How to prepare your child for transition to secondary school
The primary school chapter is over and your child has suddenly become a pre-teen, about to enter the next phase of their lives. For many, this involves transitioning to a secondary school before heading off to college and then, ultimately, university.
While primary school may have had its fair share of difficulties, secondary school presents unique challenges, especially when the new school is much larger.
Preparing your child for the secondary school transition will not only help them ease into the new secondary school environment, but research shows a little preparation can also keep your child’s mental health intact as they also battle with the fluctuating emotions brought about by puberty. So, here are some transition to secondary school tips to help ease your child into their new school.
Ensure they are in the right place
A big part of the process is determining whether your child is going to the right school. This means assessing the school or college they are at and making sure you are focused on making this work for you. One of the key things you must consider is the safety and security of the school. And this means researching school accident claims, and understanding how this works for you logistically too.
Prepare them mentally for the transition to secondary school
Most schools offer a smooth transition period during the first term to help Year 7 students acclimatise to the change in their surroundings.
A good way to help your child become mentally ready for secondary is to prepare in advance during the summer holidays. Start talking about what to expect, perhaps request extra transition visits if your child has SEN and/or meet up with the kids in their new class. Try to take the route to school so your child knows what to expect and, if possible, request the timetable in advance. Help your child pack their bag and prepare their clothes the night before so they’re not rushed on their first day. Finding out who their new teacher, head teacher and pastoral care staff members are, so helps your child understand who to turn to for support.
Encourage your child to talk about their feelings and their worries. What are they most concerned about, and how can you take steps to help them work through their worries? Perhaps prepare a list of their most burning questions and ask a member of staff to answer them in advance, if possible. Communication and support are key here.
Prepare them for the work to come during the transition to secondary school period
The work is going to ramp up now and the primary to secondary transition will be a learning curve for most children. Most secondary schools start the term with Cognitive Aptitude Tests (CATS) to gauge which stage your child is at in the core subjects. Their results may dictate which group they’re in at the beginning of term, and will work at that level until they progress to the next stage. Offering enhanced learning at home will not only help them progress to the next stage, but it will offer them the confidence to keep going and achieve great results. Here are some tips on how to help your child with literacy at home:
Literacy
Areas like literacy, which encompasses reading, writing, speaking and listening, need to be fostered, as it’s the single-most important part of your child’s education. Research has shown that children who enjoy reading do better at school and parents play a key part in helping them develop this enjoyment,
Encourage your child to use a spellcheck and dictionary
Motivate your child to write where possible, for example, ideas for computer games, song lyrics, stories, a diary, etc.
Encourage them to think about the purpose of their writing, who their audience is, and the layout. You can remember this using the acronym, PAL, to help them layout their writing. Help them structure longer pieces of work into a plan too, including mind-maps and flow diagrams.
Ask them to read out longer pieces of work to you so you can help them improve their writing.
Let them rehearse oral presentations in front of you a few times, helping them concentrate on speaking clearly, getting the volume right, and structuring their speech properly. They should use formal language and keep slang to a minimum.
Audio books are great to help children learn how to speak out loud properly
Encourage your child to explain themselves clearly and fully using varied vocabulary
Let them lead with the shopping at the market, or by ordering food at a restaurant, for example.
Numeracy
Numeracy skills are vital throughout life and children who develop their numeracy skills feel more confident in maths, which later helps them stay in education for longer and earn more throughout their lives. Here are some tips on how to help your child do well in numeracy:
Be more positive in maths. Rather than saying, ‘I can’t do maths’ or ‘I don’t have a maths brain,’ try, ‘This maths problem is difficult to solve,’ or ‘I’ll take this problem one step at a time.’
Point out where maths is used in everyday life and do activities that involve maths, like baking, for example.
Encourage your kids to help with daily mathematical situations like working out how much food you need for the family meal or splitting the bill after a meal out. Other examples include:
Converting currency rates
Managing personal finances
Working out best buys at the supermarket
Working towards a budget during the grocery shop
Estimating how long a journey will take
Planning family outings and packing lunchboxes/suitcases
Reading graphs and tables
Working out odds at sporting events and keeping score
DIY jobs like painting and decorating and working out how many and how much you need to complete the job
Finding friends can help make the journey through secondary school easier, and if your child finds their tribe, they can support each other when things get tough. Encourage your child to find a friend they can trust and stick to those who give out positive vibes. If your child struggles to make friends, help them with conversation starters or meet up with children in their class during the summer holidays to break the ice before the first day of school.
Foster their independence for the future
Encourage your child to think about their future beyond secondary school. What do they need to do to have the best chance of succeeding in college? What extracurricular activities do they need, and how can you make sure they are self-sufficient to take on the mammoth responsibilities that come with becoming an adult?
Extra responsibilities could include getting a part-time job, cooking dinner once a week, taking care of younger siblings or doing the food shopping.
The aim here is to help them develop self-sufficiency, problem-solving skills, and overall accountability. It also conveys to them you trust them to do these activities.
As difficult as it might be, don’t be too hard on them if they make mistakes, or struggle with a task again and again. Making mistakes and dealing with the consequences are all part of growing up. Mistakes aren’t failures, they’re a step forward in helping your child grow, as long as the mistakes aren’t repeated.
Help them prepare for their academic future
Your child is far more likely to enjoy and be successful at secondary school if they work towards mini goals and being happy.
Try not to be that parent who forces their child to go down a particular course or occupation path because if they don’t perform towards their strengths and where they feel the most passion, then they will eventually lose interest and resent you for being unhappy.
Instead, help them choose the right topics for them, by giving them the encouragement and confidence to relay what they want to do.
