Your child’s attitude towards elementary school is likely to determine their attitude towards studying as they move on to high school and college, too. This is why it’s important to help your kids develop a positive perspective on learning from the moment it becomes a part of their daily life. Of course, they might not understand why good grades matter at first, but you can still encourage them to do their best. With all that in mind, here are a few ways you can motivate your child and help them succeed in elementary school.
Attend parent-teacher conferences
Kids tend to do better in school when their parents are engaged in their academic lives. This means that you should attend all parent-teacher conferences, and you should meet your child’s teacher even before the conferences start. You should let the teacher know that you want to be involved, and if they notice that your child has any problems in terms of learning, understanding, or behaving, they should feel free to let you know. This way, if problems do arise, you’d be able to solve them right away.
Encourage them to do their homework
For most kids, homework is usually seen as just an extra chore they need to do before they are allowed to watch TV or go out and play. They don’t understand that homework is there to help them better understand what they did in school as well as develop some healthy studying habits. So, to help your child see it as something that benefits them rather than something that simply has to be done, provide them with a healthier study environment. For example, their desk should be away from any distractions, well lit, and equipped with all the necessary school supplies. Moreover, encourage your child to do their homework when they feel the most focused, whether that’s before bed or right after school.
Help them learn
Related to the previous tip, if you notice that your child is having trouble with their homework, or if they frequently need your help with it, consider hiring professional help. Some subjects, like math, require a lot of concentration, and even good students can have trouble with it from time to time. Fortunately, you can easily find a good online math tutor who can adjust to your child’s schedule and help them whenever they need it.
Make sure your child is prepared for school
Learning requires energy, so make sure your child’s routine provides them with plenty of it. For example, your child should have a healthy meal in the morning that is rich in protein, fiber, and whole grains, so they can stay focused in school. Moreover, your child also needs plenty of sleep at night – at least 10 hours. Not getting enough sleep can make your child either hyperactive and nervous or drowsy and unfocused. Therefore, help them organize their chores in a way that would leave them enough time to rest before school, and don’t let them play on their phone or computer before bed, since that can make it harder for them to fall asleep.
Adjust your own attitude
The way you react to your child’s grades will affect their attitude towards school and studying. For example, you shouldn’t overpraise them, so they don’t become overconfident, but you shouldn’t take their good grades for granted either. You shouldn’t punish them for bad grades, though, as you want to teach them that they can learn from their mistakes. Rather than punishing your child, you should simply explain consequences to them in a way that they can understand. For instance, they should know that if they don’t study a bit every day, they will forget things, and have to learn them all over again.
The habits your child gains during elementary school will determine their success in the future as well, which is why it’s important that they learn how to succeed from an early age. So, consider the listed tips, apply them, stay involved in your child’s academic life, and they are much more likely to be successful.