Is your child struggling at school? Would you even know about it if they were? Children often have problems with their school work way before their parents find out about it. Here are the top 5 things to look out for that may mean your child needs some outside help to get their results - and their confidence - back in tip-top shape.
- Your child doesn't want to talk about school. If your child is struggling at school then sometimes the last thing they want to do is talk to you about it. Children have a lot going on in their lives and unless you have a very close bond with your child you would probably be amazed at some of the things they keep from you.
- Your child's grade reports and marked homework start to go missing. The last thing your child wants you to see is cold, hard evidence of their failings at school. If you have been pushing your child to perform then the pressure to keep bad results away from you may be extreme.
- Your child is acting nervously or distractedly around exam time. Of course nerves are completely normal when it comes to exams but for students who have very low confidence in their abilities the stress can become all-consuming.
- Your child starts getting "sick" frequently. Being off school enables them not to face up to their problems - the irony being that the more time off school the worse their problems will become!
- Your child starts behaving badly. Negative feelings can manifest themselves in many ways, from changes in general attitude to using foul language, drug taking and truancy. A child that feels good about themselves and confidant in their abilities to perform well will be much less likely to develop these behaviors.
Of course many of these traits could be due to other factors, such as bullying or low self esteem. If you are concerned about your child's state of mind you should always try to discuss it with them in a non-aggressive way - not "what's wrong with you?"! Or ask a neutral third-party to have a word with them - like their favorite teacher or a family friend.
If it does turn out to be problems with their school work then you should consider getting your child private tuition to help them get up to speed. Private tutors can also teach your child new ways of learning and retaining information which will really give them a competitive advantage when it comes to exam time!
Find a Sydney Tutor for your child at http://www.activeunlimited.com.