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Whether you want to give your child a hand getting through school or helping them prepare for going to university, offering support is crucial. From getting them to classes on time to purchasing a uniform and preparing them with a healthy and energizing packed lunch (or at least lunch money), you can give them the best chance of success in their education.
Another area you will want to help is with their school and homework, yet this isn’t as simple as it sounds. While their early subjects are simple enough, they will get more complicated as they get older, so how can you support them even if you don’t understand the material?
Speak With Their Teachers
Every parent should be in touch with their kids’ teachers throughout their time at school. Without this, you won’t know how well your child is doing or know of any concerns the teacher and school might have.
There are parents’ evenings, but this isn’t enough for parents that want to play a significant part in their child’s education. If you speak with their teachers to find out what they are learning (without being that kind of overbearing parent), you can get a better idea of what they are studying. This means you will actually learn what they are doing at school, so even if they grunt when you ask them you’ll be able to help.
Hire an Out-of-School Tutor
There are some subjects that kids can struggle with more than others, and this can raise some concerns as they come to the end of their time at school and start thinking about sixth form. If you don’t have the time or the knowledge to help them get to grips with Maths or English, you can look at hiring an out-of-school tutor to give them extra support.
Finding reliable Reading 11 Plus tuition will give your child the best possible chance of excelling in their end-of-school exams. Similar tutoring could also be available for younger kids, and you can use online resources, study books, or similar options to help your kid overcome any tricky subjects.
Brush Up Your Knowledge
If you can’t find a tutor that suits your child’s needs, you might feel compelled to take on the responsibility yourself. However, the curriculum has evolved substantially since you were last in the classroom, so you’ll need to brush up on your subject knowledge to make sure you can provide the best possible support.
Taking half an hour at the end of every day can help you get a decent idea of how you can support your child’s education when they are working through challenging material. While some of this material might seem far too difficult, others might ignite sparks that help you remember what you learned when you were at school.
Get Them to Teach You
The learn by teaching method is an effective way to give your kids the confidence they need to pass their exams, even if you don’t know the material well enough to educate them. If you get them to pass on what they have learned already, they will become more adept with different subjects and understand it better.
Teaching the material helps them conceptualize things they might struggle with and they will look at it in a different way which means they get it finally. You can start small and ask them to teach something they are confident with before eventually moving up to something more complicated that neither you nor they are entirely certain of. To make sure they do it right, it’s always best to check the correct answer afterwards.
Just Be There to Listen
Sometimes, letting your kids vent about their homework is enough. If you don’t think you have the necessary subject knowledge to boost their confidence, there’s a risk you’ll waste everyone’s time and get frustrated.
If your kids seem annoyed or overwhelmed by the material, be there and lend a sympathetic ear. They might not want you to help them, but they will want you to hear what they have to say. Sit back and allow them to talk about what’s bothering them. When they are finished, they might be over the problem, or you can work with them to find a solution.
A Helping Hand
You can only do as much as you’re able to when supporting your kids’ education. If you want to have a primary role in their education, there are avenues for you to explore to help them excel across the board, and let them go into future education or work.
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