Most parents would love it if their child was a passionate and enthusiastic student who woke up each day ready to learn. However, as every teacher and parent understands, not all children claim school as their favorite activity. “While you cannot force your child to love school, you can create circumstances that encourage him or her to appreciate learning,” says Reecie Campbell of the Dunwoody Huntington Learning Center. Campbell gives parents these suggestions to help their children recognize the value of school — and maybe even enjoy it.
Praise effort, not grades. Always tell your child that you care most about his or her efforts on homework and in school. Achieving a high grade is a great outcome of hard work, but the purpose of homework and school is to learn. Avoid sending the message that grades are the ultimate measurement of your child’s success.
Whenever possible, point out the relevance of school subjects. Your child needs to see how the skills he or she learns in school are needed in life. If he or she complains about the uselessness of algebra, why not show him or her how to use algebra to calculate the per-item cost of groceries or the fuel efficiency of a car. If your child dislikes writing but dreams of becoming a scientist, talk to him or her about how many scientists do research and publish that research in scientific journals and magazines.
Foster your child’s sense of curiosity. If your child has a certain strength or interest, nurture it by encouraging him or her to ask questions, get involved in related activities and read about the topic. This gives your child a sense of control over his or her own learning, which results in him or her being more invested in it, too.
Guide your child toward achieving success on his or her own. The best teachers bring life to even the most difficult or tedious subjects. One way they do this is by helping students find answers to questions on their own. When helping your child with homework, be on hand for questions, but let him or her take the driver’s seat. This will allow him or her to experience firsthand the pride and excitement that comes with learning new things.
While these tips may be effective with some children, Campbell reminds parents that it is important to seek help if your child’s disinterest grows. “It could be a sign of something deeper,” she says. “Huntington can pinpoint and correct the sources of difficulty that are preventing your child from grasping various concepts.”
To learn more about how to help your child, the Dunwoody Huntington Learning Center, located at 5488 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, at 770-394-2650 or CanLearn@HLCDunwoody.com. For more information about Huntington Learning Centers Inc., please visit www.huntingtonhelps.com.
About Huntington
Founded in 1977, Huntington is a pioneer and leader in the tutoring industry. For over 35 years, Huntington has provided quality instruction to hundreds of thousands of students. Huntington prides itself on being “Your Tutoring Solution” for students in all grades and subjects. They tutor in academic skills, such as reading, phonics, math and study skills; and in advanced math and science subjects ranging from algebra through calculus and general science through physics. They also prepare students for state and standardized entrance exams, such as SSAT, SAT and ACT. Learn more about Huntington at www.huntingtonhelps.com.
