Encouraging children to do well in school can seem an uphill battle. This is especially true when a child is having difficulty with his/her studies. Students who are falling behind must cope with feelings of self-disappointment and frustration as they struggle to keep up with their classmates.
Whether your child is struggling to pass his or her classes, or simply not devoting the time and attention they should be to their education, don’t despair. Use the following tips to help re-direct their focus.
Celebrate Your Child’s Achievements
Acknowledging your child’s progress is a great way to counter the frustration and disappointment experienced by so many students. Be sure to acknowledge what your child is doing right. A little bit of positive reinforcement can go a long way, and saying something along the lines of “I saw how hard you studied for that test, and I’m proud of you” can make a huge difference in your child’s self-esteem and study habits.
Divide Large Assignments into Manageable Tasks
Even adults become overwhelmed by the sheer scope of some projects. Self-Help gurus like Tony Robbins earn small fortunes teaching sophisticated adults how to make large projects manageable. Is it any wonder then, that a child should become overwhelmed?
Showing children how to break large assignments into manageable portions will not only help them stay focused, but it will teach them an important skill they’ll use for the rest of their lives. And don’t forget to positively reinforce your child’s performance as he/she accomplishes each task.
Consider a Different Approach
Sometimes children have difficulty with schoolwork not because of the subject matter itself, but because of how it’s being presented. There are often many ways to present the same subject material, and certain students will respond more positively to some than to others.
If your child is struggling with his/her studies, don’t be afraid to present the material in a new way. Consult your child’s teachers too, as they will likely be able to suggest some alternative, but equally effective ways to learn a particular subject.
Talk With Your Child
This may seem overly simplistic, but many parents make the mistake of talking to their children, but not with their children. We can’t forget to listen, in other words. There’s a reason your child isn’t giving his/her schoolwork the attention it deserves, and while they may not come right out and tell you why in so many words, what they do say will likely be telling. That doesn’t mean you have to act on everything your child says–we don’t want the tail wagging the dog, as the saying goes–but allow the child to express himself or herself, and pay attention when they do.
Motivating a child to succeed in school can prove a challenging task. If your child isn’t devoting the time and energy they should be to their studies, use the above tips to help encourage them to do so.
