Parenting Tips: How to Help Your Children Become Better in School
School can be exhausting for kids, especially with all the projects and academic activities they perform day in and day out. Sometimes, they can become too stressed, and may lose their interest in school altogether. In some instances, they may even suffer from low grades and may struggle with keeping up with their peers.
As parents, it is our responsibility to keep our kids motivated in their academics and in life in general. But how can we provide them guidance if they are already in high school or college? Below are some useful tips.
Be Visible to Your Child
Your presence in your child’s academic life can have an impact on how committed he or she will be in school. Even if you are busy with work yourself, you must take time to listen to your child’s academic needs. Make it a habit to ask her about the school, help her with homework, help her prepare for exams, and so on. Learning does not just involve getting good grades in school; it also entails having a good relationship within the family circle. This said, having a better relationship with parents can help them do better in their academic subjects.
Give Your Child a Break
The competitive nature of academics can lead to burnout in children. This is especially true for high school and college students who are trying to juggle several academic subjects all at once. If burnout is the reason behind your child’s loss of interest in school, it is probably time to give your child a break from all school-related activities. If you can afford it, enroll your child in gap year programs or courses. Such programs can help children recover from burnout while exploring their passions.
A gap year is essentially a break from school life. It can go for as long as one year or just a few months and may involve activities such as traveling, doing internship work, volunteering, or doing paid jobs. Taking a gap year provides the students the opportunity to recharge and rest their tired minds. It can also help them increase their self-awareness and improve self-confidence. Additionally, it helps them gain a renewed enthusiasm for education.
Talk with Your Child’s Teacher
Keeping your communication line open for your child’s teachers can help you monitor your child’s performance in academics. Make it clear to teachers that you are just a call away if certain problems develop in your child’s attitudes in school. Ask the teachers to provide you with constant updates on your child’s performance as well. This can help you gauge whether your child may need help academically.
Additionally, take time to know your child’s classmates and friends. These are people who play a vital role in your child’s social and mental growth and may contribute to her overall performance and attitude towards school.
Get Your Child Involved in Extra-Curricular Activities
Know your child’s passions and see if the school offers tutorials or programs that may be of interest to your child. Does the school offer sports programs? Is your kid into music or theater? Extra-curricular activities, particularly those that focus on your child’s passions can help provide motivation for children. According to studies, children who engage in extra-curricular activities have higher self-confidence and do better in school.
They also tend to achieve more as compared to those who do not engage in extra-curricular activities at all. Extra-curricular activities are also found to increase the teamwork and leadership abilities of students. In addition, they keep students away from vices, such as alcohol and drugs.
Provide Emotional Support
Many students can suffer from school-related stress, leading them to drop out or get poor grades. The emotional turmoil that students get from school can get out of hand if no moral support is given to them. As a parent, let your child know that you will always be available if he or she is psychologically tired due to school projects and academic requirements. Talking with your child after school and asking how his or her day went can help. Telling your child about your own school experiences when you were younger may also help.
Never compare your children with their classmates or friends. This can lead them to think that you are never happy with how they are doing. Be happy with their little achievements and continue to support them even if they turn out to have poor grades. Let them know that hardships in school are temporary and that they mean more to you than their grades. Take time to listen to your children’s needs as well. Children who feel loved and appreciated are more inclined to do better in school and in other aspects of their lives.
