We all want what is best for our children, so knowing they are struggling academically can be difficult as a parent. We want to help them without suffocating them and sometimes it can be all too easy to answer questions for them, rather than let them get to the answer on their own. If your child is struggling academically, here is how you can help them.
Get a Tutor
Nobody knows better than a tutor, so what better way to help your child outside of school or college than with a tutor. Although you may know the basics of a course, unless you have time to learn their course inside out then you won’t be of much help. It may be a natural reaction to want to help them as much as you can but finding a great tutor will ensure that they excel in the subject before you know it. A trained tutor is taught to be able to deal with students who are struggling and has the patience to deal with this and find out their strengths and weaknesses. It also may cause less tension between the two of you if a tutor is helping your child, as sometimes when a child is frustrated academically, arguments can happen. Whether your child needs a math tutor or a science tutor, you will be able to find a tutor that is skilled in every subject.
Set Clear Boundaries
Children need boundaries in order to grow, learn, and flourish. Sometimes children struggle academically, not because they are unable to understand the work, but because they are not putting in the effort or they are too tired. It helps to know exactly why your child is struggling before assuming it is because they do not understand. Do they have a tendency to stay up into the early hours of the morning playing video games? If this is so, it may be that they are not paying enough attention in class and skipping their homework for their television. No matter what their age, children need boundaries, especially on school nights. This can be extremely difficult to establish, especially for teenagers, but if their school or college work is deteriorating, clear boundaries need to be set and abided by. If you are struggling with a teen that is pushing their boundaries and, therefore, struggling academically, check out this great article on how you can begin to set appropriate boundaries with your teen.
Help Them Learn Revision Skills
Many children struggle with revision and how they learn best, and this could seriously affect their ability to retain and understand information, especially when exam season comes. First things first, you need to understand how your child works and learns best. This could be with the use of visual aids, or they may learn best by note-taking and reading back these notes. Any student who is struggling academically should be taught how to organize themselves, how to note take effectively, and how to plan accordingly. This means they will have the skills set to be able to revise effectively and they will have better time management skills, rather than leaving their work until the last minute and struggling. Some children feel they do not need to revise and try to slip through doing the bare minimum, but they will reach a time where college work will build up on top of them and by this then it is often too late. The earlier you teach your child revision and study skills, the earlier they will begin to use them and take these skills with them through college. Start by getting your child a daily planner, where they can organize what courses they need to work on each day and how long for. Ensure that they stick to this and perhaps reward them with treats for doing so.
Ensure Their Lifestyle is Appropriate
When a student is struggling academically, a tutor is a great first step in helping them. To make sure they retain the information taught to them and that they can learn properly, they need an appropriate lifestyle. By this, we mean a healthy diet, exercise, and enough sleep so that their brain can function to the best of its ability and they can learn better. Children usually need more sleep than adults, at around 9-9.5 hours a night, and they need plenty of fruits and veg in their diet too. If your child isn’t getting enough sleep at night, they could be falling asleep in class, not paying attention or arrive late for classes. This all has a negative impact on their ability to learn and they may miss important parts of the lesson due to not being able to concentrate. You can help this by setting clear boundaries, as stated earlier. Breakfast is an important part of the day and you should never let your child miss it. If your child isn’t eating right, they could find it harder to concentrate. If you want the best for your child and their brain, here are eleven of the best foods to get into their diet to boost their memory and their brain function.
Work Together!
If you have other children, set a time each night where everyone sits together at the table and does their homework. This can help some children to work and it is a great way to set a routine that involves the whole family. If you don’t have other children, perhaps you or your partner can sit down with your child and do some work of your own. If your job allows you to do some work from home, this would be a great way to motivate your child and ensure they do what they need to whilst you aren’t hovering over them and watching their every move. This is a much more laid-back way to get them to do their homework.
Following these tips can help you in getting your child back on track if they are struggling academically.