5 Modern Strategies to Improve Your Childs’s Academic Performance
Written by Pius Henry
Every parent wants the best for their children. You want them to have the most opportunities, achieve their potential and be happy. But, as every parent knows, kids don’t always do what you want them to do — especially when it comes to schoolwork!
How can we help our children get better grades? The answer lies in modern learning approaches that are proven effective. We’ve outlined 5 strategies that will help your child improve their academic performance:
1. Get kids interested in math and science early.
Math and science are essential for a child’s future, but they can also be quite fun! When you introduce your child to the world of math, you’re giving them the opportunity to explore numbers and patterns, which will help them develop critical thinking skills that are useful everywhere — from their everyday life to their future career.
When it comes to science, you’ll want to ensure your child is learning about real-world topics like plants or animals they see every day. The more familiar they feel with these objects before starting school, the easier it will be for them when they start using books as references later on!
Math and science are also useful in many ways. You’ll be able to teach your child how these two subjects can be applied to everyday life, like cooking or playing games with friends. For example, if you want them to understand fractions better, then have them help you measure ingredients for their favourite recipe — this way, when they see “one-fourth cup” of sugar on the label, it won’t seem so abstract.
2. Play games that teach computational thinking.
Computational thinking is a skill that is becoming increasingly important in the modern world. Computational thinking involves breaking down problems into smaller parts, being able to solve those smaller parts, and then combining them to find an answer for the initial problem. This ability can be used to solve anything from basic math problems to complex coding algorithms.
While you can’t teach your child computational thinking skills directly, there are plenty of games out there that will help them learn how to break down larger problems into smaller ones, how to fix any errors they make along the way, and how all of this comes together when solving bigger problems.
The best part about this technique is that it can be used to teach all sorts of skills, not just those associated with coding. Playing simple games with your child that involve problem-solving — like the popular Rubik’s Cube or card games like Solitaire — can help them learn how to approach larger problems without feeling overwhelmed.
Computational thinking is a valuable skill for any student and will serve them well whether they decide to go into computer science or not.
3. Help your child discover their passions
As a parent, it’s essential to understand what your child is interested in. A passion can be anything from a hobby or sport to an academic interest. Discovering their passion will help them develop interests and build confidence through their strengths.
If you find yourself in this situation, it would be helpful for you as a parent to seek out ways that you can help your child discover their passions and strengths, such as:
● Encourage them to take part in sports teams or extracurricular activities.
● Take them to museums, concerts, art galleries etc.
● Read books together that may interest them.
There are many ways to help your child discover their passions and strengths. The important thing is to be supportive and encouraging so that they can develop confidence in their abilities.
4. Encourage teamwork
While children aren’t yet working in the real world, they are still learning how to work with others. Teamwork is an important skill to learn at a young age and will greatly help your child when entering the workforce.
Teamwork is not simply about getting along with people; it is about working together towards a common goal. Helping your child learn to work as part of a team will help them throughout their life as they move through school and into adulthood.
5. Build good digital habits early on
Digital literacy is the ability to use technology, understand its functions, and apply it in a meaningful way. It’s not just knowing how to use the internet; it’s having the knowledge to navigate this ever-growing world of information.
Teaching kids these skills early on help them succeed in school and beyond. The earlier you start teaching your child about digital literacy, the better off they will be later on in life! You can start by introducing them to programming languages that are age-appropriate for them (think: Scratch or JavaScript).
An excellent place to get started is at NextGen! NextGen’s coding Bootcamp for kids uses fun and engaging activities to teach children aged 7–17 how to code. The program is designed to teach kids the basics of computer science and how coding can be used as a tool for problem-solving in everyday life. It’s not just about learning how to write code; it also teaches students critical thinking skills that will help them throughout their lives.
You can enrol your kids now in the next generation of coding Bootcamp for kids and start them on the path to becoming smart in technology and mathematics.
Building your child’s confidence in school is accomplished one step at a time.
It is important to remember that improving your child’s academic performance will not happen overnight. However, if you put in the hard work, it will eventually occur — and when this happens, it will be worth all the time and effort! Don’t give up on yourself as a parent or your child as a student.
Don’t assume anything about your child’s potential or ability just because they have been struggling thus far in school. Don’t expect change without effort on your part. You can’t just wait for things to improve; you have got to actually do something about it!
Having a child who struggles in school can be stressful for parents and children alike. The stakes are high, and the consequences of poor performance can be severe. But there is hope! With just a few small changes in their approach to learning, you might be able to make a huge difference in your child’s academic performance.