Tuition Tips for Parents

And it isn't just academic achievements that they acquire from improved study skills. So where can you help?

First, you need to look realistically at your child's potential. There may be a discrepancy between the effort that they put into their work and what they achieve. This may prove frustrating and at this point, they need your support and reassurance. Your efforts will not be in vain though, as with this sympathetic input your child will gain a set of skills and qualifications that they will take with them into adulthood. There are many ways to help your son or daughter focus more on that schoolwork. Let's take a look at some of them...

Helping with Homework:

Rather than pushing your child to gain fabulous grades, encourage them to take responsibility for completing their homework to the best of their ability.

Set a time and place: Find out when is the best time for your child to complete homework and devote that time into your daily or weekly schedule. For example, children may find it easier to concentrate early in the evening just after dinner on a day when they are not committed to any after school clubs. Try and find out what time they are able to concentrate best. Also, find a quiet place to work away from any distractions. A kitchen table, desk or local library are not comfort zones, but for effective working they beat sprawling across the living room floor. And once your child has found a good place, study at the same spot each time.

Organise the homework: To avoid hunting for a pencil for half an hour, keep a small ready supply of stationery items to hand and file loose bits of work away in a homework file.

Avoid distractions: Yes that means turning off the TV! Background music can be a good motivational tool, if the volume is low. Phone calls and visits from friends should be taken after your child's homework is finished.

Start with the difficult stuff: With the mind fresh, your child will be able to cope better with the more brain-taxing subjects. Once these are filed away, the focus can be on more enjoyable, easier work.

Schedule the homework: Rather than contend with a mountainous session where a week's homework is completed in one night, take time to review your child's homework and plan small climbs over a number of nights. This way, children gain a more positive approach. They're not climbing Everest on a weekly basis.

Aim to offer guidance and support rather than supplying the answers

Assess the benefits of studying in small groups:

This can be useful for some children, but not always. It requires regular monitoring to avoid idle non-work related chatting.

Show an Interest:

Expressing an interest in your child's homework (and let's face it, some of it is interesting), is a genuine sign of encouragement. Aim to offer guidance and support rather than supplying the answers.

Encourage your child to read: As part of the weekly homework, most schools put an emphasis on reading. By buying or borrowing a wide variety of books you can tempt your child into reading.

Extra help for children with learning disabilities:

But what do you do if you see that your child is struggling to keep on top of their studies? It may need some investigation. There may be a gap between your child's learning potential and what they actually understand. They may be progressing at a slow pace or show signs of an uneven pattern of development.

Remember: there are many forms of learning disability: it's important to pinpoint the exact problem before seeking a remedy. If you suspect that your child may have a learning disability contact your school for testing and evaluation.

Extra Tuition: If you feel that your child appears to be overwhelmed by school or feel that they would benefit from a "top-up" to their traditional education, it may be worth considering extra tuition away from the classroom.

Educational centres and professional tutors design study programmes which are tailored to individual needs. The emphasis is on gradual progress set at the child's own pace and any feelings of failure are tackled. Most professionals and indeed educational centres offer free initial assessments to determine your child's level compared to the education system's expectations. From there, they can develop a plan of action. This often involves regular and consistent work, on the basis that 'little & often' is more effective than long study sessions.

Education Centre v Home Tutor: How do you decide whether to opt for a home personal tutor or an education centre? You will need to acknowledge the optimum environment for your child to learn in. Simply put, some children work better in groups away from home; others work better in the solitary confinements of their own home.