school year:
1. Trouble Staying Focused
If your child constantly zones out during schoolwork, needs repeated reminders to finish manageable tasks, or can’t seem to sit through a short reading assignment, this could be more than typical distractibility. It could be a sign of weak attention skills—such as sustained attention, selective attention, or divided attention—all of which are critical for classroom learning.
2. Meltdowns Over Independent Work
Tears, tantrums, or complete shutdowns when it’s time to do homework, study, read, or even pack their backpack for a school day may point to frustration that’s been building for a while.
This can happen when tasks require mental effort that exceeds your child’s cognitive capacity—especially in areas like working memory, processing speed, or logic and reasoning. When learning feels overwhelming day after day, emotional responses become more intense.
3. Avoidance of Reading or Writing
Does your child groan, delay, or suddenly “need a snack” every time they’re asked to read or write? While avoidance can sometimes look like laziness, it’s often a coping mechanism. Kids with weak auditory and visual processing or long-term memory skills may find reading and writing exhausting, even if they’re bright and motivated.
4. Inconsistent Performance
One day your child nails a math test; the next week, they can’t remember how to do basic problems. Or they’re great in science but bomb English class every time. When a child’s cognitive skills are uneven—strong in some areas but weak in others—their academic performance will likely be unpredictable and inconsistent, leading to confusion, discouragement, and low confidence.
5. Saying Things Like “I’m Stupid” or “I Hate School”
When kids start using negative self-talk about school or their abilities, it’s often because they feel like they’re trying as hard as they can—and still not succeeding. This can be a major warning sign that there’s a mismatch between the demands being placed on them and the skills they’re using to meet those demands. Left unaddressed, this mindset can spiral into anxiety, school refusal, or academic apathy.
Don’t Wait and See—Get Answers Now
The good news? You don’t have to guess what’s going on inside your child’s brain. At LearningRx, our Cognitive Skills Assessment gives you clear answers about how your child learns and where they may be struggling—before report cards or tears tell you something’s wrong.
The earlier you identify the root of the struggle, the sooner you can change the trajectory of your child’s school year.
Schedule a one-on-one cognitive assessment today and give your child the tools they need to succeed—this year and beyond.