Life is all about preparation and as adults, we know how vital it is to be prepared for certain challenges that we face. However, children don’t have that life experience and so, preparing for their 11+ exams relies on parents to guide them in the right direction, ensuring that they are adequately prepared.

Exams can prove extremely stressful, even for younger children. So, imagine how they would feel going into an exam without any prior preparation. They’ll feel frightened, alone, scared and even experience the feelings that come with potential failure. Negative feelings at this point in their life will have a negative impact in the future but that can be avoided.

As an adult, we have all heard of the saying “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” but we can step in and help our children in a positive way. We can give them the encouragement, skills and ability to take the 11+ exams with confidence and self-belief.

So When Should You Begin Preparing?

There is no hard or fast rule here but taking your time is always a smart move. Every child is different and some learn quickly and are better at absorbing information in readiness for using that information quickly while others take time to store that information. However, in most cases, slow and steady gives your children the ability to learn at a pace that is free from pressure and worry. Gradually, it’s possible to enhance their learning and prepare them in a way that leaves them feeling confident.

Preparing for 11+exams can prove daunting but the sooner you begin the process, the more beneficial it will be.

There is no such thing as starting too soon, so don’t be afraid to begin the process when your child is in year three. It’s about creating a steady and consistent flow of learning that does not pin your child down to a few months leading up to the exams. They’ll embrace the process better and get more from it.

Children might have a superb ability to retain information but that doesn’t mean that they can learn everything in a matter of weeks or months. They have to be given time to familiarise themselves with the questions they are going to be asked and the subjects that will be covered. They are going to need to improve their vocabulary and widen it considerably but this is not about memorising but about instilling it in them so they can recall it when required during the exam. This is a process that cannot take place overnight but instead requires time. The more time they have, the better they will learn.

The learning process involves a lot of learning materials.

Just seeing the sheer volume in one go can prove daunting and frightening. So, by taking more time and spreading the learning process over a longer period, it is possible to create a timetable and a structure that works. The material can be introduced, studied and the information retained in a way that is stress-free. It also provides more time to cover areas that take longer to learn. The more time you take, allows you to find natural gaps for breaks without feeling as though it all has to be crammed in.

With time and the right structure, preparing for 11+ exams does not have to be a challenge for both you and your child.

Find out more about our 11 Plus Tuition Programmes, or read more about helping your child pass the 11+ Exam on our blog.

As we receive updates about the new information on COVID-19 and your children are still away from their schools, it’s time to look at some of the benefits of Online Tuition and how we can best support your child through this tough time!

As adults, we take our vocabulary for granted and we do not appreciate what it took to get us to where we are today. Our children are clean slates and so, we have the perfect opportunity to help expand their vocabulary and improve the way in which they converse and write.

While they will follow a specific in school, it is important that we offer something different when they are out of the school environment as this is where they can really expand their vocabulary. With Online learning we have access to a wealth of resources to engage any child and satisfy their curiosities and passions for learning. From different situations to environments and the things they see, their active minds will keep them learning, even when they are not in the classroom but how can you expand the vocabulary of your child?

Reading Online

Reading is an important part of enhancing and expanding the vocabulary of your child. From the moment they begin learning to read, their vocabulary will improve and you can continue that at home. Depending on their level of reading, you can choose books that challenge them and give them the opportunity to confront difficult and new words. In doing so, they will be able to pair up the new vocabulary within certain contexts and that can help them to understand that there is more than just the basic words out there. Why not look for your favourite book as a child and see if you can find it online for your child? Share your favourite stories with them and revisit your childhood too!

Pick Challenging Words When Having a Conversation

Whilst your children are at home, make the most of it, get talking to them! One of the best things that you can do when helping your child to expand their vocabulary is to have a conversation with them that uses challenging language. When you do this, you are not only presenting them with new words that they might have never heard before, you will also bring out their inquisitive side where they might ask what you mean. When they do this, you will need to explain what the word means or the sentence in general and that will give them an idea of what the language means.

Head to The Online Library

Whilst reading a good book has always been a favourite pastime, in this digital world, our laptops are our new libraries which means it is one of the best places for a child to expand their vocabulary. This is all down to the fact that they are surrounded by stimuli and literature. If you give them the freedom to choose their own books or get involved in initiatives that internet offers, it will mean that they can begin to absorb all of this new vocabulary at the same time. What’s more, they will also be able to choose books that appeal to them and that can open up them up to a whole new world of vocabulary.

Play Games Online

Children love games and when something is fun, they are more likely to be consumed by it and that means that they will absorb more information than they usually would. So, younger children love games such as I-Spy where you can choose things that they might have never heard of before but it will then give you the chance to explain your choice when they are unable to guess the answer. Older children can also benefit from playing games such as scrabble whereby they need to understand the words on the board to understand whether they are real words or not.

One of the biggest advantages to teaching Online is the amount of multimedia and games we can use within their learning to not only build their confidence but to learn whilst having fun.

There are so many things that you can do to expand their vocabulary but in doing so, you can make a huge difference to the way in which the learn.

Want to find out how inTuition Clubs could help expand your child’s vocabulary?

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Confidence is an integral part of life but everyone possesses different levels of it. There are those who prefer to blend into the background while there are those who love to be in the limelight while making the most of opportunities that come their way.

The way in which we develop as children can have a detrimental effect on the way in which our confidence develops. Therefore, ensuring our children possess the right amount of confidence is vital to how they develop as they grow.

Whether it is all about succeeding in an academic environment or in the workplace when they grow up, confidence will be a vital characteristic that they will rely on. In the school environment, confidence will help them to answer questions, ask questions and form friendships. In the workplace, it will enable them to take advantage of opportunities that come their way while it will give them the skills they need to develop.

As a parent how can you help to boost their confidence?

Make Time For Play

Children like to feel wanted and they love attention and so, playtime is a crucial way to help them improve their confidence. They can play games using their imagination and that can help to boost confidence in themselves. What’s more, when you play with them, you can encourage them and show them that they have your attention and time. This will give them confidence to believe that others are willing to listen to what they have to say as well as watch what they do.

Help Them To Learn

It is important to remember that we were all once in a position where we had to learn skills. Whether it is something as simple as washing our hands or something as complex as learning to tie our laces, we all had to make mistakes to learn the skill. If you leave your child to do it on their own, they will become frustrated and what’s more, if you lecture them for getting it wrong, it will dent their confidence and prevent them from wanting to try other things. Therefore, help them to give things a try and when they make mistakes and help them to try it all again. When they eventually achieve something, they will get a feeling of satisfaction and that will give them the confidence and belief that they can achieve.

Encouragement is Key

Children need encouragement. Encouragement can give them the confidence to believe in themselves and when they know that you are there with them, they will know that they are not alone. Encouragement can be something as simple as understanding when they have achieved something to encouraging them to do something that puts them out of their comfort zone.

Children need to be given the confidence to make their own decisions and know that what they are doing is right. However, confidence also comes from making mistakes and they need to understand that this is fine too. Helping them to increase their confidence will only help to set them up for what lies ahead of them in life.