In a new book, authors Roger Stark and Betsy Hill challenge the common advice given to struggling students: "try harder." Their book, "Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? The Truth for Parents," argues that effort alone is often insufficient when a child lacks the underlying cognitive skills needed for effective learning.
The book, published by Seabiscuit Press, is aimed at parents of struggling learners, students with uneven academic performance, and children whose school experience is marked by frustration, anxiety, or declining confidence. Stark and Hill encourage parents to look beyond surface explanations and ask: Does this child have the learning foundation needed to succeed?
The authors explain that learning depends on cognitive skills such as attention, memory, processing speed, executive functions, and auditory and visual processing. If 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. Another child may understand ideas in conversation but freeze when asked to read, write, or organize steps. In both cases, the issue may not be willingness but a lack of the cognitive foundation required for academic tasks.
"Your Child Learns Differently, Now What?" offers a five-step framework to help parents move from pressure and frustration toward understanding, skill-building, and guided support. It does not reject effort but argues that effort must be supported by the right tools, guidance, and understanding.
A key message is that confidence is closely tied to learning. When children are repeatedly told to work harder without seeing results, they may begin to believe they are not smart or capable. Stark and Hill encourage parents to view confidence as part of the learning process, noting that children are more likely to persist when they experience progress and understand their struggles have an explanation.
The book also raises questions about temporary workarounds like accommodations. While such supports can be important, the authors argue that parents should ask whether those supports are helping build stronger learning capacity over time. The distinction matters for families who want more than short-term relief—they want their child to become a more confident, independent learner.
Roger Stark is the CEO of BrainWare Learning Company, and Betsy Hill is its President and COO. Their work focuses on cognitive training and neuroscience-informed learning, helping parents and educators understand the role of cognitive skills in school performance and long-term outcomes.
"Your Child Learns Differently, Now What?" is positioned as a practical guide for families ready to move beyond the simple instruction to "try harder." Its message is direct: struggling students often need more than pressure. They need understanding of how they learn, identification of barriers, and support to build the skills needed for success.
