By the middle of the school year, everyone is tired: both teachers and students. But why do some children's academic performance drop sharply? It turns out that there may be completely unobvious reasons behind bad grades. Psychologist and teacher Sofia Vorobyova reveals to MEL.FM seven unexpected factors that affect students' academic performance and that parents often don't suspect.
Studying is the only thing children get praise for from their parents
Constant praise for academic success can play a cruel joke on a child. In an effort not to disappoint parents, he may begin to fear mistakes and difficult tasks. A child should know that mistakes are normal, and that he is appreciated not only for excellent grades. It is important to support the child in his other endeavors, be it drawing, sports or helping friends.
Different abilities
Every child is unique and has their own learning pace. Don't compare your child to others. Instead, help them discover their abilities by offering a variety of educational games and tasks. If your child is having difficulty learning, seek help from a professional.
Parents do homework together with their child
Sometimes schoolchildren really do need help with homework. Especially in elementary grades, children may not immediately understand the teacher's explanations or get distracted during the lesson. They may also have difficulty planning their time. However, the task of parents is to gradually transfer responsibility for doing homework to the child himself. Yes, at first he may make mistakes or not do the assignments at all, but this will allow him to face the consequences of his actions. It is important to be there, to help when necessary, but not to do everything for the child. After all, the main goal of homework is to teach the student to be responsible and independently analyze his knowledge.
Lack of interaction
When a child gets a failing grade, instead of scolding him or looking for someone to blame, try to find out the reason for the mistake. Instead of the usual "How come?" or "It's all because of the phone!" ask him which tasks specifically caused him difficulties. Explain in detail why he made mistakes in certain tasks. This will help the child understand his shortcomings and correct them. Even if he makes a mistake again next time, but the number of mistakes decreases, this is already a reason for praise. After all, this means that he analyzes his mistakes and tries not to repeat them.
The child has other interests
Almost all teenagers are more interested in spending time with friends, getting involved in new hobbies and following trends than studying. This is absolutely normal and typical for their age. The problem arises when a teenager does not see the connection between their hobbies and school subjects. The task of parents is to show the child how the knowledge gained in class can be useful in life. For example, if a child is into computer games, you can explain to him how mathematics helps to develop games and improve gaming skills. Or, if he dreams of becoming a blogger, emphasize the importance of literate speech and a rich vocabulary for creating interesting videos. The main thing is not to force the child to love all subjects, but to find common ground between his hobbies and the curriculum.
Fear of Failure
Fear of public speaking is a common problem that can seriously complicate a child's school life. This fear may be related to the fear of making mistakes, fear of being ridiculed, or low self-esteem. A child who is afraid to speak in front of a class may appear passive and uninterested in learning. However, in reality, he can be very smart and inquisitive. To help the child overcome this fear, it is important to create a safe and supportive environment where he will feel comfortable. Gradually increase the difficulty of tasks and encourage any attempts to speak in front of the class.
Procrastination: why and what to do about it?
Most often, children put things off for two reasons: they are not interested in doing the task, or the task seems too big and incomprehensible.
It is easier to cope with a large task: break it down into small parts. When a task is broken down into small steps, it becomes less daunting.
But it's more difficult with lack of interest. But there is a solution here too: try starting with a short period of time. Set a timer for 10 minutes and ask the child to work without a break. As a rule, after the first 10 minutes, interest in the task increases, and the child continues to work independently.
Resource: mel.fm
