Why Children Struggle to Learn (And What Parents and Teachers Can Do About It)

If you’ve ever looked at a child and thought, “They’re bright. Why aren’t they doing better in school?”—you’re not alone. It’s one of the most frustrating questions for parents and educators alike.

You see a student with curiosity, potential, and even motivation… yet their grades slip, they lose interest, or they get labeled as “slow,” “distracted,” or “lazy.”

But here’s the truth most people miss:

Learning difficulties rarely come from a lack of intelligence.
They come from invisible barriers that block understanding.

At Applied Scholastics, we’ve spent decades helping students overcome these exact barriers. And we’ve seen this transformation again and again:

• Struggling students begin to enjoy learning.

• Frustrated parents breathe a sigh of relief.

• Educators finally see the progress they’ve been hoping for.

It all starts with awareness.

The 3 Hidden Barriers to Learning

Let’s break down the three barriers we see most often—and how to spot them in action.

1. The Absence of Mass: When There’s Nothing to Grasp

Imagine trying to understand how a jet engine works—just from reading a paragraph in a textbook.

You’ll likely get confused or tune out. Why? Because you’ve never seen one up close. You don’t have the mass of it in your mind. That’s the first barrier.

“Absence of mass” means the student is learning something without seeing it, touching it, or connecting it to something real.

It’s why younger kids light up during hands-on experiments or field trips. They’re building understanding through real-life experience. But if they’re trying to learn only through abstract words and diagrams? They’ll often end up frustrated, fidgety, or bored.

Look for signs like:

• Boredom

• Doodling

• Fidgeting or daydreaming

• Suddenly disliking the subject

What helps:

• Bring in real objects, models, or visual examples.

• If they’re learning about volcanoes, watch a video or build one together.

• Even simple things like acting out concepts or drawing diagrams can make a world of difference.

2. The Too-Steep Gradient: Climbing Without a Ladder

Every subject builds on something before it.

If a student missed a key step—like learning how to multiply before diving into fractions—they’re now trying to climb a ladder that’s missing rungs.

This is what we call a gradient too steep.

In this case, students often feel overwhelmed. They might try to push through… but it doesn’t stick. Eventually, they check out, give up, or fall behind.

Look for signs like:

• Getting stuck on one part of a lesson

• Becoming frustrated or anxious

• Saying things like “I don’t get it” even after reviewing

• Avoiding homework or pretending to understand

What helps:

• Go back a step. Then another.

• Find the exact point where they stopped understanding and rebuild from there.

• Success comes not from going faster—but from making sure every step is solid before moving on.

3. The Misunderstood Word: The #1 Hidden Culprit

This is the most common—and most overlooked—barrier of all.

We assume students understand the words they read or hear. But even one misunderstood word can shut down comprehension completely.

It’s not always a big, fancy word. It might be something as simple as “function,” “process,” or “ratio.” If the student doesn't fully understand it, the rest of the sentence or concept becomes a blur.

What’s worse: they may not even realize they’ve misunderstood it.

Instead, they’ll show symptoms like:

• Feeling tired suddenly

• Getting irritable or losing focus

• Reading something multiple times but not absorbing it

• Memorizing answers without understanding

What helps:

• Encourage students to slow down and ask questions.

• Keep a dictionary nearby.

• Teach them to recognize when their attention drifts—it’s often a sign they hit a misunderstood word.

A Better Way to Learn Is Possible

These barriers are the root cause behind most learning struggles. The good news? Once a student understands what’s really going wrong, they can learn how to fix it themselves.

That’s what makes Study Technology so powerful.

It’s not just another tutoring program. It’s a proven system that helps students:

• Spot the exact moment they get confused

• Use practical tools to correct it

• Regain confidence, understanding, and interest in learning

It works with every age, every subject, and every learning style—because it focuses on how the brain actually learns.

You Don’t Have to Guess Anymore

If you’re a parent tired of watching your child struggle—or an educator who wants to make real impact—know this:

You don’t have to keep trying the same approaches and hoping for different results.

There is a method that works.

And it starts with a simple conversation.

Book a free discovery call with our team: We’ll walk you through how Study Technology works, what signs to look for, and how you can start helping students learn better—starting today.

Click here to schedule your free call

Let’s unlock a better future for every student, together.