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The 8 Pieces Of The Learning Puzzle Part 2 How Can Parents Help

Official source

Source domain: elsen.co.za

Collected on 6 August 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This document is an educational article from Elsen Academy discussing eight key learning challenges students may face and offering practical advice for parents on how to support their children. It covers issues such as dyscalculia, dyslexia, difficulty with writing, attention deficits, motor skill delays, communication difficulties, organizational struggles, and social challenges. The article provides specific activities and strategies parents can use at home to help develop foundational skills in math, reading, writing, focus, coordination, expression, organization, and social interaction.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

parent-guided reading interventionOngoing

Access to reading support strategies for dyslexia

Parents can help children with dyslexia by reading stories aloud while pointing to words, playing rhyming games, using subtitles, and monitoring hearing and speech development.

Who it is for
parents of children with dyslexia
How to act on it
Read stories aloud while pointing to words, play rhyming word games like 'I spy', and ensure subtitles are used during screen time. Monitor hearing and speech development.
Show the line this came from
Read stories and point to the words as you read. Point out words often. Play rhyming word games. I spy… Subtitles on Assess hearing and speech development.
fine motor skill development activityOngoing

Access to fine motor skill development activities

Parents can engage children in hands-on exercises such as rolling playdough, using tweezers to pick up small objects, and working with peg boards to strengthen fine motor control.

Who it is for
parents of children with motor skill delays
How to act on it
Practice fine motor skills through activities like rolling playdough with fingertips, using tweezers to pick up beans, and using peg boards and threading toys.
Show the line this came from
Practice makes perfect. Fine motor skills activities like rolling playdough with finger tips, use tweezers to pick up beans, peg boards, threading, etc. OT assessment
creative writing support activityOngoing

Access to storytelling and writing development activities

Parents can encourage children to tell stories using structured prompts and visual aids like storyboards and sequence pictures, helping them improve narrative skills and written expression.

Who it is for
parents of children struggling with writing and imagination
How to act on it
Ask children to tell stories using prompts like 'what happened first, next, and then?', use storyboards or sequence pictures to create stories, and complete unfinished story prompts.
Show the line this came from
Encourage kids to tell stories using “what happened first, next, and then, how did it end? First tell, and then write. Make use of storyboards. Use sequence pictures and ask them to make up a story with the pictures. What would you do if…. Finish my story…
parent-led behavioural support processOngoing

Access to attention training and ADHD assessment guidance

Parents can monitor their child’s focus and seek professional evaluation for ADHD through a paediatrician or symptom checklists, and consider trial interventions with teacher feedback.

Who it is for
parents of children with attention deficits
How to act on it
Visit a paediatrician to request an ADHD assessment, use online symptom checklists, try a 2-week trial, and liaise with the child's teacher to evaluate improvement.
Show the line this came from
Visit a paed and request an ADHD assessment or find a symptom checklist on the internet. Visit ADDITUDE for more information. Try a 2 week trial. Liaise with the teacher to see if there is an improvement. Watch for any side effects.
parent-guided learning activityOngoing

Access to educational strategies and activities for dyscalculia

Parents can use number-related activities at home, such as counting objects, using number charts, rulers, tape measures, and playing cards, to help children develop number sense and overcome dyscalculia.

Who it is for
parents of children with dyscalculia
How to act on it
Use household items like bottle tops, beans, and buttons as counters; engage in number sequence games using 100 grids and number charts; practice counting and adding with playing cards.
Show the line this came from
Use objects around the house as counters, bottle tops, beans, buttons, etc and put a few down and ask them to first guess and then count the number. Write the number or point to the number. Use playing cards to practice counting and adding. 100 grids, number charts, ruler, tape measures, etc. for number sequence activities.
private academic tutoring enrolmentOngoing

Access to external tutoring services (Kip McGrath, Master Maths, Kumon Maths)

Parents can enroll their children in structured private tutoring programmes such as Kip McGrath, Master Maths, or Kumon Maths for targeted academic support.

Who it is for
parents seeking structured maths tutoring for their children
How to act on it
Contact Kip McGrath, Master Maths, or Kumon Maths directly to inquire about enrolment and local centres.
Show the line this came from
Extra maths lessons, i.e. Kip McGrath, Master Maths, Kumon Maths
online educational resource accessOngoing

Access to supplementary learning platforms (Khan Academy, Mathletics)

Parents can use free or paid online platforms such as Khan Academy and Mathletics to supplement their child’s maths learning at home.

Who it is for
parents of children needing additional maths support
How to act on it
Visit Khan Academy and Mathletics websites to access free educational content and interactive lessons.
Show the line this came from
Khan Academy Mathletics
communication skill-building exerciseOngoing

Access to communication and expression development strategies

Parents can help children improve their ability to articulate thoughts by asking them to explain routines, sequences, or stories in their own words, enhancing verbal and written expression.

Who it is for
parents of children with difficulty expressing ideas
How to act on it
Ask children to explain a recipe, game rules, science experiment steps, or retell a story back to you; practice skip counting and remembering phone numbers.
Show the line this came from
Sequential ordering – Explain a recipe, the rules of a game, steps in a science experiment, being able to tell a story back to you, skip counting, remembering a phone number.

Facts

Places

Eastern Cape

Key Takeaways

  • dyscalculia
  • dyslexia
  • ADHD
  • fine motor skills
  • storytelling
  • organizational habits
  • social skills
  • Khan Academy
  • Mathletics
  • Kip McGrath
  • Master Maths
  • Kumon Maths
  • ADDITUDE
  • October ADHD awareness month
  • storyboards
  • 100 grids
  • number charts
  • ruler
  • tape measures
  • peg boards
  • themed games
  • calendar
  • planner
  • egg timer
  • stopwatch
  • Elsen Academy
  • ADDITUDE
  • Khan Academy
  • Mathletics
  • Kip McGrath