Anxiety and stress levels are on the rise among youngsters across the UK, but what steps can you take to support your child and boost their wellbeing?
Turning to a tutor for assistance can bring a number of benefits, helping to provide a vital confidence boost which can make a big difference come exam time. Not only can a tutor’s support leave your child feeling better about themselves, but also empowered to achieve their potential.
As with classroom teachers, tutors also have a responsibility to look after a youngster’s wellbeing, and they are required to act if they see a reason to. This is important as around one in ten pupils experience some sort of mental health issue by the time they reach the age of 16, according to YoungMinds. The charity’s Wise Up to Wellbeing in Schools report also found that issues are exacerbated by exams, as 80% of young people suggested that tests impacted on their mental health.
Headteachers have noted the issue too, with 90% of heads saying that stress and anxiety levels have been on the up during the last five years. Childline has reported an increased demand for counselling sessions to deal with exam anxiety too, with nearly twice as many sessions required in March 2022 than September 2021. The NSPCC noting a two-month spike in exam-related stress in May and June 2021, linked to many exams being cancelled for a second year as a result of the pandemic.
One of the biggest impacts a tutor can have is on your child’s confidence. By developing their skills and better preparing them for learning, their overall wellbeing can be drastically improved. From dedicated sessions to identify gaps in learning to working on how to tackle certain types of exam questions, a tutor can work to give your child the basic belief that they can achieve. This boost to self-esteem usually translates into better learning outcomes, especially among primary school pupils where a tutor has greater potential to make an impact at a younger age – as noted in a 2011 study by Parisa Rahmani.
For pupils that struggle to concentrate or who don’t like the classroom environment, being able to learn from the comfort of home can provide a welcome boost to their wellbeing. Not only are there fewer distractions, but without their peers they can also be encouraged to engage with the lesson material in ways they may not otherwise do. This focus on learning can help to reduce anxiety come exam time and can better prepare your child for challenges they may face in the classroom.
As the majority of tutoring is delivered on a one-to-one basis, tutors can build a rapport with your child and gain their trust. Over time, they can focus on the specific development needs of a youngster, helping to enhance their knowledge and exam skills so they will be prepared for what they will face. Sessions can be customised to focus on topics that your child is unsure on, or on elements of the curriculum where teaching may have been disrupted as a result of the pandemic.
By taking the time to understand a youngster’s learning style, a tutor can also work out the best ways of delivering information and ensuring that it is retained. One-to-one sessions mean a number of different learning tools and methods can be used too, all of which help to prepare a child for exams. This ultimately impacts on your child’s wellbeing as they can feel more assured in their abilities and less stressed as a result.
If children enjoy learning, they are more likely to take information on board and achieve better outcomes. Since a tutor can adopt their styles to the specific needs of your child, they can deliver lessons in a way that is best suited to them. This should result in a greater level of enjoyment, which also helps to develop good learning habits which can be useful in future education and workplaces.
By focusing on how a child is motivated, a tutor has the potential to foster a life-long love of learning, which can also impact on how a youngster behaves in the classroom. By developing communication skills and the ability to analyse in sessions, a knock-on impact on behaviour is seen as children are better equipped to deal with frustration when they do not understand a topic. Key to this is building confidence and making learning fun, as it all helps a pupil to fulfil their potential.
A big emphasis is put on exams in the current education set-up, and a few marks can make all of the difference. It could be the difference between a ‘pass’ and a ‘good pass’ at GCSE level, while at A-level it may impact on your child’s ability to gain their desired university place. A tutor can therefore have a big impact if their efforts to boost your child’s confidence and knowledge translate into better exam outcomes.
The soft skills they work on during sessions with your child can help to prepare them for the future too. By introducing study plans and new ways of working, a tutor can ready a youngster for higher education, developing a base set of skills which can help them to maximise their potential in later life. Ultimately, a tutor will provide your child with the skills they need to reach their goals, and it’s very likely you’ll see an uptick in their overall confidence and wellbeing too.