How to handle below average performance of your child?
Why do you think children perform below average? Many parents would reply, “My child isn’t sincere” or “We tried everything, but he just can’t focus”.
Children don’t score less because they like to score poor marks. There are a few plausible reasons why they are scoring less.
We have come up with a few reasons children that might resonate with you. Let’s drop the wall of hesitations and see what we can do to help them score well.
Reasons, why your child is scoring low and what can you do about it!
1. Low grasping power?
Children read their textbooks aloud but in some cases, it doesn’t work. You make your child write everything down, but again nothing. Does this mean your child doesn’t have the ability to grasp? Does this mean your child will always be weak in studies?
Well, weak grasping power may be the truth of the matter. However, your child will always remain weak in studies, is far from the truth. They need a little nudge to understand what could help them. With some corrections to the style of studying, they can grasp like any other kid in their school. What is the problem that needs to be solved? What needs to be done?
Some children find it difficult to remember points. This is in most probably because of the way they study. Everyone has their own style of studying. Some might learn quickly by writing, while others might read it out loud. We have explained the learning styles in detail in our blog “How do I make studies interesting for a child?”
Everyone understands differently. There are high chances that children’s style of studying is different and their parents insist them to do studies differently. This often happens because the parent’s style of studies and the child’s style of studies differ. The parents are not able to understand why the style that has worked for them is not working for their child? Hence, the discord!
What can you do?
Observe your child’s style of studying. See if your child understands better when they read out loud. Or, is it that reading quietly makes them understand better? Could it be discussions that help them to comprehend? Could it be multiple revisions that are their style?
Sometimes it won’t make sense to you but guide them to follow their own style. Every person is different, and so are their ways to study. Support your child’s way and allow them, for once, to go with their flow.
2. Poor presentation skill
Some children lack the art of presentation in the answer papers. They might study well enough to score well but lack the ability to pen it down the way the examiner prefers it. Presentation in papers isn’t limited to handwriting only. There are other factors to be considered as well. Factors like omitting to write bullet points when they are supposed to be clearly mentioned.
Children might solve the maths problem but forget to write the conclusion. While checking the papers, the examiner is in a hurry for they have many papers to check. They observe that the summary is missing. It irritates them. And they cut a few marks.
Some kids solve the problem in their head, and won’t go through the trouble of writing the answer or explain how they solved the problem. The examiner fails to gather how much the child has actually understood. Moreover, the examiner has no way of knowing whether the answer was a fluke, was a product of cheating or is completely authentic.
What can you do?
When children are done studying, ask them to write down the important points. During the last minute revisions, ask them to go through these points. This way, they remember the points more easily and will write it in the paper. You can also try tests at home by making a question paper. You can also use the earlier question papers to do so. Give your child a few questions and then check the answer papers. If you see anything your child needs to change, like their handwriting or the way of presenting the points in the paper, guide them.
3. Lack of motivation
There are children who are interested in other things but studies. It is not that they find studying tiresome, they find it boring as well. These children lack the motivation to study. They will happily choose to do anything else but diligently avoid studying.
What can you do?
Motivation can be encouraged in many ways. Set the right atmosphere in the room where your child studies. Make sure there are no distractions there. Have a sincere conversation with your child about education and the future. Invite a friend for studies. Have enough tasty eatables as post-study munchies. Practice different styles and methods of studying. You can make studies fun for your child. This way children won’t see examinations and studies tiresome. They will start enjoying it.
4. Approach to study
The primary reason your child won’t study for examinations is this. Children can get intimidated by the entire process of studying. They find it difficult to go through every point again and again. Some children do manage to study, however, they aren’t too excited about the revisions. They look at studies as one big mountain with many obstacles.
What can you do?
“One bite at a time”. Take things slowly with these children. Divide the syllabus into multiple small parts. Allow children to take a short break after covering every part. This will allow children to free the mind and give them some space.
5. Procrastination
This is a classic one. Children tend to postpone or delay learning the points and doing their revisions all the time. They later forget to go back to these points or even postpone it again. These children are just waiting for a reason to delay the task. Sometimes they have not properly understood these points and that is why they postpone it. Children don’t make efforts to understand these points.
What can you do?
Children should be encouraged to study consistently. Supervise their studies closely. You can arrange weekly tests and see how much your child has grasped. Make revision a daily habit.
Children will find an easy way out to stay away from studies and end up scoring poor marks. They might not share their problems and worries with you. Being a parent you can guide your child in many ways. Children don’t perform below average intentionally. They need your support even if they don’t ask for it. Support them and guide them to excel in their performance. It is never too late and nothing like fewer options when it comes to guiding kids. Explore these options and see your child score excellent marks.
