How to Tutor a Child

When children have difficulty with academics, especially the basics, it can be hard on their self-esteem as well as cause them to lose interest in learning. Many children desire to both learn and succeed though vary in their interests and capabilities. With the right balance of encouragement, realistic goals and some guidance, you can tutor a child, brighten their outlook, and make a difference in their grades and future.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Educational material
• <br>Preparation time
• <br>Learning friendly environment

How to Tutor a Child

1. Set reasonable short and long-term goals when you begin to tutor a child. Ask the child what goals he or she has and, if needed, help them see the big picture on doing well in school. Decide whether you want the student simply to pass an upcoming test or to better comprehend a topic for future use.

2. 
   Get organized.

   Get organized before you start to tutor a child and come prepared with learning tools, plans and whatever other supplies are needed for the day. Children can lose confidence in a tutor if they seem unorganized and unsure of themselves. Develop expectations and organization from the child too, including a scheduled time for tutoring to begin.

3. Remove distractions before a tutoring session and make the environment conducive to learning. This includes that the child is well fed and rested. Some kids prefer to work in total silence, but others do better with soft lyric-free background music. Discourage any phone calls during the session.

4. Discuss progress regularly with the child to gain their input on how competent they feel, what they like and don't like about the subject matter, and what they would like to accomplish for the day or week. Help them cope with learning material they find boring or finishing projects they deem hard, but consider their input for ways you can better help them succeed.

5. 
   Watch the clock

   Set reasonable tutoring session times based on age and attention span. If a child experiences difficulty with focus, start with shorter lessons and more variety. Gradually increase the study time if it seems productive. Acknowledge that a child may dislike or be disinterested in a topic, but avoid annihilating the child towards the learning process. Notice what does garner the child's interest and work in these areas as much as possible.

6. Provide praise and rewards for both small and big accomplishments. Younger kids love stickers and may need more verbal praise for encouragement. Older kids like affirmations and certificates of achievements, for instance. While food and toys are not optimum rewards, for longer assignments and bigger accomplishments, sometimes a pizza day is in order.

Tips & Warnings

• For long-term goals develop reasonable benchmarks for the child and revise them if needed to fit the child's aptitude. Short quizzes are one way to measure progress but only serve as a guide.
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• <br>Make learning as fun as possible as you tutor the child by mixing up the sessions using games, video or learning shows, tutoring websites, or art projects, such as a collage related to a book the child read.
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• <br>Try not to underestimate or overestimate your abilities as you learn to tutor a child and recognize that goals go unmet. Consult with experienced teaching professionals or other tutors for more suggestions and advice.
• If a child shows significant learning deficits ensure that they are not of medical origin, discussing concerns with the child's doctor or a specialist.

Who Can Help:

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