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Not all children learn the same way and at the same pace; some kids need to put in more time and effort in grasping certain concepts and subjects, while others breeze right through them. The advent of remote learning does them no favours, as social isolation and increased screen time have led to many underperforming kids. Parents must provide them with the help they need lest they experience long-term learning losses. However, this is far easier said than done, given that kids are generally not vocal regarding school-related issues. Thus, it is up to the parents to pay close attention to their children and pick up on the indications that they are struggling at school. Below, we outline the subtle signs to keep an eye out for if your child needs extra help so you can get them back on track.

1. Reluctance to talk about and discomfort with school

Young children, or even teenagers, are generally not inclined to talk about the things that make them uncomfortable. They may not even realise they are not too happy about something until their parents help them unpack their feelings toward them. If your child seems no longer interested in discussing how their day was and what they learned at school, that could mean that they are struggling to manage stress. Sometimes, if pressed, they tend to express their discomfort in specific ways whenever parents bring up topics they do not like, which can manifest as:

• Physical discomfort (fidgeting or avoiding eye contact)
• Avoidance (skirting around the topic or deliberately changing the subject)
• Aggression or irritation

2. Homework takes longer than usual

Another critical aspect is how long it takes for your child to finish their homework. If you feel like they are now taking much longer than usual or to the point of spending most of their after-school time on it, that is a good sign that they need your help. Of course, there is nothing to worry about if the main reason is more homework. However, it is still best to familiarise yourself with the school’s homework policy and learn how much time, on average, is required to complete homework assignments for every grade level.

3. Complaints about going to school

Complaining is one of the most overtly apparent signs of dissatisfaction with something, such as school participation. Parents often react to these complaints with denial and brush it off as something their kids will get over, but they should still look into the cause of these complaints. Paying more attention to what your child says helps them to open up and prevent them from being tight-lipped, which may make it more challenging to learn about their struggles.

4. Mood changes before and after school

Some children are more expressive than others, especially in their moods. Despite not being explicitly vocal about how they feel about school, their faces may tell the whole story. See how their mood shifts before and after a school day and other mannerisms that could clue you into how they truly feel.

5. They look somewhat depressed

Distancing or depressive moods could also point to underachieving at school. Lack of attention, tiredness, and sadness can be signs that your child is having a hard time with school or homework and that they need help. Unfortunately, parents often do not pick up on these clues and assume that their lack of enthusiasm and energy is temporary fatigue. Not getting help when they need it the most leads to students losing motivation and potentially feeling miserable at school.

6. Overdependence

Learning to make independent decisions is something that many children learn by going to school. However, if your child starts to consult you with every minor issue, it could be a sign to be more attentive to their educational problems. Perhaps it could be a tough final test or a challenging science project. Or maybe they need assistance in specific subjects like maths. If it is the latter case, consider enrolling them in maths tuition in Singapore for a more focused and personal learning experience. Our full-time ex-MOE tutors, who are well-equipped with engaging teaching methods, will help your child to catch up on their studies and even get ahead of their peers by learning about future topics.

7. Decline in grades

Last but not least, declining grades are an obvious sign that your child needs help with school. It is usual for kids to have off-days and encounter topics that do not click with them or get the occasional bad grade (probably due to sleep-related issues or other external factors). However, a steady decline in grades with no improvement indicates that parents need to intervene and do what they can to help out.

Conclusion

Although the tips listed above can prove helpful, you know your children more than anyone at the end of the day. As such, trust in your parental instincts to determine whether your children need a helping hand at school and let them voice out their struggles. If your child needs assistance with academics, consider enrolling them for tuition at Mavis Tutorial Centre where commitment, innovation, and professionalism come together to provide our students with a balanced and effective learning and academic performance. To learn more about our curriculum, contact us or reach out to one of our branches near you.