Anxiety in school-aged children is a big concern among parents and educators. Academic-related anxiety impacts children’s confidence, focus, and well-being. One solution that has proven to be effective is one-on-one tutoring. Private tutoring provides a low-stress learning environment for anxious children to learn at their own pace.
Understanding Academic Anxiety in Children
Parental or institutional expectations, fear of failure, peer-pressure, and learning challenges create anxiety in children.
If you are wondering if your child is suffering from anxiety, here are some signs to look out for:
Headaches or stomach aches, especially coinciding with school events or timelines
Dietary changes such as low appetite or overeating
Academic avoidance: not doing homework, skipping classes, hiding grades, asking if they can opt-out of a class, etc
Perfectionism in performance
Obsessive thoughts/discourse around school work (projects, tests, homework, etc)
Anxious students may find it difficult to ask questions in class, participate in group projects or activities, or even begin homework because of fear of making mistakes. If you need additional information about anxiety in children, check out The Anxious Child Booklet by the Mental Health Foundation.
How The Traditional School Setting Aggravates Academic Anxiety
Traditional school offers a high-pressure environment. Standardized testing, rigid schedules, and performance-based assessments leave little room for individualized learning and heighten the stress response.
Unfortunately, large class sizes leave teachers focusing only on the needs of majority. They do not have the capacity to focus on kids that present learning challenges or that are intellectually-gifted. This is not meant to be a criticism of the traditional school system, but rather a commentary on how we can help students that struggle with anxiety in that setting.
How Tutoring Can Help with Academic Anxiety
Tutoring has a unique ability to meet the needs of children who may struggle in traditional learning environments. One-on-one sessions with an experienced tutor helps with academic anxiety by creating a calm, supportive learning setting. Tutoring provides students with the undivided attention of a professional. The tutor's sole job is to listen to their questions, explain concepts at their own pace, and help them organize their study time. Now, doesn't that give you calm and supportive vibes, instead of anxious ones?
Individualized Attention & A Low-Pressure Environment
Anxiety is prominent in environments where children feel overlooked or pressured to keep up with peers. In a large classroom, teachers cannot to provide the individualized attention that every student needs. Anxious sudents are constantly comparing their progress with their peers’ and feeling like their are falling short.
Tutoring caters to the student’s unique learning style, allowing them to learn at their own pace. A good tutor will focus on their strengths and work through areas of struggle.
With this individualized attention the child is free to make mistakes and ask questions; there is no fear of judgment from classmates. This safe space encourages learning as a positive experience, not an anxious one.
Without the pressure of competition or performance, students can engage fully, concentrate, and absorb materials. This type of setting allows the anxious child to fail forward, embracing mistakes and learning from them.
Building Confidence Through Small Wins
One of the most valuable aspects of tutoring for anxious children is the opportunity to build confidence gradually. With the help of a tutor, students can set achievable goals. Celebrating small victories and breaking down progress over time has a powerful impact on a child’s self-esteem. Understanding a difficult math concept or improving reading comprehension; every success boosts the student's belief in their own abilities.
With each session, the anxious child starts to see that they are capable of learning and progressing. This confidence often carries over to the classroom, helping them feel less intimidated in that setting.
Developing Resilience and a Growth Mindset
Good tutoring is not only about building academic skills; it also fosters resilience and a growth mindset. A skilled tutor will teach their student that mistakes are part of the learning process. They will emphasize that effort, not just innate ability, is what leads to improvement.
This mindset is especially beneficial for anxious students, who may feel that they have to be perfect to succeed. By teaching students that it is okay to struggle and persevere, tutors help them approach challenges the right way. This will have a lasting effect beyond the academic setting.
Establishing Routine and Stability
Anxiety thrives in unpredictable situations. Establishing a routine through regularly scheduled tutoring sessions offers a sense of stability for anxious children. Knowing they have a dedicated time each week to work on their challenges with a supportive mentor is something to look forward to. The consistency can be incredibly reassuring, reducing the impact of stress on their overall academic experience.
The Social Benefits of One-on-One Tutoring
Group settings are very intimidating for children with social anxiety. This setting leads them to withdraw from discussions or hesitate to ask questions. One-on-one tutoring ensures students develop their social skills in a safe environment. They can practice interacting socially without the fear of judgment.
Tutors can serve as trusted role models, and mentors, encouraging children to express themselves and reinforcing positive social behaviors. Over time, this improves confidence in social settings with peers and builds stronger communication skills.
What Parents Can Do To Help
Tutors are not the be all and end all for an anxious child. Parental support is critical in reinforcing the positive effects of tutoring and the success of a child with anxiety.
Encourage a Growth Mindset at Home
Use language that emphasizes effort over innate ability, which aligns with the growth mindset promoted in tutoring. For example, instead of praising your child for being “smart”, recognize how hard they worked preparing for a test.
Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
Celebrate your child’s improvements, no matter how small. This reduces the anxiety to perform to a certain standard, which can be crippling for children. If your child boosts their grades from 50% to 55%, recognize their improvement, even if it is not the grades that you would hope for them in the long run.
It is important that you pay close attention to their performance over the entire school year. Catch any improvement and praise it accordingly. This also helps you focus on the positive and not just point out the negatives.
Maintain Open Communication
Stay informed of your child’s progress by discussing it with the tutor on a regular basis. A good tutor will send you weekly reports on what they are working on and how they are doing. Understand the challenges they’re working through and discuss them with your child to show a united front.
Practice Mindfulness with Your Child
Simple relaxation techniques like deep breathing will help children manage anxious feelings. Lead by example by practicing these together with your child.
How To Choose the Right Tutor for an Anxious Child
First and foremost, discuss your child’s needs openly with your tutor or tutoring service. Experienced tutors know how to create a nurturing environment for your child. Remember that the more information the tutor has, the better they can tailor their approach. Look for a tutor who is patient, understanding, and skilled at working with children who struggle with anxiety.
Investing in private tutoring is a powerful way for parents to support children's emotional and academic well-being. It’s more than just about grades; it’s about nurturing a mindset that will benefit them throughout life.
If your child struggles with anxiety and you are looking for one-on-one tutoring to support them, our tutors have years of experience working with children with all types of learning challenges. Contact us to learn more and see the difference it can make for your child.
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