Hello Sue,
I keep hearing about “brain training” programs that claim to fix learning difficulties. Some people swear by them, others say they’re a waste of money. Honestly, I’m confused. Can brain training really help children who struggle with reading, writing, or math?
Charlie
Hello Charlie
That’s an excellent question, and I’m glad you asked. The short answer is yes — brain training can help with learning problems, but only when it’s done in the right way.
Here’s why: many children who struggle at school don’t just have gaps in their knowledge. They also have weaknesses in the cognitive skills that support learning: memory, attention, processing speed, sequencing, and reasoning. If working memory is weak, for example, a child may forget the beginning of a sentence before reaching the end. If sequencing is shaky, math procedures become confusing. Strengthening these skills through targeted training makes it easier for the child’s brain to process information — and that’s the foundation of learning.
But brain training alone is not the solution. Think about basketball. You can’t be a good player if you can’t dribble the ball. Yet dribbling well doesn’t make you a great player either. You still need to apply the foundational skills (dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending) in actual games. Cognitive training is like dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending: they give the child essential tools. Academic practice is like playing the game: it ensures those tools are applied where they matter most.
That’s why, at Edublox, we combine cognitive training with direct reading, spelling, writing, and math practice. This ensures that the improvements in mental skills transfer into real academic progress.
So yes, brain training can be powerful, but only if it’s part of a balanced program that connects the “skills” with the “game.”
Warm regards,
Sue
More about Sue
Sue is an educational specialist in learning difficulties with a B.A. Honors in Psychology and a B.D. degree. Early in her career, Sue was instrumental in training over 3,000 teachers and tutors, providing them with the foundational and practical understanding to facilitate cognitive development among children who struggle to read and write. With over 30 years of research to her name, she conceptualized the Edublox teaching and learning methods that have helped thousands of children worldwide. In 2007, she opened the first Edublox reading and learning clinic; today, there are 30 clinics internationally. Sue treasures the “hero” stories of students whose self-esteem soars as their marks improve.
