One of the key motivators that every parent possesses, is the desire to see their child succeed. Whether it’s gleaming with pride as your child makes sales at their summer lemonade stand, watching a musical performance, or seeing them excel academically. You’ve nurtured them and taught them, and you know the potential that they hold.
Sometimes, it can be hard for your children to see their potential in the same way that you see it. Just because they can’t see it, doesn’t mean that it isn’t there, though. This is often the case when it comes to academia. If your child struggles with their classes, here are a few ways to help them succeed!
HELP THEM SET A SCHEDULE
When it comes to school, especially with online education, it’s important for your child to be on a schedule. There can absolutely be flexibility, but if your child doesn’t know when they need to be in class, when their deadlines and essays are due by, and when to do homework, they may have a hard time succeeding. One of the best ways to ensure that they have a successful weekly schedule, is to sit down with them on Sunday, before the week really starts. Ask them about their goals for the week, and help them prioritize(and write down!) when they want to accomplish them by.
It’s helpful for them to have a daily planner or calendar to visualize what their schedule will be like for the week. Have them write down their class schedule first, followed by homework deadlines. After this, have them plan out when they should work on their homework to ensure it’s done on time. This may seem like a lot of structured time, but it’s actually so helpful for them to see when they have free time. This method really lays everything out and helps them stay accountable for themselves. Having them write it(rather than you doing it for them), is also really important. The act of writing it down helps them remember the details later on.
MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE FOR HOMEWORK HELP
Although there may be some areas that you are probably not your child’s best resource for certain school subjects, you should make sure that you are available to help your child with homework at least a few times a week. If they approach you for help and you are a little too busy to help them at that moment, set a time in the near future with them to help. For example, if your child needs help with math, but you’re in the middle of something, tell them you can help them in twenty minutes, and request they do their English or Science homework in the meantime. This helps them stay on schedule, and remain productive, and setting the time limit for yourself keeps you accountable, so you actually have the time to help them succeed.
ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL DAILY
The more you talk about a subject, the more knowledgeable you become about it. So, aside from the regular daily “how’s school?” talk at the dinner table, try to ask more pointed questions about what they are learning in school. Ask about that challenging long division problem they were working on yesterday. Did they figure out how to solve it, and streamline the process for future use? What about the book they were assigned? How are they liking it? Having an open line of communication about this, and encouraging them to absorb enough information to be able to hold a conversation with you about their school work, will turn them into better and more attentive students.
As a parent, you want your child to succeed. It’s a natural instinct. And what it really comes down to, is making time. With a consistently busy schedule, it may seem like too much of a commitment. But at the end of the day, not only will your child be a better student, but your relationship with them will be better, as well.