For example, if you know your child enjoys working with young adults and youth, then TSA’s diploma of youth work later could be a great option for them. What would they need to do in secondary school to help foster that pathway later?
This won’t happen for a long time yet, so try not to bombard your child with too much talk about college, graduation and even GCSEs yet.
Be supportive and positive for your child. Things eventually work out in their chosen path. For now, just help them transition from primary where they are spoon-fed to secondary when they have to become much more independent in their choices. The rest will naturally follow as they learn more about themselves later.
Teach them how to budget and track their finances
Going to high school isn’t just about studying. It’s also about learning how to live responsibly and sustainably with your finances too.
When they get to secondary school, your child will have some autonomy in managing their finances, either using a lunch card at school to pay for their lunch or buying things with their friends using their own bank account.
Eventually, in college and ultimately university, they will learn to pay rent, buy food, settle utility bills and fund their social activities. In addition, they will have academic related costs for things like textbooks and other resources as well. So they can start this learning process by acknowledging how bills work. Providing financial education as early as possible will also help them learn how to manage debt too and stay in the green where possible.
Teaching them the importance of budgeting and financial management, as well as visiting these kids savings tips will help your children become better savers in the future.
Save up a college fund
College funds are a key part of preparing for your kid’s educational future, and this is something you need to save up for. There are so many factors that play a role in helping you make the most of this and a college fund is one of the biggest and best parts of being able to make the most of their education.
Encourage them to join volunteer and extracurricular clubs
Most students spend their free time sleeping and socialising, if they’re not studying, which is all part of the teenage experience!
However, try to encourage your child to take up other activities to pass their time, like volunteering or taking on an extracurricular opportunity that will not only help them with their future career but also the surrounding community.
Joining a student body that is related to their topics or gaining work experience when offered in a field that is aligned with their chosen career path will look great on their resume.
Doing this can be a great way to make new friends outside of their studies, as well as gain industry contacts that might be useful later in their careers.
It can also teach your child new skills and help them make an immediate difference in people’s lives, which they might find very rewarding.
Listen to their fears and encourage them to ask for help
While going to secondary school is an exciting step for your child. It can also be a very nervous time too.
After all, for many young people, it involves independence away from their parents, so it can be scary for them to decide things for themselves.
To ensure your child is well prepared for this step, talk to them about how they feel. Without pressing too hard, encourage them to open up about anything they are worried about.
Where possible, try to ease their mind by putting contingencies in place, or providing them with potential solutions.
For instance, if they are worried about going out alone, perhaps they can have a phone with them, so they can call/text you whenever they need help.
Offer extra support in their learning, whether that is private tutoring or checking in every night with their homework. Ask them what they need help with and take steps to find the support they need.
Outsource help with learning – use homework services to help build ability
People frown upon using assignment help services, but it can be a great way for older kids to learn how to structure and implement facts and apply them to the questions set for their homework. You can contact a professional for homework assignment help and use the project provided as a precedent for how to do future assignments.
Final thought
With your child heading off to secondary school, it can be an emotional and very nerve-racking time for them. After all, they have relied on you with every facet of their school life. Now they need to become responsible and can’t rely on you anymore to spoon-feed them.
Know that this step is natural and the more independence you afford them, the more they will stand on their own two feet and become reliable adults later. Just make sure they know you’ll always be there when they need you. Secondary school can be scary, but it can also be fun!
FAQ
Where can I find transition to secondary school worksheets for my child to do?
Your old and new school may have supplied a transition booklet to help your child with preparing for what to expect. If not, watch this space as I’m working on something pretty awesome to help with that!
What transition to secondary school activities do you recommend?
Follow the tips above to help your child transition to secondary school, like providing them with more responsibility to do the shopping, preparing their bag and clothes and giving them more independence to manage their day.
Are there any transition to secondary school resources you recommend?
Yes! Watch this space as I will prepare a great resource for you soon.
What should I do if I have a child struggling with transition to secondary school?
A lot of children struggle with the transition to secondary school. Know that there is a lot of support out there, so talk to your new school staff members and let them know your child might need an extra transition visit or just to talk through the process of how their first week might go. Start preparing them during the summer for what to expect on their first day.
Is there a transition to secondary school booklet you’d recommend?
Yes! I’m working on something which will be ready very soon. I’ll publish more info here when it’s ready.
Do you have a post secondary transition plan?
Most children don’t have a post-secondary transition plan at this stage, and that’s perfectly ok. Try not to worry about this stage just yet. It may naturally become apparent what your child will want to do when they head towards the college years. But if they do, that’s also ok! Don’t rush this part. Instead, offer pathways to help them decide for themselves, but, whatever you do, don’t force them down a path they don’t want to do – it will lead to miserable adults!
*Collaborative feature post which contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases*
How to help your child build their foundational maths skills
In a world increasingly driven by data, the ability to navigate numbers is not just an academic requirement, but a vital life skill. Yet, for many parents, helping children build their foundational maths skills can seem like a daunting mountain rather than an accessible journey.
As parents, our involvement in our child’s early education is pivotal, particularly in laying the groundwork for success in maths because foundational math skills are not just about counting or solving simple arithmetic problems; they are the building blocks for critical thinking, problem-solving, and logical reasoning.
From integrating math into daily activities to leveraging technology wisely, this article will equip you with the tools and resources for developing basic math skills and the insights necessary to guide your child through their mathematical journey.
So, let’s begin!
Understanding foundational math skills and assessing your current math skills
To help your child understand foundation mathematics, assess where your math foundations lie first. You should be able to explain what foundation maths skills entail, such as counting, basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), understanding shapes, and grasping simple measurements. Then you can build on your foundation in mathematics and use it as a stepping stone in developing math skills for more complex concepts and problem-solving abilities.
