Does My Child Need a Tutor?

Sep 01, 2011

There are many reasons you may seek out a tutor for your child. A tutor can provide a powerful supplement to your child's education, whether or not your child is struggling. This article explores three of the most common times when you may need a tutor.

Catching Up

If your child is struggling in school, you may need to find additional help. This may mean hiring a tutor to help with homework or prepare for tests. A tutor also can help your child to learn or relearn the foundational material that might require extra attention. Additionally, a tutor can help if your child is unmotivated, whether it's due to the subject matter, the teacher or some other cause.

Many students need tutors because their teachers aren't able to provide the one-on-one attention they need. In other cases, students benefit from an outsider's perspective on material that may be giving them trouble. Some parents hope that they can provide the tutoring their child needs, but it's normal for your child to resist relying upon you as a tutor. In these and other situations, a professional tutor can help your child catch up to his or her peers.

Developing Strong Study Habits

Tutors are useful for more than just improving grades. Few children learn effective study habits in school. If you find that your child is disorganized at home, loses assignments or seems to spend an extraordinary amount of time on homework, then you may need to consider a tutor.

A tutor can help your child develop as a student by teaching him or her how to approach studying, organizing and other school preparations. This includes many topics, such as creating a productive work space at home and using time effectively. Training in study habits is useful for students who are struggling or excelling because it enables students to work efficiently and effectively.

Getting Ahead

Not every child who uses a tutor is falling behind in school. Many students enlist a tutor to help them move ahead and find new challenges. A tutor can supplement a teacher's work by teaching your child concepts and material outside of the breadth of the school's curricula. This can prepare your child for the next phase of his or her career. For example, a middle school student can get ready for the increased workload of high school, while a high school student can anticipate the academic challenges of college.

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