A new book is challenging the common advice to struggling students to 'try harder,' arguing that effort alone is often insufficient when underlying cognitive skills are weak. 'Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? The Truth for Parents,' by Roger Stark and Betsy Hill, published by Seabiscuit Press, aims to guide parents of children who face academic struggles despite their best efforts.
The authors, who are the CEO and President/COO of BrainWare Learning Company respectively, explain that learning relies on cognitive skills such as attention, memory, processing speed, executive functions, and auditory and visual processing. These skills enable understanding, remembering, and applying information. When these skills are weak or uneven, students may work hard yet still fall short. In such cases, telling a child to try harder can increase frustration without addressing the real barrier.
The book addresses a common scenario: a child who spends extra time on homework, receives help, and still struggles. Another child may grasp concepts in conversation but freeze when asked to read, write, or organize thoughts on paper. The issue may not be willingness but a lack of the cognitive foundation required for academic tasks.
Instead of simply urging more effort, the book presents a five-step framework to help parents move from pressure and frustration to understanding and skill-building. It emphasizes that confidence is closely tied to learning. When children are repeatedly told to work harder without seeing results, they may internalize a belief that they are not smart. The authors encourage parents to view confidence as part of the learning process, as children are more likely to persist when they experience progress and understand the reasons for their struggles.
The book also questions temporary workarounds. While accommodations and support can be important, the authors argue that parents should consider whether these supports are helping the child build stronger learning capacity over time. This distinction matters for families seeking long-term growth rather than just short-term relief, aiming for children to become confident, independent learners.
Stark and Hill's work focuses on cognitive training and neuroscience-informed learning. Their book is positioned as a practical guide for families ready to move beyond simple directives. Its message is direct: struggling students often need more than pressure; they need parents and educators to understand how they learn and to provide support that builds the necessary skills.
For more information, the book is available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats through Seabiscuit Press.
