Self-esteem equals success

First-grade children have an established sense of self-esteem, which you must constantly help to build. High self-esteem gives them confidence to try new things and to succeed and be popular, generally. A child whose self-esteem is low will have a much tougher time in math, reading, or other homework.

Accept any fears or insecurities your child expresses as genuine - even if they seem trivial to you. If your child says 'I'm useless at math,' ask how you can give them help on their math homework rather than saying ‘well you'd better start improving.’

Skill gaps and how tutoring may help

If you have faith in your child's teacher, talk to them about any concerns you have regarding your child's academic progress. They will probably reassure you that this is all part of learning, or offer some school help. The teacher may indicate that your child has failed to grasp one important element of a subject, and that the problem became worse when the class moved on to a more complicated, related subject, such as elementary algebra or geometry.

Tutoring in your free time can be a good way to address this skill gap in your child and help maintain self-esteem. You will need to discuss this option with the teacher and your child. It is important that your child feels positive about the experience. Online tutoring services and online homework help can be a good compromise, avoiding the risk and expense of a private tutor. Online tutoring is also more likely to fit around a hectic time schedule.