Is Dayfreaming a Sign of Learning Disability

At the end of the year conference, our daughter's first-grade teacher talked about the possibility of our child having a learning disability because she daydreams a lot in class. While this may be true at school, it definitely isn't true at home.
When I talked to the child about daydreaming at school, she said it is very boring waiting for the other kids to answer questions, especially in reading, and admits that she daydreams at times. Should the child be tested next year for a learning disability? She has done only average work in school; however, both the teacher and I think that she is capable of doing better. How should we handle this? -- Too Much Daydreaming
Answer: Too much daydreaming is definitely not a good thing, as it can shut children out from what is going on around them. And it can lead to doing poorly at school. It is important to understand why your child has the daydreaming habit at school. You have taken the first step by talking to your child. Your child may have actually given you part, if not all, of the answer. Daydreaming at school can occur because classroom activities do not encourage participation. They may be boring and not interest the children who then escape into a more interesting world. Activities also may last too long without breaks. It is also possible that your child is daydreaming because it is an escape from work that she finds to be too difficult.
This summer, you should concentrate on improving your first-grader's skills, especially reading. Read with her every day. Involve her in reading in daily activities and games. You'll find solid ideas about things to do at the International Reading Association's website at www.readwritethink.org under "Summer Learning." If your child's skills seem especially weak, you should consider having her work with a tutor or go to a learning center.
Next year, your child may have a teacher who engages her more actively in classroom activities, eliminating her tendency to daydream. She also may wish to participate more because her skill level has improved. If things don't turn around during the first month or so of school, then you should definitely see that she is tested for a possible learning disability.