Signs Your Child Needs More Help: How to Identify Them and Take Action

As a parent or caregiver, we all want our children to succeed in school and in life. However, not all children learn at the same pace, in the same way, or with the same level of success. Some children may require extra help to continue their success. As a mom of six different types of learners, a trained educator, classroom teacher, private tutor, and mentor to many international Au Pairs, I have identified several signs that may indicate that your child needs more help.

Here are some sure signs you might consider more help:

Poor Grades/Performance

Consistent poor grades and performance on a variety of school tasks should be the first and most obvious sign that your child needs more help. Identify if there is a specific type of assessment or task where your child performs particularly poorly or well. Teachers may have some insights into your child’s strengths and weaknesses, but lookout for an area of poor performance across different topics. This information can help you as a parent or caregiver to share with a tutor.

Poor Attitude

A child’s attitude towards a certain topic or task can negatively affect their performance. It may be his or her way of avoiding a particular subject in school. Students who struggle with a topic will often have a bad attitude or may not want to complete work in that area. Students can also develop negative attitudes towards teachers, but when this negativity spreads to other people who approach the same subject, it may indicate a need for more help.

Poor Attendance

Children who experience anxiety related to school may find ways to avoid attending classes, and poor attendance may create long-term problems for them. Even the youngest of children can find ways to convince their parents or caregivers to let them stay at home. At first, the cause behind these excuses may not be evident, but when poor grades, negative attitudes, and lousy attendance combine, it may be time to consider extra help. Children should only miss school with a certified medical excuse.

Lack of Organization

Organization is a critical skill that can aid children throughout their life. Children need guidance to learn organizational systems that work best for them. This skill is especially important for schoolwork, as it helps them keep track of homework assignments, projects, and notes. A tutor can help with general organization, and some students will see an immediate improvement, while others may require daily or weekly support to maintain being organized.

Lack of Results from Effort

When your child gets extra help from you, their teacher, and puts in their best effort, you may expect some level of improvement. However, if you see no results, it might be time to consider additional help such as hiring a tutor. Effort is the key to success, but it is not the only factor in achieving it.

Before you hire extra help, be sure to communicate with your child’s teacher and ensure that they will support and communicate with the tutor. A tutor can be a classmate, an older student, a friend or neighbor, or even a sitter who has mastered the subject and is willing to help. A private tutor can cost anywhere from $20 to $40 per hour, so be sure to explore your options, or use a provider you are already paying for a service, such as your sitter or Au Pair.

In summary, paying attention to your child’s progress and seeking extra help when necessary can help your child become successful in school and in life. Give the new school year a few weeks to get going before you start worrying about needing more help. Sometimes children are just slow starters, but by the middle of the first quarter, most parents and kids know how they’re doing and if they need help. Remember, as a parent or caregiver, you play a vital role in helping your child succeed!