Homeschooling? Five Simple Ways to Support Your Older Child

If you're homeschooling an older child or teen, it can be hard to know how to support them. As your son or daughter grows more independent, chances are they can manage largely on their own, but your all-round backup is still crucially important for them. Here are five ways you can help with tasks you have set them:

1. Take an interest

You can be sure your maturing child still appreciates your interest in their studies, even if they don't show it. While they'll be keen to tackle their work on their own, they'll most likely be pleased to tell you about the latest information they've acquired and their thoughts on it. Young people love to discuss facts, figures and new ideas, whether with their peers or their parents.

2. Share problems

If your child encounters a problem with their studies, let them know you're ready to help. They'll probably prefer to resolve the issue themselves if they can, but moral support is reassuring, and they might even take you up on your offer of help. The issue concerned might be a simple one that you can quickly help with, such as the need for a particular stationery item or the meaning of an unfamiliar word. If the work itself is posing the difficulty, you can guide your young student in subtle ways, through hints and prompts, enabling them to find the solution themselves.

3. Celebrate achievements

Everybody welcomes praise, when genuine and appropriate. Indeed, the merest word of admiration can inspire the recipient to reach higher and achieve more. Your maturing youngster may not wish to acknowledge how much your praise means to them, or how proud they are when you tell friends and relatives about their talents and achievements, but you can bet they'll treasure your rewarding comments and be fired up to try even harder. If their progress isn't so great, look out for small positives to celebrate. Your steady encouragement will supply the backing they need to keep going and fulfil their potential.

4. Check understanding of instructions

A common cause of problems for young students is misunderstanding the task required of them. They may misread the instructions or aim too high or low in their response. If your child struggles with a task or, conversely, finds it unusually easy, check that they have fully understood what is involved, and perhaps suggest they re-read the instructions. However, if you can't resolve the difficulty either, a joint effort may be called for, led by your child, of course.

5. Ensure appropriate study conditions

Besides all these ways of helping your maturing child with their education, you can support them further by ensuring suitable learning conditions. Keep their study space well ventilated and heated, with as much natural daylight as possible. A quiet, peaceful setting is also desirable, and they'll appreciate a comfortable chair and good working surface, too. It's also important to keep your own presence unobtrusive, perhaps staying in calling distance rather than sitting with them, so they can build self-confidence.

With your calm, encouraging support, your son or daughter will be motivated to aim high and discover the joys of learning. Your care will provide the gentle spur that every young student needs.