--- title: Should I tell my child about my own learning differences? description: An expert explains why it can help your child with learning and thinking differences to hear about your own. slug: does-it-help-for-kids-to-hear-about-their-parents-issues author: Rayma Griffin, MA, MEd published: '2019-10-16T11:56:32.043Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/A381C3E850D4408A9ADD67925FF41FBA/5958c176a9d98bb1eb16c6847159b712/176716456.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-it-help-for-kids-to-hear-about-their-parents-issues lang: en --- # Should I tell my child about my own learning differences? **Q. I have learning and thinking differences and so does my 10-year-old. Would it be helpful if I told my child about my own struggles?** **A.** Yes, telling your child about your own issues can help them in several ways. For starters, your child may be wondering if they are the only person who’s ever struggled this much. They may also be wondering if they’ll ever get better at dealing with their challenges. Sharing details about your journey through difficult times can give your child hope. Knowing that you’ve struggled and found ways to succeed will help your child believe they can make progress. As with all life lessons, the amount of detail you share depends on your child’s age and maturity level. But if they are struggling and beginning to lose hope, it can be very helpful to talk about how we all struggle with some things. You can give them specific examples of your own struggles. However, it’s crucial to frame these examples in the positive. Point out how you managed to find solutions or how you learned to speak up yourself so you could receive the help you needed. Telling your child that you wished you’d started doing this kind of [self-advocacy](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-importance-of-self-advocacy) when you were younger can encourage them to begin to speak up too. Talk up the importance of seeking out people at school and in the community who can help. Keep in mind that it can be a little tricky talking about the need to ask others for help. Remember that your goal is to empower your child. Encourage them to acknowledge that the struggles are difficult. But make clear that they are in a position to take charge. Start [gathering resources](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-to-build-a-parent-support-network) that can help your child build skills. [Talk with your child](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/talk-to-child-about-signs-learning-differences) and use your own experiences to show them that their challenges are not a reason to “give up.” Rather, they’re a chance to build a support system to ensure their success. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [6 ways talking about your child’s challenges can help](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/benefits-of-talking-about-your-childs-challenges) - Learn about the benefits of sharing your child’s learning and thinking differences with others. - [6 tips for helping your grade-schooler learn to self-advocate](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-tips-for-helping-your-grade-schooler-learn-to-self-advocate) - Self-advocacy is an important skill for kids with learning and thinking differences to develop. Being able to speak up for what they need helps them navigate challenges and get support. You can help your child build this skill by providing opportunities to speak up and ask for help. The process beg - [How to talk with your child about signs you’re noticing](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/talk-to-child-about-signs-learning-differences) - - Its important to talk with your child about the signs youre noticing. - Starting the conversation can be hard. - Talking with your child gives you information about whats going on. If youre seeing signs that your child is struggling with learning and thinking differences, chances are youre wo --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-it-help-for-kids-to-hear-about-their-parents-issues#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-it-help-for-kids-to-hear-about-their-parents-issues","description":"An expert explains why it can help your child with learning and thinking differences to hear about your own."},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-it-help-for-kids-to-hear-about-their-parents-issues","name":"Should I tell my child about my own learning differences?"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","datePublished":"2019-10-16T11:56:32.043Z","description":"An expert explains why it can help your child with learning and thinking differences to hear about your own.","headline":"Should I tell my child about my own learning differences?","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-it-help-for-kids-to-hear-about-their-parents-issues","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.understood.org/#organization","name":"Understood for All Inc","logo":"https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/307jFAYQevghG8nQMCjh89/ccdbbec895765824db43f6d30b496e83/logo_lockup_navy.jpg"}}] ```