How to help your child succeed – and be happy – in school

Every parent wants their child to enjoy school and learning. However, it is not uncommon for children to have good and bad schooling days. Fortunately, there are strategies for parents to assist their children in developing a healthy relationship with school.

Teachers can typically tell when a youngster enjoys going to school. Kristi Oda, who taught fourth grade at a public school for two decades before becoming a mentor for other teachers, believes that pupils who like school send out clear signs. “They feel at ease discussing their ideas or questions, their challenges, and what they’re passionate about,” she says.

But what happens when children walk into a classroom having already decided that they don’t like school?  As children get older, they are more likely to have unpleasant school experiences. But, thankfully, there are ways for parents to thoughtfully assist their children in learning to appreciate school even when it’s difficult.

Make learning exciting

The good news is that children are excellent learners. It’s a joy to see children eager to learn when they’re engaged in a topic and in a safe atmosphere.  According to Jodi Musoff, an education specialist, young brains are eager to learn. “Kids are really simple to inspire, and they follow the lead of people around them,” Musoff explains. “They will become excited if you act excited about something. Add a little mystery (I wonder what new and amazing things you’re going to learn at school today), and you’ve got a kid’s attention. Changing your tone of voice, for example, can make a significant difference.”

Overcome boredom

Bored children are unable to digest information in a way that leads to improved cognition and memory. If a child perceives knowledge as dull or overly tough, the amygdala, a pair of almond-shaped glands in the brain involved in emotional reaction, memory, and decision-making, will restrict the flow of information. Boredom can develop when children do not recognise the value of their schooling. That is when parents can add their own personal experience to the mix. 

Dr Willis, author of How Your Child Learns Best: Brain-Friendly Strategies You Can Use to Ignite Your Child’s Learning and Increase School Success, says building up personal relevance and creating connections to information, is profoundly important to help your child grasp topics and concepts.

Here’s an idea: inquire with teachers about forthcoming lessons, then start helping your child connect to that subject at home. Perhaps the teacher intends to offer a lesson on transportation. To get your child interested before the lesson, parents can reminisce with them about various transportation adventures they have had in the past, whether on a bus or an airline.

Keep homework stress down

Many children battle with homework. Pushing children who are struggling with a concept might reinforce negativity about homework, and make them not want to go to school the next day. Parents can reduce homework stress by developing dependable family routines that ensure their children have enough time to accomplish their learning tasks.

Aside from a plan, pay attention to the type of atmosphere your child enjoys for homework completion. Perhaps the child prefers to be near a parent. Perhaps they would prefer to study alone. In either case, researchers say it’s better to give kids as much freedom as possible.

Allow a child to personalise their workspace. For example, would your child prefer to keep his pencils in a cup on top of a table or in a pencil case?

According to research, when children are immersed in the process and see their decisions mirrored in their workspaces, they are more inclined to accomplish their work quietly.

Play the student

Learning can sometimes take the form of asking your child to teach you something (that you likely already know). When children can explain an idea or topic, it helps them fully grasp it.

When necessary, intervene

When a child is having difficulty with a learning job or a new concept, parents might try to assist the child in determining which portion of the concept or task is problematic. This can help kids avoid frustration and learn to divide their homework into manageable chunks. Many parents begin their child’s academic journey with a strong emphasis on serving as a cheerleader and then gradually shift their focus to mistakes and grades. However, it is critical to concentrate on the process rather than the product. Parents have to find something to celebrate and not miss an opportunity to be their child’s biggest cheerleader and focus on the good rather than the negative.

Encourage Friendship

According to teachers, social ties with classmates are an essential element of school. Friends are among the most influential people in a child’s school life. As a result, when such relationships are put to the test, so is a child’s attitude about attending school.

To assist their children have more positive relationships with their classmates, parents can ensure that social-emotional development begins early to foster peer relationships. The more well-socialised children are, the more capable of collaboration and social cohesiveness they can be in a classroom context.