Is your child struggling in school?

Winter break has ended, and it is now the middle of the school year. Report cards are going out to show parents how their children are doing so far. Unfortunately, you may have noticed your child is not doing well in school. This can be a stressful time for you and your child, especially if you are not sure how to help them.

It is important to take the steps to motivate and help your child get through this obstacle. You can start by using the following tips to help your child do better in school.

Identify The Problem

The first step to helping your child is to identify the problem. Pay attention to see when they start struggling during homework time, or give them a test to see how well they do in different areas. You may realize the problem lies with reading long paragraphs or multiplying double digits. Once you identify the problem, you can look into techniques to help them get through it.

Talk To Their Pediatrician

If you cannot identify the problem, or if it is not related to their academic skills, talk to their pediatrician to see if there is an underlying cause. It could be a learning disability, such as dyslexia, or a vision or hearing impairment. Your pediatrician knows how to evaluate your child, and how to help your child should there be an underlying cause.

Work With Their Teacher

It is important to work with their teacher to find a solution to the problem. Let their teacher know you are not blaming them for your child's struggles, but you are interested in helping your child improve their grades. Remember, their teacher is with them during the day, so they may be able to figure out the problem areas. Listen to their teacher when they offer insight on how to help your child but be sure to share any ideas you may have in mind.

Look Into Additional Help

Your child may need additional help to get over this bump in the road. Start with trying to help them on your own, which you can do during homework time. You can also buy a workbook to help your child practice their skills. If they are still struggling, consider hiring a tutor, or ask a peer if they can help your child.

Let Them Make Mistakes

It is fine to encourage your child to do their best, but you want them to know it is okay to make mistakes. The key is to learn from that mistake and do better the next time. Your child needs to learn how to handle an unexpected situation, such as a pop quiz or low test score. You also want to make sure you are not pushing your child to the point of feeling stressed out.

Once you create a plan, it is important to follow through with it. You never want to give up when their grades are involved, nor do you want your child to give up on learning.