A new book is challenging the common advice that struggling students simply need to try harder. In Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? The Truth for Parents, authors Roger Stark and Betsy Hill argue that effort alone is often insufficient when a child lacks the cognitive skills needed for effective learning. The book, published by Seabiscuit Press, is aimed at parents of children who experience frustration, anxiety, or declining confidence in school, as well as those with uneven academic performance.
Stark and Hill, who lead BrainWare Learning Company, a firm focused on cognitive training and neuroscience-informed learning, suggest that parents should ask a more useful question: Does the child have the learning foundation needed to succeed? They explain that learning depends on cognitive skills such as attention, memory, processing speed, executive functions, and auditory and visual processing. These skills enable individuals to understand, remember, and apply information. When these skills are weak or uneven, a student may put in effort and still fall short. In such cases, telling the child to try harder can increase frustration without addressing the real barrier.
The book highlights a common scenario: a child works hard, spends extra time, and receives help, yet still struggles to keep up. Another child may understand ideas in conversation but freeze when asked to read, write, or organize steps on paper. In both cases, the issue may not be willingness. It may be that the child is being asked to perform academic tasks without the cognitive foundation those tasks require.
Rather than simply rejecting effort, the book offers a five-step framework to help parents move from pressure and frustration toward understanding, skill-building, and guided support. The authors emphasize that effort must be supported by the right learning tools, guidance, and understanding.
A key message is that confidence is closely tied to learning. When children are repeatedly told to work harder but do not see results, they may begin to believe they are not smart or capable. Stark and Hill encourage parents to view confidence not as a bonus, but as part of the learning process. Children are more likely to persist when they experience progress and understand that their struggles have an explanation.
The book also raises questions about temporary workarounds. Accommodations and support can be important, but the authors argue that parents should also ask whether those supports are helping a child build stronger learning capacity over time. This distinction matters for families who want more than short-term relief; they want their child to become a more confident, independent learner.
Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? is positioned as a parent guide for families ready to move beyond the simple instruction to "try harder." Its message is practical and direct: struggling students often need more than pressure. They need parents and educators to understand how they learn, where the barriers are, and what kind of support can help them build the skills to succeed. The book is available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.
