The expert told how to restore a child's interest in learning

September is a busy time for schoolchildren and parents. But it is not uncommon for parents to notice a child's apathy and unwillingness to study and do homework just a few weeks after the start of the school year. On September 23, Skysmart expert Diana Franchuk told Izvestia on why this happens and how to cope with it.

According to her, most often parents of teenagers, i.e. schoolchildren from 12 to 18 years old, face such a problem. This is partly due to the transitional age, a mass of interesting activities and discoveries.

"Finding time to study is so difficult when there are so many interesting things around. Socializing with peers becomes more important than ever, and studying takes a back seat. But a lack of desire to go to school can also be a red flag. Psychological pressure and conflicts with classmates, even a careless word of the teacher in the address of a sensitive teenager can affect the interest in the subject and the desire to go to school. Therefore, before working with motivation, it is worth excluding these factors and make sure that the psychological comfort of the child at school is not threatened. Talk to your child and try to understand what is bothering him or her," the expert said.

Franchuk emphasized that the main thing is not to force or coerce the child. Any pressure can only increase resistance, especially when it comes to teenagers.

"Try to find out why the schoolchild does not want to learn. Not interested in the subject? Perhaps there are gaps in a particular topic and he's worried he won't be able to cope with the task. In such a case, it may be worth considering extra lessons outside of school, with a different teacher and not in the usual school atmosphere. Perhaps by tightening up the knowledge of the subject, the child will feel more confident and it will be easier to get back into the working school routine. Another way that works is to show a personal example of interest in learning about the world. Does your child find physics boring? Try to get interested in it yourself and together watch documentaries about unusual physical phenomena or take apart together frames from movies about space, accompanied by comments about the phenomenon of weightlessness," she said.

If your child refuses to read books, pay attention to how you spend your time. If he sees you more often with a phone in your hands than with a book - most likely, no attempt to convince the benefits of reading will not work. Try to show by personal example that reading is interesting, said the expert.

"Be sure to listen to the desires of the child when it comes to choosing a section and circle. No matter how much you want to, do not insist on piano or violin lessons, if he himself does not show initiative and interest in musical activities. Otherwise, the risks of burning out in the middle of the school year and refusing even the usual school lessons become higher. However, it also happens that the child chose the circle or section himself, but at some point lost interest and refuses to continue going to classes. Do not insist and in this case: it is better to give rest and return to talk about resuming classes later. It is quite possible that the cooling off was temporary," she said.

Don't demand too much from your child and allow them to do things they enjoy. The better the balance between schoolwork and free time for yourself, the less likely you are to come to burnout in the middle of the school year - not only for children but also for parents, the interviewee concluded.

On September 18, Victoria Podsukhina, an educator and head of regional teaching at MAXIMUM Education, gave parents advice in a conversation with Izvestia on how to help their children correct bad grades. She pointed out that first of all it is necessary to understand what exactly the problem is. It is worth assessing the level of knowledge in all subjects - both those that are good and those that bring bad grades.