Magnificience in Mind

Practical: Push the passion

While we know it’s important to ensure our kids have a cross-section of skills and understanding, never be afraid to really fire the enthusiasm attached to a certain subject if you can see it stimulates them. Being close to children or young adults and seeing this develop is a real privilege, and one we should always try to nurture.

Psychological: Create connections

There will always be a student declaring the ‘uselessness’ of Pythagoras in everyday life, yet finding real connections between what they learn and the world around them can instil energy and enthusiasm for a subject.

So to help them realise that learning is relevant and always worthwhile, point out the physics at play when boiling the kettle, or liken the architecture of a building to a period of time they might have learned about in history lessons. Remember, our education system is a reflection of the wider world, not the other way round.

Practical: Join in

As a parent, when you involve yourself in their studies, even just as a sounding board, perhaps, you not only offer the potential of help and insight, but lift the burden of ‘having to go it alone’, which can be terrifying for a young mind, particularly when exam season comes around.