Many children encounter difficulty with properly assimilating certain subject areas. In some cases, it could be caused by a mere mental block, and in other cases, it could be caused by inadequacy on the part of tutors, among many other reasons.
Parents have the responsibility of stepping in and helping their wards to regain confidence and belief in their abilities. Here are some steps you can take to help your ward overcome difficulty in tough subject areas.
The first and most important step is identifying the problematic subject area. You can only make a meaningful impact towards overcoming these issues when you have a clear view of what they are. This would help you specifically tailor your responses and meet your ward’s needs. Make out the time to regularly have conversations with your ward about their academics.
Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Ask questions about their classroom experiences, the workload associated with each subject, and even details about the teachers taking these subjects. Attend Parent-Teacher Association Meetings organised by your ward’s school regularly and make complaints where necessary. Ascertain whether these difficulties are caused by the school and respond appropriately.
Another vital step you can take is finding the appropriate educational resources to assist your ward. Try hiring a qualified special tutor for these courses – and be extremely picky about the profiles of the tutors you choose for your ward. Also, incorporate the right educational materials such as textbooks, online learning softwares and recorded videos. Ensure you do more than purchase these resources. Make sure your ward uses them to good effect.
Check up on your ward’s progress and find out the level of impact that they make on his or her grades. This would guide you when getting more educational materials in the future for your ward. Also ensure you create a positive learning environment for your wards. Keep them properly motivated and have the right attitude towards their academics. Constantly encourage them, and show that you are fully behind them every step of the way.
Use a multi-faceted approach to improve your child’s learning. Children learn in very diverse ways. Some children, especially from smaller age groups, respond better to visual learning systems. For such children, ensure you make use of a lot of pictures when assisting them with these subject areas.
Other children learn a lot more from practicalising their academic work with actual real-life problems, or even some of their favourite animated characters or role models. Basically, try and make learning a lot more fun, exciting and above all personalised for your wards. Also, ensure you keep them curious. Never turn down the chance to provide answers to any of their questions.
Finally, collaboration with all relevant parties is key. Work hand in hand with their teachers and also their personal tutors, if any, to ensure that you all have the same objectives for your wards, regarding their academic improvement. Maintain open communication with their teachers and tutors to gain valuable insights into their progress and to coordinate efforts in supporting their learning journey.
