Academic competition is real – as is the struggle for kids like yours. Most kids today are highly competitive, striving for academic achievements beyond those of their peers. It’s important to note that there are positive and negative effects of academic achievement competition.

Of course, we all want our kids to prosper – which involves working hard. There’s nothing wrong with some healthy competition, whereby your kid strives to pursue excellence and obtain college acceptance.

However, as with anything in life, there is a line – which can be dangerous when crossed. Academic competition can lead to severe anxiety and high stress levels, particularly in younger pupils who lack the ability to handle pressure. Here are some tips on how you can encourage your child to deal with academic competition better, effective immediately, which local tutoring services can assist with.

1. Motivation
Academic competition is healthy when it challenges students to work harder and get excited about the outcome of their input. Encourage them to work hard and excel, but make it clear that overdoing it isn’t healthy either. Keep them motivated to be the best they can be for themselves, not anybody else. This way, if someone else gets a higher grade, your child will know they did their best – and that’s all that matters.

2. Positive Attitude
Not everybody can be the best – you can only be the best for yourself. That’s why it’s so important for every child to possess the ability to effectively handle loss. In academic competitions, only one can take home the trophy. In healthy competitions, both “winners” and “losers” are treated with grace and respect. Those who don’t win should never feel their self-esteem is compromised. Let small disappointments inspire your child to do better, which local tutoring services can help with!

In summary, there’s nothing wrong with a little healthy competition, as long as it doesn’t personally affect your child during their off-time. Let them indulge in competition and strive to excel, but remember – there will always be someone “better” than you, even if you’re the smartest person in the room. Aspire to be great, but only be the best for yourself – nobody else! To learn more about MathSmart Tutoring’s local tutoring services, contact us today!