Guest Post Author:
Erica L. Fener, Ph.D.
Does your child receive low grades every academic year? Do you think he or she could be more successful based on innate abilities? Some children are not serious about their academic performance because they think school is boring and unimportant.
It is time you do something about your children’s lack of interest and help them reach their potential. Find out why your child is not interested in school and how you can motivate him or her. Your child can learn to pay attention, be motivated to perform well, and have the right attitude towards studies.
Here are 9 effective ways to help your child be more interested in school and perform well:
1. Show interest in what’s going on.
Children do not like to be bombarded with a lot of questions about their school day. Make sure they have some time to relax when they come home. Then try to find some quiet time to talk. Show them you are interested in what they have learned in school, and let them know you are available to address difficult situations. Answer questions about their lessons and attend school events, and so on to show your interest. Also make appointments with your child’s teacher to discuss issues affecting schoolwork weaknesses and strengths.
2. Monitor learning skills.
Every child has a different way of learning. Try to learn what subjects your child loves, those are probably his/her area of strength. You might want to monitor your child’s learning style and skills by making sure that he or she has mastered one skill before moving to the next. You can do this by teaching them mnemonic devices or practicing memory skills. These are especially helpful in math and reading assignments.
3. Acknowledge success.
Do not concentrate on your child’s learning failures; instead, look for areas in which he or she has improved and commend the effort. Praise your children for whatever they have achieved, however small it may be. Encourage them to improve on their failures.
4. Don’t expect more than they are capable of achieving.
Do not threaten your children to get them to do academic work that they are not capable of completing. Being an academic giant does not guarantee that your child will have a meaningful life. Do not measure future success with present academic performance.
5. Create a good learning environment at home.
Letting your child cut potatoes into halves, quarters, and other fractions is a good way to help him or her learn math. Help your child practice writing, reading, math, and science skills in creative ways. In an article related to helping children achieve in school from Better Homes and Gardens, the editor at the time, Dan Kaercher suggested “Making your kitchen a learning laboratory.” It is in those relaxed environments that children learn best.
6. Be your child’s role model.
Children learn a lot from the adults in their lives. Therefore, be positive about education. Demonstrate how interested you are in learning new things yourself and participating in your child’s education. Emphasize the need for education and the rewards it provides later in life.
7. Create a study routine.
Help your child devise a study timetable. Give your child the freedom to set a time and quiet place to study every day.
8. Help your child prepare for tests.
In certain occasions, tests can be used as tools for determining your child’s understanding of concepts. Teachers prepare students for standardized tests, and only help your child if they specifically request that they do. Try to encourage independence when it comes to test taking and school work.
9. Use special services where needed.
If your child is increasingly frustrated about his school work and you are receiving bad reports from his teachers then you might want to ask the school to evaluate your child’s learning abilities and if a problem is confirmed, make the necessary arrangements to get extra help for your child.
Parents are their children’s first teachers. Your child’s success depends more on what parents do to help them achieve success than on their IQ. Do not wait for the report card to start talking with your child about the importance of achieving success in school. Good luck!
About the author:
Erica L. Fener, Ph.D., is Vice President, Business Development Strategy and Analysis at Progressus Therapy, a leader in connecting their candidates with school-based therapy and early intervention jobs.