FIVE SIGNS YOUR CHILD NEEDS TUTORING

It’s easy to tell that a child needs tutoring when he or she continues to receive one poor report card after the next, but there are a number of other less obvious signs that parents shouldn’t ignore. Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center says that parents can look for clues in a number of places. “Stressful study sessions and bad grades are the tangible evidence of a child’s school struggles, but there are several other indicators to watch for,” says Huntington. “The sooner you recognize school problems, the faster you can help your child overcome any issues and boost his or her confidence.”

Huntington shares these five warning signs that your child may need tutoring help—and questions to answer about your child’s behavior:

1. Difficulty getting started. Does your child seem unexcited and unmotivated about anything to do with school—especially working on assignments? Does he or she put off homework time every night and frequently spin his or her wheels when working?
2. Sloppy homework and overall disorganization. Is your child disorganized in most areas of his or her life? Does your child consistently hand in unfinished or messy homework? Does it seem that your child used to care about doing quality work and does not anymore?
3. Personality change. Have you noticed a dramatic change in your child’s disposition in recent months? Is your child more angry or volatile than ever before? Does he or she seem unhappy—about school and other areas of his or her life such as friends?
4. Diminished self-esteem. Does your child get down on him or herself easily during homework? Is your child pessimistic about school, his or her abilities, and more? On a day to day basis, does your child appear frustrated with him or herself?
5. Lack of interest in learning. Is your child totally apathetic about school and anything associated with school? Was your child interested in learning previously and now is not? Does that indifference translate to other areas, such as socializing or being involved in extracurricular activities?

“School can be a bumpy road for students who are struggling, so it is important to take action if you notice your child showing any of these signs,” Huntington says. “Experience has showed us that early tutoring intervention is key to getting students back to where they need to be as quickly as possible.” For questions about how a customized tutoring program could help your child, call the Huntington Learning Center at 1-800 CAN LEARN.