Many parents call us hoping their child can feel more confident in their learning. And the struggle is a familiar one: when things get a bit more difficult or unfamiliar, kids don’t want to try. They think they’re “dumb,” that they can’t do it, and they simply don’t want to do it anymore.
So how do we help children become confident learners in English and Maths?
Setting the right expectation: studying English and Maths is not always fun
The truth is, English and Maths are academic subjects. As much as we’d all like learning to be fun all the time, there will be moments when it’s boring and there are lots of repetitions. There will be things to memorise that your child doesn’t want to and wouldn’t choose to learn.
Focusing on what they can control and change
When your child keeps comparing themselves to their friends, you can tell them, and it’s true that the real difference between a high-achieving student and one who’s struggling isn’t natural ability but is the time they spend on their work.
High achievers simply spend more time outside of school revising, drilling, and practising. That’s something every child can control and change. Reframing the problem this way, from “I’m not good enough” to “I haven’t put in the time yet” can make a real difference to a child’s confidence.
It’s normal to make mistakes, heaps of them when you learn.
Talk to your child about your mistakes and failure when you learn something new. There’s no shame in getting things wrong, especially while you’re learning, in fact, this is exactly the time to make mistakes and try again.
A great way to explain this is to relate it to something your child already loves such as food, sport, or their favourite video game. Think about how they learn to play a game, they fail, they make mistakes, they repeat the level, and they know what to expect next time. Eventually, they beat their own record. Learning English and Maths works the same way.
Starting right where they are
It’s tempting to want to teach your child at the level you want them to reach. But real confidence is built by first meeting them exactly where they are now. Levelling with your child at their current stage rather than where you wish they were is what gets them genuinely interested and willing to keep going.
Building the learning habits
For younger students, routine matters most. A consistent time to sit down and learn, with a parent nearby to help and encourage them, builds the foundation for confident learning later on.
For high school students, the workload is far greater, and the time spent at school with all its distractions, simply isn’t enough on its own. Older students need dedicated, independent time at home to study and practise. As mentioned above, there’s no secret formula separating high achievers from students who are falling behind. It comes down to the hours they put in outside the classroom.
Focus on one thing at a time
Whether it’s English or Maths, avoid throwing too much at your child at once. Overwhelming them with several new concepts in one sitting is one of the fastest ways to knock their confidence. Focus on one skill or topic, build mastery, and then move on.