Remember, your attitude towards maths is what your child’s perception will be when learning the subject. So aim to stay positive and encourage a math learning environment at home.
What are the basic math skills that everyone should know?
You should have a profound understanding of fundamental mathematics before you help your child in maths. But what are basic math skills? Here is a foundational math skills checklist to consider building on before you help your child with their foundational maths skills too:
Number Sense: Understanding and working with numbers, including recognising numbers, counting, and basic number patterns.
Basic Arithmetic: Proficiency in the four fundamental operations – addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Fractions and Decimals: Basic understanding and manipulation of fractions and decimals, including simple calculations and conversions between them.
Measurement: Knowledge of basic units of measurement (length, weight, volume, time) and the ability to measure and estimate using these units.
Time: Ability to read clocks, understand calendars, and calculate time intervals.
Basic Geometry: Understanding basic shapes, their properties, and spatial relationships.
Money Management: Basic skills in handling money, including understanding currency, making change, and basic budgeting.
Data Interpretation: Ability to understand and interpret simple graphs and charts.
Problem Solving: Application of math skills to solve practical problems, involving logical thinking and reasoning.
Percentage: Understanding percentages and their calculation, which is useful in various contexts like sales, statistics, and finance.
Why is it important to develop mathematics skills?
Developing mathematics skills is important for several reasons, both in academic contexts and in everyday life. Here are some reasons why it’s important to develop your child’s foundational maths skills:
It promotes critical thinking and problem-solving
Math teaches kids how to approach complex problems, break them down into smaller parts, and solve them logically. This skill applies to various life situations and professions.
It provides a foundation for advanced learning:
Proficiency in basic math is essential for understanding more advanced concepts in mathematics, sciences, engineering, and technology. A strong mathematical foundation opens doors to many educational and career opportunities.
Helps with practical tasks daily
Math skills are used daily, from managing money and budgeting to cooking, shopping, and planning. These skills help kids make informed decisions, like comparing prices, calculating interest, or measuring ingredients.
Helps with technological and scientific advancement
Mathematics is the language of science and technology. Advances in these fields rely heavily on mathematical principles, making math skills crucial for innovation and progress.
Enhances analytical skills
Math enhances analytical and logical reasoning skills. It teaches kids how to analyse data, recognise patterns, and draw conclusions, which are valuable skills in any field.
It builds confidence and independence
Proficiency in math boosts confidence in your child’s ability to handle various tasks independently, from everyday chores to complex professional assignments later in life.
It provides global competitiveness
In an increasingly universal world, strong math skills are important for keeping up with technological and economic developments, ensuring kids can remain competitive amongst their peers.
Enhances financial literacy
Understanding math is key to financial literacy, which includes managing personal finances, understanding loans, investments, taxes, and saving for the future.
Maths support other subjects
Math skills support learning in other areas, such as physics, chemistry, biology, economics, and even arts, as they often involve mathematical concepts.
Prepares kids for the future workforce
Many of the fastest-growing careers require strong math skills. Whether in IT, healthcare, finance, or engineering, math is a foundational skill that enhances employability and adaptability in a rapidly changing job market.
How do you get your child interested in math?
So it’s clear mathematics is not just about numbers and equations; it’s a critical tool for navigating and understanding the world, fostering logical reasoning, and enabling personal and professional growth. But how do you encourage your child to be interested in maths?
Getting your child interested in learning maths involves a blend of creativity, practicality and a whole heap of enthusiasm. There are tons of ways you can encourage your child to delve deeper into their maths learning. Here are some actionable ideas you can try now:
Relate maths to their interests and incorporate maths into daily activities
Connect maths concepts to things your child already enjoys. For example, if they like cooking, you can encourage them to measure ingredients. If they’re into sports, you can discuss the statistics from their favourite game.
You can also play board games or card games that involve counting, strategy and problem-solving like Monopoly, Uno, or chess. You can also take them grocery shopping and get them to help with budgeting, comparing prices and calculating discounts. Play a fun game and guess the total cost of the items in the cart to see who was the closest in the end!
Find out what their frustrations/challenges are when learning foundational maths skills
Some young learners find maths particularly hard, with weaknesses in this area leading to problems in school, future jobs and overall emotional wellbeing. Some children suffer from specific challenges, like developmental dyscalculia (DD), a condition characterised by difficulties in learning and understanding arithmetic.
It’s important to find out where the reluctance is coming from, as it could be something small which is holding them back. If it is a condition like DD, there are ways to help with basic math, which we will go through later in the article.
Create a positive math environment at home
Your attitude towards maths can influence your child’s attitude. Show excitement and interest in math yourself, and they are more likely to mirror it.
Another way to show positivity is to create a math-friendly space in your home. You can do this by setting up a dedicated study area with accessible maths tools like a calculator, geometric shape sets, a protractor and graph paper. Decorate the area with maths-specific posters, for example, charts like the multiplication table or motivational quotes and even audio devices which can help in strengthening mental math. All these help promote a positive environment to learn maths!
Use interactive games and apps
There are many educational games and apps designed to make math fun. These tools use engaging activities and challenges to teach math concepts and integrate math into other fun activities. Here are some fun ways you can utilise educational toys and tools to enhance learning.
Interactive Maths Activity Book, which includes home math games and activities for preschoolers
I have created a Maths Activity Book Canva template* for parents to print out and personalise for their preschooler. It contains over 50 pages of all kinds of maths problems, but it is set out in a very fun and engaging way, so your child doesn’t even know they’re learning maths! You can find out more about the Maths Activity Book and what it includes here.
