Building Healthy Strategies for Managing School Frustration
Every child is different and has their own strengths and abilities. Certain subjects and skills come more naturally to some people than others. At some point in your child’s academic journey, they will likely struggle with something, whether it’s math, science, or a foreign language. One skill that students need to learn is how to cope when faced with challenges, and that’s something that as a parent you can help them with along the way.
Encourage them to take breaks. If they have been working on the same problem or reading the same paragraph for a while and still aren’t getting it, suggest they take a break. Let them clear their mind for 5–10 minutes and come back refocused and ready to work. They may also want to move on and work on something else, then come back to the problem they struggled with later. Brain breaks are a good thing! They can only process so much information at a time.
Break down bigger tasks. Children often get frustrated when they’re feeling overwhelmed. When faced with a major project, they simply might not know where to start or fear that they won’t get everything done in time. Help them create manageable tasks or groups of tasks so they can work on things a little bit at a time. Before they know it, the project will be complete!
Stay organized. When there are math papers mixed in with English notes and they can’t find their science test review sheet, it’s no wonder they feel frustrated! Sit down with your child and help them to get organized. Try color coding each subject and using separate folders and notebooks or a binder with dividers. Remind them to write down all of their homework, tests, projects, and other activities in their planner so everything is in one place. Even if they think they’ll remember, it’s better to write it down. They may also want to get phone numbers for classmates so if they have a question about an assignment, they can call and ask.
Try different resources. Is reading about the lifecycle of a caterpillar not sticking? Consider watching a video or drawing pictures to help with remembering each step. When learning vocab words for German class, put labels on items around your house so they can see the item and the associated word. You also might want to have someone else try explaining things to see if something clicks.
Ask for help. Many students benefit from having a little extra help and support with subjects they find difficult. Working with a tutor can teach your child different strategies for learning and recalling information, taking notes, asking questions, and preparing for tests. Tutors understand how present information in a variety of ways and target diverse learning styles.
Crafting Scholars creates personalized learning plans for each student in order to effectively meet their unique needs and make the most of each session. Whether they need to reinforce prior skills or master something brand new, they’ll have the support they need to be more successful with less frustration. Contact us today to learn more or sign up!
