Written by: Emily Graham

Your child seems to be falling behind in school. Maybe your child has been diagnosed with ADHD or a learning difference, or maybe you’re trying to have them evaluated. You know that they’re intelligent, but they’re not thriving in the classroom. 

The Family Life Project shares a few ideas of activities for kids struggling in the classroom, from entrepreneurship to coding.

Entrepreneurship

Some teens who have trouble mastering new skills in the traditional classroom environment benefit from hands-on opportunities to learn. They need a bit more independence along their journey – which is why many teens who fit this description are naturally suited for entrepreneurship. If your teen has expressed curiosity about becoming an entrepreneur, let them know that you support their goals! You can even brainstorm business ideas together. Many teens already have the skills to succeed as social media managers, graphic designers, dropshippers, or landscapers. 

When your teen delves into entrepreneurship, they’ll learn all about the legal and administrative tasks involved with starting a company, like launching a website, creating a business plan, and how to start an LLC. A teen entrepreneur will likely want to file for LLC status for limited liability and tax perks.

Learning to Code

Maybe your child is passionate about technology, but you want to ensure that they’re using the bulk of their screen time for productive, educational activities. If your child wants to learn more about how to code, you can help them find the resources they need. You can even explore this topic together. Show your child websites with expert coding advice and troubleshooting tips to untangle errors – https://codeprofs.com/ is a great place to start. You can also look up age-appropriate coding courses online. Just make sure that the time commitment for any coding course wouldn’t interfere with their schoolwork!

Volunteering

Perhaps your child often talks about causes that are close to their heart. Look into local charitable organizations or nonprofits that accept young volunteers. If you think your child would benefit from volunteering, set a good example by volunteering yourself! You could even talk to your child about signing up for volunteer shifts together.

Exploring Nature

For many children, the great outdoors can be more exciting and engaging than a classroom. If your child has boundless energy, make an effort to spend more time outside as a family – and teach them about the environment while you’re at it! Teach Early Years recommends asking your child about their observations of your local environment, especially as the seasons change, growing a small garden, and planning regular outings to local trails or parks.

Writing

Even if your child has a hard time completing their homework and other school assignments, you can help them practice crucial academic skills at home, such as writing. Every child needs an outlet for self-expression, and you can give your child a non-judgmental space to hone their writing skills while sharing their creativity. 

To encourage your child to write on their own time, Heart-to-Heart Homeschooling suggests creating a comfortable writing environment, giving your child good-quality writing utensils and notebooks, finding fun writing prompts, and taking your child to the library to pick out great books together. By reading, your child will be able to find inspiration for their own stories!

If your child is struggling in school, they might doubt their intellect and suffer from low self-esteem. By exploring creative learning activities, you can help your child leverage their strengths and recognize their unique value. With these tips, your child can become an entrepreneur, coder, or budding naturalist!

This article was reprinted with permission. Visit the author’s website for more articles and free email subscription at http://mightymoms.net/ or email at emilygraham@mightymoms.net