In a new book titled Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? The Truth for Parents, authors Roger Stark and Betsy Hill confront a common piece of advice given to struggling students: just try harder. The book, published by Seabiscuit Press, argues that effort alone is insufficient when a child lacks the underlying cognitive skills necessary for effective learning. This message is particularly important for parents of children who face uneven academic performance, frustration, anxiety, homework battles, or declining confidence.
Stark and Hill, who lead BrainWare Learning Company, emphasize that learning relies on a set of cognitive skills—such as attention, memory, processing speed, executive functions, auditory processing, and visual processing—that enable us to understand, remember, and apply information. When these skills are weak or uneven, a student may invest significant effort yet still fall short. In such cases, telling the child to try harder can increase frustration without addressing the root cause.
The book points to a common scenario: a child works hard, spends extra time, and receives help, yet continues to struggle. Another child may grasp concepts in conversation but freeze when asked to read, write, or organize thoughts on paper. These challenges often stem not from a lack of willingness but from being asked to perform academic tasks without the cognitive foundation those tasks require.
Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? introduces a five-step framework to help parents move from pressure and frustration toward understanding, skill-building, and guided support. The authors do not dismiss effort; rather, they assert that effort must be supported by the right learning tools, guidance, and understanding.
A key theme of the book is the link between confidence and learning. When children are repeatedly told to work harder without seeing results, they may start to believe they are not smart or capable. Stark and Hill encourage parents to treat confidence as an integral part of the learning process. Children are more likely to persist when they experience progress and understand that their struggles have a plausible explanation.
The book also questions the reliance on temporary workarounds. While accommodations and support are important, the authors urge parents to consider whether these measures are helping their child build stronger learning capacity over time. This distinction is critical for families who seek long-term improvement rather than short-term relief.
With its practical and direct message, the book aims to help parents move beyond the simplistic instruction to "try harder." It emphasizes that struggling students often need more than pressure; they need parents and educators to understand how they learn, identify barriers, and provide support that builds the skills necessary for success. The book is available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.
