Six questions to help parents decide when children need one-on-one help.

Ups and downs are to be expected, but there are some warning signs to watch for.

School isn’t easy for every child. For some, it brings periods of #challenges; for others, it is a constant roller coaster of highs and lows.

Take this six-question #quiz to see whether the issues your children are experiencing require intervention sooner than later:

1. Does your child take a long time on #homework? If your child generally takes a very long time to do homework, there could be several things going on. Your child might be struggling to focus, listen and pay attention in school. Or, your child might be apathetic and not giving homework the time it deserves, distracted by other activities.

2. Are grades inconsistent? One week, things are smooth sailing. The next, your child gets several Fs. If there are times your child does well and times he or she seems to struggle a lot, it could be a sign of a learning issue.

3. Does your child seem to have trouble getting started? If your child often avoids studying or doing homework until the last minute or is always “almost done,” there could be a deeper problem.

4. Has your child’s attitude taken a turn for the worse? If your child has recently transformed into someone you don’t recognize, there might be academic and non-academic challenges at play. Pay attention to mood swings, a lack of caring, acting out or attitude problems.

5. Does your child (still) struggle with reading? Ask if your child seems to have a hard time in class. Reading is an essential building block. Don’t ignore it if your child’s reading/comprehension skills are weaker.

6. Is your child’s work ethic poor? Does your child seem disorganized in just about every aspect of life, including keeping track of homework, keeping a tidy room/desk and paying attention to details? Sometimes it takes maturity to improve these poor habits, but other times it requires helping children strengthen basic study and executive functioning skills.

Parents who answer “yes” to two or more of the above questions should get their child help. The sooner parents recognize and take action on school problems, the better, because rarely do major school issues go away on their own. Pay attention to your child’s school habits, especially this year when most students are doing at least some school from home, and reach out for help if you have concerns. Call Encinitas Learning Center at 760 634-6886 to discuss how we can help your child become a better, more #confident student.