Calcularis 2.0 is a computer program designed to help children who have trouble with math, especially those with developmental dyscalculia (DD). The program uses games to teach different math skills, like adding and understanding numbers, and it changes based on each child’s way of learning.
Researchers studied how well Calcularis 2.0 works by testing it with children who have DD. These children used the program for 20 minutes a day, 4-5 times a week, for 12 weeks. Their math skills were tested before, right after, and three months after using the program.
The results were positive. The children who used Calcularis 2.0 got better at math tests*, understanding where numbers are in space, and comparing the sizes of numbers. These improvements were only in math; their reading and spelling didn’t change, showing that the program specifically helps with foundational maths skills. Even three months after finishing the program, the children still showed these math improvements.
The study also found that children who didn’t have problems with reading or spelling, and those who were less anxious about math, improved the most. This suggests that being nervous about math might make it harder to get better at it, even with training.
In conclusion, Calcularis 2.0 was a helpful tool for children with DD and it’s recommended for both individual and group use as an addition to regular math lessons. However, it’s important to remember that this program is not a replacement for learning directly from teachers. This is especially true for children who get very anxious about math, as they might do better with personal teaching.
Overall, Calcularis 2.0 offers a supportive way for children with dyscalculia to improve their math skills through interactive and tailored learning.
How to teach maths at home – encourage questioning and explorations
Encouraging questioning and exploration is key in fostering a child’s curiosity and interest in math, especially when building foundational skills.
Create an open environment when creating homeschool activities for kids. Make the environment a safe space for your child to ask questions and make mistakes. They must express their thoughts and questions without fear of criticism.
Ask open-ended questions that don’t have a single right answer. For example, “How many ways can you think of to solve this problem?” Encourage ‘Why’ and ‘How’ questions and take the time to explore the answer together. If you don’t know the answer, research it together or turn it into a discovery project.
How to be great at math – go on math-related outings
Visit science centres, museums, or other places where they can engage in math-related activities and ask questions about what they see and experience.
How to become good at math – watch educational TV shows and videos
There are many educational programs and online videos that teach math in an entertaining and visually appealing way.
How to develop math skills – set challenges and rewards
Create fun math challenges or competitions with small rewards. This can motivate children and make learning math more exciting.
How to increase math skills – nvolve them in financial decisions
Basic budgeting or planning for a family outing can be great ways to teach older children about numbers and finance.
How to increase your math skills – encourage maths through art and creativity
Incorporate math into art projects, such as using geometric shapes for collages or understanding proportions in drawings.
How to make mathematics easy – involve school and join maths groups/clubs
Helping your child improve their math skills involves working together with their school. Regularly talk to your child’s teacher about how they are doing in math, what they find hard, and how you can help them at home. Get to know what your child is learning in math at school. This helps you support them with similar activities at home, for example, using the same foundational math skills worksheets that the school uses.
Attend meetings and events at school like parent-teacher conferences. These are good chances to learn more about how math is taught at the school. If your child is struggling with math, ask the school if they offer extra help like tutoring or after-school math clubs. If your child needs more help, work with their teacher to make a plan that sets goals and outlines how to achieve them.
Keep asking the teacher how your child is doing in math, not just in grades but also in their interest and confidence in the subject. Motivate your child to join math-related activities at school, like math clubs or competitions. These can make math more enjoyable.
Build a good relationship with the school. Appreciate their efforts and stay open to advice from teachers. Working together can create a better learning environment for your child.
As parents and educators, our role transcends beyond teaching numbers and equations; it involves instilling confidence, curiosity, and a problem-solving mindset in our children. By making math relatable and engaging through real-life applications, interactive tools, and personalised learning strategies, we can help demystify this subject and reveal its inherent beauty and logic.
But, remember, every child’s math journey is unique, and patience and understanding are key. Celebrating small victories, providing consistent support, and staying actively involved in their learning process are essential in maintaining their interest and motivation. As we guide them through the early stages of this journey, we are not just teaching them math; we are equipping them with tools to navigate the world, fostering independent thinkers, and perhaps, inspiring the mathematicians, scientists, and innovators of tomorrow!
FAQ
What is foundational knowledge of mathematics?
Other questions asked were:
What is fundamental skills math?
What are the mathematical skills in the foundation phase?
What are foundational math skills?
What is foundational mathematics?
What is functional math skills?
What skills does math develop?
Why are basic math skills important?
What is basic math skills?
Why are foundational skills important?
Why are mathematical skills important?
How to build a strong mathematics foundation?
What is early learning foundational skills mathematics?
How do you go about defining foundational math skills?
What is the importance of foundational math skills?
Foundational knowledge in mathematics refers to the essential concepts and skills that form the basis for understanding more advanced mathematical ideas. You can find out more information about these foundational maths skills in my article above.
What basic math skills are required by most jobs
You must have basic math skills to effectively perform various tasks in most jobs. These foundational math skills examples include:
Basic arithmetic
Understanding fractions and percentages
Measurement and estimation
Budgeting and financial management
Data analysis
Time management
Problem-solving
Using technology for math
Inventory management
Basic geometry
*This post is sponsored by Constructor, the creators of Calcularis. Links marked with a ‘*’ are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click through to buy at no extra cost to you – thank you for your support!
What motivates a child to do well in school?
Numerous factors contribute to children losing interest in their studies, and the situation has worsened because of the pandemic. An estimated 1.5 Billion students worldwide were forced to adjust to the new norm and study online, which blurred the lines between home life and study.
As a parent, you play an active role in the success of your child’s education. In fact, studies have shown that parents who are actively involved in their child’s schooling are more likely to raise successful children. But what motivates a child to do well in school?
There are many things you can do to help your child have a great school year, and it’s important to note that your encouragement will be an ongoing process throughout their education. In this article, we’ll go through how to motivate kids early and continue the process to help our children be the best versions of themselves they can be.
