He used to get good grades without much effort, but now I realize that he’s having a hard time. Every time I see him with his books, I get the feeling that he’s not putting in the same energy as before. I ask him if everything is okay at school, and even though he says yes, I notice that something isn’t working. His motivation seems to be gone, and that worries me a lot. Could it be that he doesn’t understand the material? Maybe he’s going through something that he’s not telling me about? I don’t want to put pressure on him, but I know that he needs some help so that he doesn’t fall further behind. I’m thinking about looking for extra support: a tutor or maybe changing the approach to the way we study together. I know that he can do better, I just need to find the right way to support him without making him feel overwhelmed or pressured.
My kid is also at that age where they used to breeze through everything, and now it feels like I have to practically sit on top of them to get them to focus. It’s hard not to push too hard but also not let them slip, you know? Maybe try having a casual convo with him about how he’s feeling about school? My kid opened up when I asked them about how their friends were doing or what’s hard for them right now. Sometimes it’s just about finding a way in without sounding like you’re drilling them
You’re not alone in this. I’m in the same boat with my 8 year old. They used to love learning, but lately, it’s like pulling teeth to get them to focus on anything school-related. I’ve tried everything: changing up their study space, offering rewards, even letting them pick their own study time. Nothing’s worked yet, but I think it’s just a phase. If you figure it out, please let me know! I’m honestly just trying to keep them engaged without overwhelming them. It’s a tough balance
Omg, you just described my life. My kid used to get straight A’s without breaking a sweat, and now… lol… It’s like pulling teeth to get them to do a single math problem. Last week I tried to help them with homework, and they legit started playing with their pencil instead of answering the questions. I was like, “You good there?” I ended up making a deal: for every 15 mins of study, they get 5 mins of whatever game they want. Weirdly, it worked! Not saying it’s the magic fix, but it was a step in the right direction. Hang in there!
I had the same experience with my son last year. He was always great in school, but his motivation just dropped. I got a tutor involved, but more importantly, I found that we needed to change how we were studying together. Instead of sitting down for long sessions, we broke it into smaller chunks and added breaks in between. Also, I started setting up little “challenges” where he could compete against himself, like timing how fast he could finish a set of math problems. It got him more engaged and excited. Maybe give that a try? You might also want to ask his teacher if anything has changed in the classroom that could be affecting his focus
It’s tough, I know! I went through a similar phase with my son when he hit around 8. I had to try something different. First, I started letting him have more control over when and where he did his homework. That made a huge difference. I also noticed that if he had something fun to look forward to after studying, like a playdate or video game time, he’d be more motivated. That said, don’t forget to check if there’s something deeper going on, maybe stress from school or a social issue? Sometimes, they just need someone to listen
I’ve been through this with my older kid, and let me tell you, it gets better, but it’s a process. At some point, I had to stop hovering over their homework and let them take ownership. The key for us was setting up routines but with some flexibility so they didn’t feel forced. I also worked with their teachers to identify any potential gaps in learning or social issues that could be affecting them. Eventually, I let them see a tutor who made learning fun, and their motivation slowly returned. Hang in there, you’re doing great by caring this much
Hey, I totally understand your worries! My daughter went through a similar slump in 3rd grade, and I found that adding a little variety to our study sessions helped. We started using some interactive apps that she found fun, and we also did flashcards while making up little games. It helped a lot with both her engagement and motivation. I also made sure to check in with her teacher to see if there were any changes or struggles in the classroom that I wasn’t aware of. Keeping communication open really helped us both. Don’t give up, he’s got this with your support!
This hits home! I’ve been dealing with the same thing and honestly, it’s heartbreaking. I’m trying not to stress him out too much, but it’s hard when I know he’s capable of more. I’ve asked him about school too, and it’s like pulling teeth trying to get him to talk about anything. Have you tried just spending some quiet time with him, no distractions, and maybe letting him come to you with what’s on his mind? I feel like if they sense no pressure, they might open up a little more