How Much Help is Too Much Help

Send us Fan MailEarlier this week, I hosted an online meeting for parents and students in my WOW Writers Clubhouse program.  A great question came up. “How much help should I be giving my daughter?”  Do you ever wonder if you're helping too much or not helping enough? Most caring parents do question their involvement. For those wanting the abbreviated version, “It depends.” However, most elementary and middle school children would benefit from more help from their homeschooling parents than less.  Rather than asking, “How much should I help,” I recommend asking, “How may I help?” Here are my TOP 10 suggestions (covered in the video above). How to Best Help Your Homeschooling Children Show genuine interest in what your child is learning. Learn alongside them and model how to approach or organize things to ensure success. Pay attention to what is stumping your child and teach a mini-lesson, one bite-size at a time, to better understand the material. Work together when things get tough or feel defeating. Set up checkpoints if your child is an independent learner. Ask questions to solidify comprehension along the way. Respect and listen to your child's thoughts and opinions. Set realistic expectations. Children can focus best for shorter periods of time. Give helpful and encouraging feedback. Offer a supportive and positive environment. Provide the tools and resources they need to succeed.For those who love a good analogy, I imagine the young gymnast learning a new stunt. First, the stunt is explained. Next, it is modeled. The athlete gives it a go while a spotter stands near and ready to lend a hand. Some athletes require more spotting depending on many factors, such as age, experience, and difficulty level.  Eventually, less spotting is required, and the gymnast demonstrates mastery. I advise meeting your children at their level, pushing them to the next level, and moving up together.