Each new beginning of a school year brings on many mixed emotions and expectations. There’s surely the excitement of a fresh start, but it usually comes with some apprehension as to how well the child will fit in and how much progress will be made.

Expectations differ: parents hope for good grades, acquisition of useful skills and keeping the kids out of trouble, whereas teachers want their students to achieve their full potential and master the curriculum. If we ask the students all around the world, Australia included, most of them say they hope for best grades possible and having fun along the way.

It’s certainly not easy to balance all these expectations, but it’s far from impossible. It takes a combination of strategies: providing constant support to students, establishing a learning environment and building up regular working habits and maintaining great communication among all three parties.

As your child’s success at school depends on several factors, here are some useful tips that can help in improving their academic performance.

Create a daily routine and stick to it

According to many surveys, a critical ingredient in a child’s academic success besides the socioeconomic status, is the involvement of parents. For many parents, the biggest barrier is simply finding the time during their hectic working schedules.

One way of overcoming this is by developing a daily timetable that specifies homework and study time. The length of time may vary, but the exact time every day should be clear. A general rule of thumb is that it shouldn’t be right after school, as the kids need some time to relax, eat and recharge after their day of hard academic work. The appointed time really depends on your child’s preferences and your family’s rhythm. Whatever you decide, it’s crucial this stays consistent so both you and your child can develop a routine and stick to it.

Establish ground rules

For any system to function properly, there must be some ground rules laid out. Children need structure and simple rules regarding their study period and homework will help them stay organised and complete their duties. Make sure you keep them posted in the open as to remind all family members of the responsibilities and expectations. You can also offer certain incentives if the rules are followed, such as a fun activity after the work has been done, as well as reasonable consequences in case it hasn’t.

Ask for professional help

A crucial part of your support system of your child’s academic success is being able to identify when it’s time to get additional assistance. Many Australian students report that they struggle mostly with maths, calculus, physics and chemistry, so it’s quite possible that as a parent, these are not your areas of expertise.

Don’t waste precious time and wait for your child to ask for help, but rather rely on support from tutoring experts that can deliver excellent results by providing tutoring plans that follow the Australian curriculum and complement schoolwork, custom-tailored individual plans for your child and one-on-one sessions with focus on achieving agreed goals.

Designate a working space

All children are different and so are their needs and preferences, so make sure you have the conversation in order to determine the actual place where the homework will be done. Some kids like to do it curled up on their bed or on the floor, while others prefer a more formal space such as a proper desk. Some kids function well in a busy environment and are not easily distracted, while others need the peace and quiet to focus on the study matter. Whatever it may be, it’s important to develop a designated homework center so the child can be organised and get the work done in an efficient manner.

Set goals and expectations

Your child’s academic success is partly dependent upon your expectations of their performance. However, bear in mind that having high expectations doesn’t necessarily mean only high grades, but rather challenging the child to go beyond their own ideas of possible achievements. You need to factor in your child’s interests, age and various abilities in order to establish realistic expectations.

Communicate with the teachers

It’s also necessary to develop an open channel of communication with your child’s teachers. Stay in touch with them throughout the school year and make sure you regularly attend all parent-teacher meetings. Take time to discuss any specific issues and needs of your child and areas of improvement, so both sides can take a cooperative approach in boosting your child’s academic success.

These tips, your positive stand and genuine interest in your child’s performance is what will yield the best results and a long-term success.

Once you survive the first day of college, everything else is going to be easier – you’ll be surrounded by friends and go to a bunch of parties, yet still ready to attend your classes and do your learning, thus combining these two equally important aspects of a great college experience.

Emma B. Joyce is blogger based in Australia. She is a true home decor and DIY fanatic. Emma is interested in music and also is a big reading enthusiast. Finding new designs and patterns is her daily task. She is a regular contributor on https://smoothdecorator.com.