Is My Child Falling Behind?

We have all felt it: the gut-wrenching feeling that our child is not learning enough, not keeping up with other kids. Perhaps your child is not grasping concepts as well as their friends or is falling behind your expectations. Homeschool parents commonly question if they are doing enough for their child’s education. If you are feeling overwhelmed by this idea, there are a few things to remember.

First, take a deep breath. Getting caught up in worry and stress is easy; slowing down and refocusing is a challenge. The worry that you feel proves that you care deeply about your child’s education, and you are giving it all you have. Putting in this effort is one of the most important things you can do to help your child learn.

Second, remember the goal of every school year: to learn. Honestly and critically evaluate your child’s progress so far. If your child has learned something, anything this year, you have succeeded! Because each child is wonderfully different, the amount that your child has learned may differ from other children, and that is normal.

When you stop comparing your child to external standards, you can begin setting goals that reflect your child’s individual strengths and weaknesses. If you notice your child struggling with a certain area, set a personalized goal for them to encourage progress. For instance, if your child has a difficult time with math, their goal could be learning a single multiplication table or completing half of their assigned homework. This individualized goal should be challenging but achievable.

When your child meets their goal, take heart! You are educating your child wonderfully. All homeschool parents have questioned if their children are falling behind. Do the best you can for your child; it is enough.

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