When Online Resources Aren’t Enough to Help Your Child with Math

You want to help your child succeed in school as a parent, but what do you do when their math homework turns into a frustrating struggle for both of you? You turn to online resources like videos, math apps, and step by step guides. Unfortunately, as you go through them you find that they don't fully bridge the gap. If your child is still struggling despite all the digital help available, it may be time to consider other solutions.

Why Online Resources Sometimes Fall Short

Online videos and math apps can be fantastic tools, but they don’t always provide the personalized support that struggling students need. Here’s why:

• One Size Fits All Approach: Online lessons are designed for a broad audience, but every child learns differently. A concept might be explained in a way that still doesn’t "click" for your child.
  
• Lack of Interaction: Watching a video can’t replace the back and forth dialogue that helps children process information. If your child has questions, they may not find the answers they need.
  
• Gaps in Understanding: Many online tools assume students have mastered previous concepts, but if your child has foundational gaps, they may feel lost even with online help.
  
• Frustration and Overwhelm: When children struggle to keep up, they may shut down rather than keep searching for the right explanation.

When to Seek Additional Help

If your child is still struggling despite using online resources, here are some signs that they might need extra support:

• They frequently say, "I don't get it," even after watching multiple explanations.
• Their frustration with math leads to stress, tears, or avoidance.
• They understand concepts in class but struggle to apply them at home.
• Their grades are slipping, despite putting in effort.

How a Math Tutor Can Make a Difference

When online resources aren’t enough, a tutor can provide the personalized guidance your child needs to succeed. Here’s how:

1. Individualized Instruction

A tutor can assess exactly where your child is struggling and adapt their teaching approach to fit your child’s learning style. Unlike pre recorded lessons, tutoring sessions are interactive and responsive.

2. Step by Step Guidance

Tutors can walk through problems with your child in real time, answering questions and providing feedback along the way. This ensures your child truly understands the material, rather than just memorizing steps.

3. Building Confidence

Many children struggle with math not just because it’s difficult, but because they feel defeated. A tutor can help boost their confidence by reinforcing strengths and breaking down challenges into manageable steps.

4. Filling in Knowledge Gaps

If your child is struggling due to missing foundational skills, a tutor can identify these gaps and work on them, ensuring your child builds a strong mathematical foundation. This way a tutor can identify exactly where the student is falling short and take specific steps to improve the issue.

5. Reducing Homework Battles

Instead of spending hours struggling over math homework, a tutor can provide the support your child needs on the exact problems your child needs help with helping them complete their specific assignments with less stress and frustration. So your child goes into a session knowing that they are with someone who knows how to help them, which gives your child more confidence as well.

Helping Your Child Succeed

While online resources can be helpful, they aren’t always enough for every student. If your child is still struggling despite using videos and apps, a math tutor can provide the personalized instruction, confidence building, and problem solving strategies they need to thrive.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. Getting the right support can make all the difference in helping your child succeed in math!