Helping Your Child Become Successful and Self-Assured

These are just a few things you can do to help your child be happy, healthy and confident. At the Tutoring Club of Jacksonville, we focus on your whole child, by improving academics, building character and instilling confidence.  Our kids love to come here; more importantly, they love the results they get from their work with us. Call us at 268-8556 to see how we can help your child.    

Let Your Child Make Decisions   When children have the opportunity to make choices, they’ll gain confidence in their own good judgment.  When they’re young, it’s best to give them two or three choices.  Rather than asking what they want to wear, for example, allow them to select between two or three outfits you’ve put together ahead of time.  And let them know there are other things that aren’t up for a vote, like swimming lessons, or weekly trips to the library, (or tutoring)!. 

Consider Your Compliments  If you tell your child "Good job!" with every accomplishment, or exaggerate your praise (“You’re the best player on the team!), they may have a hard time recognizing when their work is really worth celebrating.  Instead of praising your child when they do something they’re supposed to do, try a simple “Thanks” instead.  Make every effort to give very specific feedback. Instead of saying their artwork is beautiful, maybe you could praise them for their design or use of a particular color.  

Encourage Special Interests   Expose your child to many activities, and encourage them when they find interests they want to pursue. Kids who have a passion are proud of their expertise. And hobbies can be helpful for kids who find it difficult to fit in.  A student with a talent for painting, for example, may lead the pep squad in creating posters supporting the school’s sports team. 

Don’t Save Your Child   We all want to keep our child from getting hurt, but when you intervene, sometimes you’re not doing them any favors.  Kids will learn to succeed by overcoming obstacles, not by having the obstacles removed for them.  They need to know they can take risks without feeling their parents will criticize or correct them for doing something wrong.  We all learn by doing – and by being allowed to make mistakes without being reprimanded - or seeing you mess up without making a big deal about it - will help your kids understand that mistakes are part of life, and something to be learned from. It also teaches them to be accountable, and accepting of the consequences and rewards that come with their decisions and actions.

Look for Ways to Help Others   It’s empowering for a young child to help you with a project.  Seeing the effort and planning that grown-up tasks require, and watching their parent taking mistakes in stride, will make kids feel better when they have to work at their own projects in the future.

Does Your Child’s Self-Esteem Help or Hurt Their Grades?

A student's self-esteem has a marked impact on academic performance, and affects how they engage in activities, deal with challenges and interact with others. A confident child learns eagerly, enjoys the company of friends and family, and often achieves established goals.  A child with low self-esteem, on the other hand, may have difficulty in school as the result of a lack of interest or an inability to focus on the work. They may be withdrawn, and reluctant to engage in after-school activities or try new things.  

When we work with children who have low self-esteem, our goal is to restore their belief in themselves so they can persist through personal and academic challenges. Their social core - the adults, peers and friends with whom they interact each day – have the most significant impact on their well being, and can help by giving encouragement and support.

Show appreciation for the things they do well.  Offer very specific feedback rather than generic praise. (Instead of “You aced your math test? That’s great!” try “You worked really hard to prepare for that test, and it’s paid off. I’m so proud of you!”)

Encourage their involvement in activities of interest to them.  Help them realize their natural talents, and don’t be overly concerned as their interests change and evolve.  

Help them learn to deal with failure.  If they encounter academic difficulties, help them understand that failure isn’t just a part of learning, it’s a part of life. You can Google ‘famous failures’ for some examples. 

• Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas."  
• Oprah Winfrey was fired from her job as a television reporter because she was deemed "unfit for TV". 
• Stephen King's first book, the horror thriller Carrie, initially received 30 rejections. Despondent, King threw it in the trash. His wife retrieved it and encouraged him to resubmit it to yet another publisher - and the rest is history.   

Demonstrate confidence that they can improve. No one succeeds with every attempt, and it’s important that your child understands that failure isn’t the end of the world.  Acknowledge their frustration, and then work together to develop strategies for improvement.

Growing up as a teen these days is difficult, and whether they’re your kids or not, they need your help.  Don’t hesitate to reach out to the kids nearest to you, with support and encouragement to boost their confidence and self-esteem. 
   
 That’s what we do every day at Tutoring Club of Jacksonville, and the results are magical.  Call us at 268-8556 to see how we can support your child.

Is Your Child Behind Before the School Year Begins?

As we approach the end of summer, parents should consider their child’s readiness for the challenges they’ll face in the upcoming school year. The sooner you can identify skill gaps, the better your chances to correct any shortfalls before they become overwhelming for your child. 

Begin by discussing these questions with your child to help determine where potential problems may exist.

• Does your child manage their time wisely to complete assignments and prepare for tests?

• Does your child understand how to prioritize tasks?  Do they correctly identify and work on the most important tasks first?

• What are your child’s favorite subjects in school? How can you build on them as opportunities for higher learning? 

• Does your child have difficulty in completing work in one or more subjects? Which ones does your child enjoy the least?  Are there skill and knowledge gaps that contribute to those feelings?

You can help your child prepare for the new school year by creating a dedicated quiet area at home where school supplies can be stored and work can be done; establishing specific timeframes for homework and studying; and making schoolwork a priority, over and above extra-curricular activities.  

If you want to identify skill and knowledge gaps in specific subject areas, the Tutoring Club of Jacksonville can help.  We conduct assessments for all academic levels in Reading, Writing and Math. When you enroll your child, we create a personalized plan specifically for your student to address their individual needs, to fill existing gaps and build on their strengths.  

Parents who engage professional help to support their children’s learning send a message to their child that learning is important.  “With the help of our tutors, students overcome their learning gaps and regain their confidence – and that’s the key,” says Dana Edmonds, Director of the Tutoring Club of Jacksonville.  “When I get these kids to believe in themselves, that’s when they succeed.”  

At the Tutoring Club of Jacksonville, we focus on your whole child by Improving Academics, Instilling Confidence, and Building Character.  Call us at 268-8556 to discuss how we can help your child be ready for the new school year.   * Tell us you read our blog and receive 50% off diagnostic testing.