Start just below your child’s level of confidence.
I’m suspecting that if you are reading this, it is because you have decided you want to support your child’s education.
Maybe this is to compliment what they are learning at school, because you home school them, or because you simply enjoy spending time with them. There are probably 100 other reasons why. Regardless…
If there is an area they are struggling with and you agree to focus on initially, start at a level slightly below where they feel comfortable. If for example, you have decided to work on times tables, as they are simple to use for demonstration purposes, and you know your child can do the 10’s and 2’s but is struggling with the others focus on those 2 initially. (Here is a link for our free times tables e-book that I created a couple of years back that you might find helpful:
https://theclarajamesapproach.co.uk/times-tables-download
Why?
Because then you can boost their confidence by showing them what they can do. You’re not suddenly reassuring them that their opinion that this is too hard for them, is right!
Don’t run before you can walk.
If it takes you days or weeks to conquer them, don’t worry, you will get there in the end. The more practice you put in during these early stages, the more it will pay off in the long run.
Reassure them. Offer them praise when they do well. Even if it’s only that they get one question right, focus on that one rather than the ones they struggled with, but obviously don’t be patronising... Like I said provide prompts, do what it takes to boost their confidence so that they believe that it is something they are capable of achieving.
Then as they gain confidence in that area, start to slowly introduce the next.
Let them know it’s because they are now a master of what you’ve been doing previously that you can move on.
If this has resonated with you and you want to read more, it is an extract from my book square pegs and round holes which is available on Amazon. You will find the link HERE
