How to Help Your Child Succeed in School / ITech content

If a child experiences learning difficulties, this does not necessarily indicate a lack of potential intellectual abilities. Such difficulties can be caused by various factors, including individual characteristics of information perception, emotional states, or even approaches to learning. It is important not to take this as a final verdict, but to consider the possibility of adapting teaching methods. Support from parents and teachers, the use of various educational techniques, and the creation of a comfortable learning environment can significantly improve the situation. Each child is unique, and their abilities can manifest themselves in different forms. The main thing is not to give up and look for suitable solutions to support and develop their potential.

In the book "What is Intelligence and How to Develop It: The Role of Education and Tradition," the authoritative social psychologist Richard Nisbett emphasizes that the environment is a decisive factor in the academic success of children. He offers parents and teachers a number of practical recommendations for improving the learning environment and developing intelligence in children. These tips will help create a supportive environment conducive to learning and the development of critical thinking, as well as the development of the skills necessary for success in school and life.

Talk to your child

Communicating with your child from an early age plays a key role in his or her development. Using a varied and rich vocabulary contributes to the formation of a good vocabulary. Language is an important tool for thinking, and that is why mastering it is necessary for correctly expressing one’s thoughts, critically evaluating information and making analogies. The sooner a child begins to hear and use a variety of words, the better prepared he or she will be for learning and communication in the future.

Ask questions, be interested in the child’s opinion

To successfully prepare a first-grader for school, it is necessary not only to fill him or her with knowledge, but also to actively engage him or her in dialogue. It's important to encourage your child to express their thoughts and share their opinions. This will help develop their communication skills and self-confidence, which will lay the foundation for success in school.

Research confirms that families that encourage children to ask questions, participate in discussions, and share opinions about what they read produce more successful students. In such families, children feel freer and more confident, which positively impacts their academic performance. Unlike families that expect children to remain quiet and avoid engaging in adult conversations, children who engage in dialogue are more likely to answer teachers' questions and are not afraid to ask questions if they don't understand something. Active participation in discussions promotes the development of critical thinking and self-confidence, which is an important aspect of successful learning.

Immerse in Context

When introducing new concepts to a child, it's important to connect them to experiences they already know. For example, if a child sees a cow in a picture for the first time, you could discuss other farm animals or products made from cow's milk. This contextualization helps the child better understand the connections between different categories, establish correspondences, and identify similarities and differences. This approach promotes a deeper understanding of the world around them and develops analytical thinking in children.

Support the idea of the value of education

During school years, a child's attitudes towards education and intelligence play a key role. One of the reasons why African American adolescents, on average, show worse academic results compared to their white peers is the presence of "anti-school" attitudes in their environment. These adolescents often do not believe that education can change their social status and believe that good academic performance is associated with "acting like white people." As a result, they deliberately avoid the educational process. Changing such attitudes can significantly improve the academic achievement of schoolchildren and contribute to their successful integration into society.

In Russian schools, there is a problem where children who show an interest in learning are judged by their peers and perceived as "nerds." This phenomenon negatively affects the learning atmosphere and can lead to a decrease in motivation among students. A more supportive environment needs to be created where the pursuit of knowledge and achievement is valued.

Reworked text:

Explore additional resources:

Academic failure is often caused by educational inequality and educational poverty. These factors mean that students from different social and economic backgrounds have different opportunities to receive a quality education. Educational inequality manifests itself in a lack of resources, such as qualified teachers, educational materials, and access to modern technology. Educational poverty, in turn, hinders access to additional educational services and support, which negatively impacts student achievement. To overcome these problems, it is necessary to create equal conditions for all students, enabling them to succeed in their studies and improving the quality of education overall. Developing a value for education is key both in the school system and in the family environment. If a child observes that their parents actively seek new knowledge, read a lot, and show interest in the world around them, this contributes to the development of a positive attitude toward education. As a result, the child develops an intrinsic motivation for learning, which subsequently positively impacts their academic success and personal development. Education becomes more than just an obligation, but a conscious choice that opens up new opportunities and horizons.

Peers play a key role in a child's development, so it's important to create an environment that supports their intellectual interests. Selecting clubs and activities, such as chess, youth studies, or robotics, will allow the child to develop their abilities and find like-minded people. This not only promotes skill development but also helps form social connections, which in turn has a positive impact on personal development.

Praise for effort, not ability

It's important to develop the mindset that our achievements depend on effort, not innate talent. This idea is especially evident in Chinese culture. Although Chinese schoolchildren have, on average, the same IQ as their American peers, they demonstrate significantly better results thanks to their perseverance and hard work. This emphasizes the importance of persistence and dedication in learning and achieving goals.

Chinese students' motivation to learn is based on the belief that their success depends on their own efforts. In contrast, many Americans tend to believe that success is determined by innate talents that cannot be influenced. When Chinese students face setbacks, they tend to push themselves even harder, while Americans may decide that the field is not for them and abandon further studies. Chinese students readily accept challenging assignments, confident that hard work will help them overcome difficulties and achieve success.

Developing a sense of control over one's own success in a student is possible in any culture, including Russia. It is important to provide feedback to the child, focusing on the effort expended, rather than on their intrinsic qualities. Praise not for intelligence, but for quality work, demonstrating the connection between effort and the final result. This will help develop self-confidence and motivation for further learning.

Create a comfortable learning environment

In order for a child to effectively focus on their studies, it is necessary to create an environment protected from negative and traumatic factors. Research shows that in schools with high levels of conflict between students and interactions with teachers, educational achievement remains low. In contrast, if the same children are placed in educational institutions with a positive climate, where aggression is not the norm, their academic results improve significantly. Creating a comfortable and supportive atmosphere at school plays a key role in the development of successful and confident students. Family atmosphere has a significant impact on children's development. In families where parents frequently argue and yell, children feel unsafe, which increases the risk of intellectual disabilities. Conversely, in families where harmony and calm reign, children have a better chance of successful development. Research shows that emotional trauma experienced at an early age can cause structural changes in the brain and lower a child's IQ. Thus, creating a favorable psychological climate in the family is an important condition for achieving children's future success.