A new book published by Seabiscuit Press challenges the common assumption that children who struggle in school simply lack motivation. In Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? The Truth for Parents, authors Roger Stark and Betsy Hill argue that what often appears as laziness, carelessness, or lack of effort may actually stem from how a child's brain processes information. The book, released July 14, 2026, aims to help parents distinguish between motivation issues and underlying cognitive weaknesses.
Stark and Hill, who lead BrainWare Learning Company, explain that cognitive skills such as attention, memory, processing speed, executive function, and visual or auditory processing are essential for learning. When these skills are unevenly developed, a student may seem distracted, resistant, disorganized, or slow, even if they are bright and eager to succeed. The authors note that a child spending two hours on homework may not need a lecture about effort, and a student who forgets multi-step directions may not be ignoring adults. Instead, the book encourages parents to ask whether the child has the necessary learning foundation to complete tasks successfully.
The book introduces a five-step framework designed to help parents move from worry and repeated reminders toward a clearer understanding of their child's learning strengths and weaknesses. Rather than offering another collection of parenting strategies for managing schoolwork, Stark and Hill focus on building the underlying cognitive capacity that makes future learning easier. They argue that the goal is not just to complete today's assignments but to help children become more capable learners.
For families who have received a diagnosis or school label, the book provides guidance beyond broad categories. A label may explain certain challenges or open doors to services, but it does not always show how an individual child learns best. Stark and Hill encourage parents to look at specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses to tailor support effectively. The book is described as a practical and hopeful guide for parents navigating school frustration and learning differences, emphasizing that when parents understand how learning happens, they are better prepared to help children build confidence and capability.
Roger Stark, CEO of BrainWare Learning Company, and Betsy Hill, President and COO, bring experience in cognitive training and neuroscience-informed education to the topic. Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? The Truth for Parents is available in paperback, hardcover, and Ebook formats. For more information, visit BrainWare Learning Company.