How to motivate a child to learn – start early with the school prep
Although most of us would view the term ‘pushy parent’ in a negative light, we still can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy when our child doesn’t appear to be reading, but their best friend does.
Hampstead Hill, advises that not every child will be ready for a book at the same time and within a school year there can be a year’s age difference between the youngest and the oldest child. People often talk about summer born children being at a disadvantage, especially during their formative school years, and to a certain extent, they are playing catchup throughout this time. During the Foundation Stage, there can be vast differences between four and five-year-olds and their subsequent ability levels.
Parents motivate children to do well in English and mathematics, often to the exclusion of other areas of learning and development. The new Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS) states there are seven areas of learning: Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development, and Communication and Language. These are classed as prime areas. The remaining specific areas are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
As the wording of the Foundation Stage curriculum suggest; a child needs to establish firm foundations and skills before they can embed these into more sophisticated learning. As cliched as it sounds, rather like the construction of a house; without laying the firm foundations, the rest of the building would collapse.
How to motivate your kid in school – Develop the foundations
Personal, Social and Emotional development is perhaps the most important of all areas of learning and development. Your child should first learn how to function socially and how to form strategies to look after themselves. After all, what good is it to recite the words of Shakespeare if they can’t boil an egg? An oversimplified analogy indeed, but to motivate a child to want to learn, the fundamental areas must come first.
Activities to develop personal, social and emotional abilities
Providing activities for your child that encourage turn-taking and sharing
Setting up role-play areas that reflect our multi-cultural society
Selecting books, puppets and toys to help your child explore their own and others’ feelings and viewpoints
Introducing activities that require collaboration, e.g. ring games, parachute activities, etc.
Physical Development
A child does not have the immediate ability or strength to pick up a pencil and write. So kids develop their large (gross) motor movements through physical activity, which will lead to more refined, smaller (fine) motor movements later.
Activities to develop gross motor skills
Throwing and catching a large ball
Encouraging your child to move in different ways and at varying speeds, balancing, target throwing, rolling, kicking and catching
Making large swirling movements with ribbons
Using large paintbrushes and water to make drawings/patterns outside
Marking large-scale patterns/movements in sand, paint, water etc
Activities to develop fine motor skills
Using grabbers/kitchen implements (remembering safety first!) to hunt for treasure in the sand.
Using tweezers to hunt for treasure in the sand (as fine motor ability becomes more refined)
Encouraging making patterns with fingers in the sand, shaving foam, gloop cornflour/water mix.)
Providing activities that allow the opportunity and motivation for school children to practice manipulative skills, etc. cooking, painting, clay and playing instruments.
Activities to develop Communication and Language
The importance of establishing speaking, listening and communication skills has at last been recognised and implemented. When learning a new language, we can always comprehend more than we can speak. Similarly, we are more capable of speaking a language than reading or writing it, at least to begin with. It seems it has taken a long time for the government to realise the skills of listening, speaking, comprehension, reading and writing are not simultaneously achievable but hierarchical.
Planning for lots of rhyming and rhythmic activities and as your child progresses, point out the rhymes/talk about similarities in rhyming words. Using rhyming from the youngest of ages cannot be underestimated and its bearing on your child as a future competent reader.
Encouraging your child to interact with other children and perhaps sing songs together, describe an event, and listen to their peers doing the same.
Providing opportunities for your child to talk for a wide range of purposes, e.g. describe what they have constructed, explain, instruct, discuss, justify their decisions.
Reading your child stories which incorporate repetitive phrases and repeated refrains/structures.
How to motivate a child to do well in school – the academic assessment journey
There are different paths you can take during your child’s academic years, and these paths depend on your socio-economic status, your mentality about education, and your child’s academic ability.
The second path veers off towards the end of Year 6, where you have an option to send your child to a grammar/consortium school. Your child would need to take the 11+ exams to get into these schools.
The third path is the private route, where your child will meet an array of assessments during their academic years, starting with the 7+ exam so they have the chance to attend an independent prep (private) school. The 8+ exam is structured in the same way as the 7+ but is taken in January when pupils join the school the following September. Again, this is to be in with the chance to get into an independent prep school.
Then you have the 11+, which is where you may begin the hunt for a tutor to prep your child for either grammar schools or private schools. This path is probably where you will find the most competitive amongst parents. They are all vying for the same top schools, and as these schools are oversubscribed, it’s slim pickings to get the school of choice.
You may be a parent who doesn’t want all that for their child, and that’s perfectly ok. Perhaps you have a family business, or your child wants to be the next Vanessa Mae or Jackson Pollock. Maybe you want your child to attend a good school, but you don’t want to pressure them down the private school route so early. Explore Learning or Kumon may be too much at this point and really all you want to do is enhance your child’s learning a bit at home.
Gaining knowledge doesn’t have to stop when the school bell rings. Enhanced learning, whether it be through play or kid’s worksheets, encourages your child to step outside of their comfort zone and absorb new information like the sponges that they are. The more they learn, the more learned they become.
Of course, I must point out that I am never ok with forcing a child to learn. I believe in education and extracurricular activities, but I don’t feel comfortable pushing my child to the point of social outcast or emotional breakdown. Children are still children, and they need to have the chance to blow off steam and play every day.
“Give your child an edge over the competition!” Exam Papers Plus
So, how can parents help make their children successful in school?
How to help your child get motivated in school – create structure for your child to avoid cramming
Long-term retention is greatly improved by daily, brief study sessions instead of intensive sessions only once weekly. Help your child create a study schedule to space out their practice on various subjects. Your child can break concepts into manageable chunks and take them one day at a time. Hire academic assistance from TopEssayWriting to get help with subjects like Math, Science, and more. Experts will teach you how to develop good writing skills.
