Tutoring: Is It Right for Your Child and Three Tutoring Tools
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Have you ever thought about what kind of life you would have if you would have had a tutor? Does your child struggle but you know just how smart she is? Does your happy and funny child suddenly saying he’s dumb or stupid? Your child might just need a tutor.
As a parent, one of the most challenging experiences is noticing that your child is having a tough time with school. However, once you recognize that your child might benefit from additional assistance, your child may begin to enjoy learning! After all, I’ll bet your kid loves learning the latest video game or popular song so they could love other kinds of learning with a little help.
How do you know if your child can benefit from having a tutor? For starters, he might start disliking a school subject that was ok for him in the past, maybe allowing his grades to slip or stay low, and probably show increasing evidence of frustration. You might also see signs of low self-esteem during homework sessions. The tension might be obvious or subtle.
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Consider these behavioral clues to help you decide whether a tutor would be helpful for your child:
1) Avoids talking about certain subjects.
A kid who’s struggling with math or science might refrain from talking about those particular subjects. When you ask him about a subject you’re concerned with, he might even fake it like he didn’t hear you.
2) Dislikes specific school subjects.
If you hear comments like, “I hate reading! It’s so boring!” ask your child more specific questions about it. Also, get his book and ask him to show you the parts he “hates” about reading.
- If this attitude occurs on a consistent basis, keep tabs on his grades in these subjects.
3) Grades are dropping or consistently below average.
Maybe you’ve already tackled a school subject together and thought you had it handled. When your daughter’s grades are lower than a C over a months’ time even though you worked on helping her improve, you may want to consider a tutor. It’s sometimes easier to learn from someone who isn’t family.
4) Increasing frustration at school.
If one of your kids shows signs of unhappiness or frustration with school, inquire about what’s bugging him. Hopefully, he’ll tell you. But if he doesn’t, keep observing and watch for other signs on this list.
5) Shows signs of low self-esteem.
A child who’s struggling with learning will likely begin to lose confidence in himself. He may make statements like, “I’m so dumb” or “I can’t do anything right.” He might not want to spend time with friends he previously stuck to.
6) Exhibits troublesome behaviors around homework.
Although this sign by itself doesn’t indicate the need for a tutor, misbehavior during homework time indicates a need for paying closer attention.
- These behaviors can be a diversion from him actually completing the homework in a particular subject. It can also be to keep you from seeing the trouble he’s having. His goal is to distract you so he doesn’t have to face you with the fact there’s an issue.
If you’re in tune with your child, you’ll most likely notice when he might need a tutor. A tutor can help your child learn to study the subject that’s a problem. And tutors are trained to understand the connection between self-esteem and learning. This can also take the pressure off of you.
So, not only will getting a tutor help your child with his grades, but it may also increase his confidence level.
Use the behaviors above as a jumping-off point to help you decide whether your child would benefit from a tutor. Even if academics aren’t your kid’s greatest strengths, learning confidence early on in school can lead to greater success later in life.
Here are some things you may want to check out if your thinking of hiring a tutor:
- If you’re looking for help with English and reading, check out Hooked on Phonics. Teachers love the changes it makes in kids and their reading. It makes learning fun and I like that it takes a child’s self esteem into account. Now you can try it out for ten days for $1.00 when you use this link.
- Is your kid getting in trouble because he fidgets and can’t sit still? Maybe he has a lot of energy and he’s smart but gets antsy in class. Bouncy Bands can help. Get the teacher’s permission to attach Bouncy Bands to your child’s desk . This stretches between the legs of the desk or chair with a flexible band. Your kid can jiggle his feet on the band and get out all of the excess energy. This helps him feel centered and more focused. It can be a huge help for kids and their concentration. Invented by a teacher!
- Maybe you want to inspire your child from home. Take a look at the Curiosity Pack. This was also invented by a teacher. There are educational packs for kids that inspire learning but also compassion and friendship. I really like the added facet of compassion to Curiosity Packs. Plus you can use these at home. That’s especially nice if you home school.
About the Author Angie J. Hernandez, C.Ht.
A graduate of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, Angie J. Hernandez, C.Ht., has her private practice in Milford, Indiana. She is certified in hypnotherapy by the Hypnotherapist's Union Local 472. Angie is the author of "Weight Loss Epiphany: The Workbook", "Charlie's Cuddly Animals for Little Geniuses" and "Weight Loss Hypnosis: Lose Weight with Hypnosis Scripts & Recordings". You can find out more about Angie and how to schedule private sessions by calling (574) 658-4686.
