What to do when you have a child excel and love one subject area but does their best to avoid another subject area?
Hint: The answer does not include pulling out your hair or giving a lecture.
Many of us parents face this teeter-totter emotion from our children throughout the year.
Let’s face it, we ourselves have subjects we love to dive in and share with our children, and those we try to defer to the other parent.
While we can’t force our child to sit and apply themselves to a subject they may loathe; we can help lift them up out of the doom and gloom so they may see the dreaded subject in a different light.
Homeschooling the Least Favourite Subjects
Tips to Help your Child Learn a Subject They Don’t Like
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Take a deep breath and step back from the situation a little. Don’t let a battle start.
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Have one on one time where you can chat with your child to help them figure out why they might be avoiding math (for instance).
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Be willing to adapt. Adapt the curriculum you are using, or in the case where you don’t use curriculum, perhaps be willing to get some samples and give them a try.
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Be willing to be creative. How can you approach that subject from a different view-point? Baking for fractions, figuring out your car’s mileage for division, talk about gear ratios in your truck for ratios, etc. Find something they enjoy and go about the subject from that angle.
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Get laughing. Why not get a little creative and silly? Shake out those nerves
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Get your other kids busy – something they can collaborate on or be independent with and then find a spot where you and your other child can work on their least favourite subject.
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Reach out to other home school parents and ask what works for them, get some fresh ideas.
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Get downright real. Sometimes when kids see how their Dad or Aunt use Math everyday in their careers is enough to inspire them to try a little harder.
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Be willing to be available. Sometimes they just need Mom or Dad to sit beside them.
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Always, Always, Always end on a positive note! If you push further into a lesson and you feel like you are heading into that all familiar tailspin; then it is time to go back and let your child execute a question where they will get the right answer. Finish it there for the day and make note of where it started to fall apart.
My middle son doesn’t like Maths a lot. Everytime he does his Maths, he always has stomach ache. I try to make some manipulatives for him, but he is just so ignorant. I will try other tips from you. Thank you for sharing.
Angela, I really like your suggestions. “Ending on a positive note” was a good reminder to me.
Thank you Lindsey!
Ending on a positive really makes a difference, even for us moms. 😉
I think you have to be willing to adapt, never be a slave to the curriculum
Also, being fully available to you child during that subject time is crucial! Great tips, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Meredith