Ways to motivate your child to do better in school – find alternative methods to studying
It can get tiresome for kids to read through their notes and textbooks again. Your child can only focus for so long before their eyes begin to glaze over. Try alternative strategies, such as the below, if your child has trouble with their studies:
Find a new explanation of the topic in an online video.
To help them visualise science concepts, ask them to create a picture or diagram.
Find a captivating podcast or audiobook on the subject they are studying.
Children learn in various ways. Use what you discover to be most effective for your child. Just make sure to stay on task and stay away from online distractions like rabbit holes.
What motivates a child to do well in school? Adopt a positive attitude toward learning
Fun learning and positive reinforcement are probably the most effective way of learning, and there have been some proven ways of enhancing learning at home through play. Role-plays are popular, and so are practical projects, like baking (using maths to calculate recipe ingredients).
Writing stories or poems are great at broadening your child’s imagination and building on their vocabulary and handwriting skills. Kids’ worksheets are proven to be one of the most effective ways of enhancing learning, especially if the worksheets cater to the current school curriculum. We live in a digital age, so, unlike back in my day when you’d have to go to a shop to buy past papers, you can now download and print out a worksheet whenever you’re ready. We’ll talk more about worksheets in a moment.
Don’t shy away from praising your child
Everyone enjoys receiving praise, so as a parent, it is crucial to do so to keep your kids motivated. Positive parenting and recognising their accomplishments (big and small) could be all the motivation they require to persevere. Ensure to emphasise effort over results to convey to your child that trying is more important than succeeding.
Let them know they have made you proud and that they should be of themselves as well. They put in a significant bit of effort and are making significant progress. They will be eager to advance if you occasionally throw in a special treat or outing!
Don’t over-function for your child
Don’t annoy your children by being on top of them all day. They are still children and they need space to be children.
Become involved in your child’s school
Be sure to meet your child’s teachers and establish a partnership with them. After all, you both have the same goal; to help your child do well at school. Get to know who is who around the school, not only in terms of the staff but also the other parents and kids. Offer to help at school, especially during extracurricular activities. If your child sees how involved you are in their learning experience at school, they will more likely try harder in the long run.
Be available during homework sessions
No child wants to sit by themselves and do their homework if they know other people in the house are having a good time. What motivates your child to do their homework? Get involved with them! Sit with your child during homework sessions, not only to make sure it gets done but also to answer questions they might have. If you struggle with the answers yourself, you and your child can explore books together and other sources on the internet to discover the answer together. Homework time can actually become quite a bonding experience.
Online platforms
It took me a while to find a reputable online resource that could provide me with not only extracurricular activity sheets the kids could do at home, but a learning journey we could follow throughout their academic years. Here are my favourites:
Brighterly.com helps kids aged 3 – 11 complete their maths journey with fun, easy, and effective maths classes.
TheSchoolRun, at first glance, looks complicated to use, but it’s so detailed and resourceful, it will have everything you need to help your kids through their primary education.
EdPlace* is great for 11+ prep and catching up with the school curriculum if your child is behind or enhancing their learning if they’re cruising. It’s important to challenge your child if they can take more and take a step back if they can’t. A happy medium is important here and online platforms like EdPlace are great for this, especially with their rewards system. You can find more information on how EdPlace works for the 11+ here.
Tutorfair offers online tutoring to enhance your child’s learning. It’s not always about cramming and exam preparation, but some relaxed educational learning will avoid boredom setting in and help students keep the information they learned in their previous school year,
“We envision a world where every student has easy access to great tutors.” Tutorfair
Worksheets and activity Sheets
Kids’ worksheets are a great way to provide your child with some extra practice. They come in bite-sized chunks and in all shapes and sizes, from tracing to writing stories.
There are tons of resources online that offer free worksheets, but if you’re looking to make a real difference in your child’s academic ability, I would suggest you opt for premium worksheets which offers engaging and effective worksheets that enhance your child’s academic journey, from 7+ to GCSE.
How do you encourage your child to take an interest in worksheets?
It’s important that you are present and engaging. A mother of six boys once told me that for your kids to achieve success, they need to feel confident that they can do anything. And to achieve that feeling, they need to feel loved and reassured; reassured that no matter how well they do in their exams, their parents will still love them. No matter what their mark is, they will always succeed in their parent’s eyes.
But, how do you encourage your child to learn without putting them off? Before you bring out the worksheets, here are some tips to encourage your child to sit down with a worksheet at home:
Keep an eye out for any weaknesses in their learning at school and talk to them about it.
Find out what they would do and what they’re really not interested in doing.
Talk about learning at home positively and prepare them before you start.
Set short periods of time in the day when you can work on a worksheet together and use a reward system like stickers or points if they complete that worksheet (points or stickers can go towards a larger reward of their choice). My brother-in-law once told me his parents used to offer him and his brother 5p a worksheet and he would save the money to buy sweets, chocolate or a toy in the end. This is a great way to enhance money maths skills without the child even knowing it!
Whatever result your child achieves when completing a worksheet, remember they are trying their best to impress you. If they fail, pick them up, stay positive, and start again.
How to motivate your children – monitor technology use
Many children spend more time playing video games, watching television and browsing the web than they do completing their school work. Be sure to monitor their leisure time and offer some suitable alternatives when you think they’ve spent too long on their technological devices. You could introduce some educational board games to encourage learning in a group environment. Monopoly is a great way to introduce and develop money maths, and Scrabble enhances vocabulary and English skills.
