What to do when what you are doing isn’t working!

As we waited in line to get on the ferry from Vancouver Island to the Mainland this weekend we were told that all ferries had been cancelled because of the weather. We had to rethink what we were going to do, just like you have to do when how you are supporting your child’s education is not getting you – or your child – anywhere!

You now what I mean: when you get frustrated and angry because your child doesn’t seem to listen to you or doesn’t want to take your advice, or when your child starts to think that learning is hard and that they don’t want to do it!  These are just  couple of signs that indicate that the way you are trying to help your child just isn’t working. And just as we had to rethink our strategy to get off the Island you have to rethink the way you are providing support to your child.

When I see parents trying to help children in ways that just don’t work I get upset.  I get upset for the parent but mainly I get upset for the child who is missing valuable learning experiences.

And this situation is so easy to get right.  It can be so easy for parents to provide the type of support their child needs in the way that their child needs it  and to avoid all the frustration and lost opportunities that come from parents doing the wrong thing and not taking the time to rethink what they are doing.

Too many parents rush to provide their child with tutoring or extra homework, or even to buy them more workbooks without taking the time to understand what support their child needs.

The result? Parents waste time,money and effort and their child is not better off than before. In fact the parents may even be stopping their child learning rather than helping their child learn.

So, if you think for a moment that the support you are offering your child might not be working, or might not be working as well as you expected, then it is time for you to rethink what you are doing.

The good news is that when you discover what support your child needs the chances are that it will be easier and cheaper to provide and that the benefits your child receives will increase as a result.

You know if you need to rethink how you are providing support.

I am here to offer you advice and encouragement to do so.

Don’t wait too long.  Make sure that you and your child catch the ferry and get home safely!