How to motivate children – ask your child about their day
When you see your child at the end of the school day, ask them lots of open-ended questions about their lessons. Talking about their school day will help them solidify what they learned, and it will show them you’re interested in their academic development.
How to help a child with anxiety at school
If your child has shown symptoms of stress at school, but they seem fine at home, then there may be something they’re not telling you that is hindering their development. It’s important to note that, like separation anxiety, school anxiety is not connected with behaviour or poor parenting. Your child’s worry is a cry for help, and it will often be dressed with feeling ill or causing tantrums, which may look like inappropriate behaviour.
Don’t get tough on them and tell them off, instead find out first if the anxiety isn’t coming from bullying, problems with friends or their schoolwork. Speak to the teacher and ask them if they’ve seen anything out of the ordinary that may cause this anxiety at school. Chat to your child and ask them if there is anything concerning them.
Monitor your child’s behaviour and empower them by telling them you are on their side and whatever is happening, you will help them. If they don’t want to talk, you can’t force them, but soon enough something will slip, and you will eventually find out what is causing the anxiety at school. It’s essential to tackle this issue as soon as you can, as it may inhibit your child from doing well at school.
How to encourage a child to study
When working on how to motivate a child to study, practice makes perfect and the sooner your child develops their unique work ethic, the better they will be at school and, ultimately, at work when they’re adults. You are one of those rare lucky parents if your child says they want to study instead of going outside to play. However, if your child isn’t like that – and most children aren’t – the critical point to note here is that you don’t want to force your child or use any negativity linked with studying, for example, don’t punish them with studying.
Motivating children in school to study should be a welcome addition to enhanced learning, and your child should want to be better and work harder at what they want to achieve. But, ‘How do I teach my child to study?’ you frantically ask yourself. It’s a long process if your child puts up a fight, but developing good study skills is vital, and so you should put in the long fight.
Designate a certain study time and place every day or select times in the week. Establish goals, so the child understands what they need to do, and they don’t become overwhelmed with the workload. Then motivate your child to study and keep going.
How to motivate your child – help your child stay organised with a work corner
Teach your child organisational skills with a study corner which they associate with working. This could either be in their bedroom or at the dining table; wherever they feel the most comfortable to work.
To equip your children with planning and organisational skills use furniture built for organisation. The Tidy Books ForgetMeNot ticks a lot of boxes for managing a busy child’s life.
Motivating children in school – ‘The Summer Slide’ during the summer holidays
A lot of children become ‘lazy’ during the summer holidays and forget skills they learned in the previous school year. The term is actually called ‘The Summer Slide’, coined by educational psychologist Harris Cooper, who found that US schoolchildren regress in all subjects over the summer holidays, by an average of 1 month in spelling skills, and by 2.6 months in maths (Cooper, 1996).
“Students will score lower on the same test at the end of the summer than they did at the start,” Downey, 2004
What motivates your child academically – prevent ‘The Summer Slide’
It is important to keep up with the schoolwork, but you may wonder how to motivate a child to do homework during the summer. It is just as vitally important that kids get their downtime over the summer and rest well before the school season starts, especially those students who have had to tackle exams before the holiday. Motivating kids in the summer is tough, but there are some fun and effective ways to promote learning over the summer break.
Summer learning should be all about fun, whether you are the educator yourself or you are enlisting in the help of a nanny or tutor. But discovering activities that children can enjoy and spinning them into fun ways of learning serious topics from next year’s curriculum will ensure that children are having fun and learning skills in advance that will help them in the classroom. A good way would be to create a treasure hunt with subject-specific clues. It will also keep them occupied, depending on how easy or difficult you make the questions!
Riveting reading
Six weeks of summer provides perfect opportunities to encourage your child to read. Harris Cooper found the poorest children lose the most reading skills, while those better off actually improved over the summer. Even just reading four to five books over the summer has a positive impact on a child’s reading skills.
If you have a reluctant reader, you can be inventive and work towards their hobbies and interests. My third child is three and loves numbers. So, I write the numbers down from one to ten in words on sticky notes and pop them around the house. I then write the actual numbers and ask her to find all twenty sticky notes.
Then we work together to match the numbers to their written version. Even if she has no clue what the words say, I’m providing her with a subconscious memory of how the numbers look like words.
Also, she’s a huge Peppa Pig fan, so reading the same book repeatedly every night may be tedious for me, but invaluable for her to improve her reading skills and ability to grasp phonics. I point to the words as I read them, enunciating the phonemes and encouraging her to read some of the simpler words again back to me.
There’s actually an awesome challenge online that caters towards the more tech-savvy, paper-phobic child, called the Summer Reading Challenge, which rewards children with stickers, summer reading bookmarks and certificates for free. You can also step out of the house and pop into the local library, which has a goldmine of books that children can choose from for that all important summer reading.
We have tons of books in our house, but I’m pretty sure the kids appreciate a trip to the library and reading in a different setting. It also motivates them to keep up with the reading, as they’ll want to go back and read more.
Marvellous maths
My eldest applies basic maths to daily activities and my middle boy is obsessed with numbers, so I try to incorporate maths into our activities during the day. As I cook and bake all the time, I involve the kids and adapt recipe quantities to familiarise them with dividing, multiplying and using very basic fractions (one, half, quarter). Again, even if my little one is staring blankly at me when I tell her we need to divide a recipe quantity by four, I know I am setting up a base for her to work from when she is introduced to the maths jargon at school later.
Another great way is to tell the time throughout the day. Pointing out when it’s one, two, three o’clock and then counting down the hours until dad gets home enables them to understand the dissection of time and relate it to specific times in the day. Breakfast is at 8am, which is four hours before lunchtime, at 12 o’clock etc. Time calculations can prove a challenge for children as they are working from a base of 60, rather than the normal 10s and 100s they learn from numbers. So give it time if it takes a while for them to click with it all.
Children are natural entrepreneurs and setting up a lemonade stand, for example, is a fast-track way of increasing not only their maths skills, but their business skills too. Be there to supervise them and help them calculate their profit margin and hourly earnings. Make sure you also monitor their lemonade recipe to ensure that they are actually producing something drinkable!
Puzzles like Kakuro and Calcudoku are really useful to getting older children going on the four main operations (+, -, x, ÷) really quickly. Be warned, they are head scratchers!
Whirlwind writing
Patience is definitely a virtue when motivating children to practice writing. My eldest showed absolutely no interest in writing until he was in school, to which he then produced a remarkably accurate list of all the letters in the alphabet and even penned a few three and four-letter words as well – to say I was astonished is a massive understatement! However, he couldn’t hold a pen properly until well into his school years. My daughter is three and held the pen properly almost instantly. They’re all so different.
Make writing fun. During long car journeys, you can hold challenges for the best storyteller. Not only will this help the kids’ linguistic creativity, but it will stop them bickering in the car. A great way to get kids writing too is to send postcards to their friends. It only takes a couple of lines on the back of the postcard, so it’s not overwhelming, and they get to write to their friends, which helps increase their social circles too.
Super science
If you’re anything like me, then you’ll find getting creative with science surprisingly tricky. So what is a good way to motivate your child with science?
Upon deeper inspection, science is actually all around us and can be taught to kids so they understand.
Take advantage of our flailing British summer weather and, after the next rain shower, draw chalk circles round a few puddles to observe the water cycle. Kids learn about water evaporation, as the puddle slowly reduces in size.
We have a large garden, so we try to collect as many plants as possible and discuss the differences and similarities between them. My sister bought the boys an ant farm, so we had fun creating an ant kingdom during the last days of summer. If you don’t have a large garden, just stop by your nearest park, which is bound to have way more creatures and plants waiting for you and the kids to discover!
Final thoughts on what motivates your child
What motivates a child in school? Focus on your child’s interests but show an interest in all aspects of your children’s lives
Focusing on what your child enjoys and supporting your child’s learning style too can help then channel their energies into their passion. It’s amazing what you’ll learn just by listening!
What motivates your child to do well in school? Ensure a goodnight’s sleep and frequent plays
Although it is simple to ignore your child’s extracurricular activities and sleeping patterns, these factors are crucial to their success. In the U.S., a mere 35% of the population rated their sleep quality as “good”.
Motivate your child to play outside during and after study sessions while taking study breaks. Additionally, a restful night’s sleep for your child, free from worries, is just as crucial. It’s important to support children’s mental health and a large chunk of that comes from having a good sleep hygiene.
How do you motivate your child to do better in school? Find a mentor for your child
Help your children to find a mentor to help enhance their learning because it’s an awful lot of work to do it all by yourself, especially when you have other kids to manage,
FAQ
What not to do to motivate your child?
Other questions asked were:
What Motivates Your Child And What Does Not?
Why Isn’t My Child Motivated
Ways Parents Can Motivate Children To Learn Do Their Best
What are some motivations in school?
How do you motivate your child to do better in school?
How to motivate a child to do better in school?
How to motivate a kid to do well in school?
What motivates my child at school?
Forcing your child too much can push the the other way. And, remember, if they’re doing it for you, they’re not doing it for them. You take your foot off the pedal and they will run away. Keep it light, fun and go at their pace.
My 12 year old son is not interested in studies nor is he seriously into any sports or other hobbies/activities. He comes out bad in his exams and sits around playing video games or watching TV the entire time. Is it too early to worry about this or is there something that can be done?
How to motivate a lazy child when they’re not interested in doing anything? You can find the answer here.
How do I motivate my 20 year old son who refuses to go to school, get a job or help around the house?
Other question asked were:
What motivates students to do well in school?
How to motivate my child to study?
how to get your child interested in school?
how to improve child’s performance in school?
child not engaged at school. how to motivate a child to go to school
child not interested in school. how to motivate a child who is unmotivated?
How can we motivate kids to think?
What are some ways to motivate a child who does not want to study or do homework but cares deeply for her friends and family?
How do you motivate a non-competitive child?
What are some ways to motivate a child to do well in school and at home with homework?
how do i motivate my child to do well in school
At this age, it’s important you learn how to teach a child to study independently. Demonstrating the importance of school is also key by showing him the benefits of getting an education. Find more information here: https://qr.ae/pGxPgU
My teenage son is so lazy and doesn’t seem motivated to do anything. Is it my fault as a parent?
Other questions asked:
What motivates kids to go to college?
How do I know what motivates my child?
What are some good ways to motivate a child that is struggling in school but excels in sports?
When considering how to motivate a lazy child in school, you need to work out what is causing the lack of ambition. Find out how to motivate your teenager to do better in school here: https://qr.ae/pGxPgc
My 17 year old son does not go to school anymore. He thinks it is a waste of time. What should I do?
Another question asked is:
How to motivate teenage son in school?
How to motivate a teenager to study
how to motivate teenager to study?
how to motivate your teenager to do better in school?
What is the best way to motivate a child?
How do you motivate an eighth grader to do well in school?
You might wonder how to motivate a child who is unmotivated to go to school. Find out how to motivate your teenager to do better in school here: https://qr.ae/pGxPgB
*Collaborative feature post with Charlotte Banks whose specialty of the professional writer is editing academic publications. She has written various literary works, including essays, case studies, term papers, and presentations. Most of Charlotte’s free time is spent reading and honing her writing abilities.
*Some links are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you click through to buy at no extra cost to you
