School of Champions

Important to know when to think of Olympiad course admission for your child. This guide will help you to determine whether it is a prudent decision on your part or you are putting a burden on your child.

We receive a lot of enquiries each day, at homeClass, for Olympiad trainings to children. This is a good trend showing that the parents are well-aware of what the learning brings in to their children's life and how beneficial it can be in the longer run. However, parents must consider situations when a child is not ready for such competitive exams and take cognisance to the matter wilfully. Parents aspiration does not tantamount to their children performance. Children should not be burdened with duties beyond their circumstances and situations allow.

We must be one of the first institutions to tell parent why "not to" indulge in something we do so passionately, and hope this blog enlightens.

1. Pursuing non-educational goals: Kids who have passion for non-education curriculum like sports, music, arts etc should be allowed to pursue their dreams in those fields and should not be forcibly pushed into Olympiad learning. Olympiad should be a choice for kids who want to pursue high grade education and higher studies. Children who take deep interest in learning new things, ask a lot of questions around surrounding and happenings. It is a sign. Not everybody is meant for everything. the choice should be open for children.

2. Not comfortable with English language: Though not speaking fluent English is no big deal worldwide, Olympiad exams demand good grip over the language. English is a common language and most important medium for higher education. Hence all international Olympiads are conducted in English. Even if your child is not participating in English Olympiad, an extensive knowledge in English language can only make him/her understand the nuances of the tricky questions that Olympiads deliver. Not knowing the language can be a big deterrent in your child's Maths and Science Olympiad results too.

3. Slow Learner: Olympiads are clearly for faster paced kids who are already ahead of school curriculum and eyeing for more. If your child is still trying to get a grip over his/her school curriculum, do not push them to do Olympiad. It is incorrect of a parent to think that an Olympiad study will do good for the students who are already struggling with the school paced learning. Doing more classes of Olympiad won't help at all. Rather it will have an adverse effect on the child seeing others moving faster and him/her not ever being able to catch up. So, please do not do this to your child.

4. Medical or paramedical reasons: Olympiad is a mix of advanced learning, speed learning, trick learning and smart delivery. For any reason if the child is not able to gather all four of these together, under any medical or paramedical reasons, avoid exposing your child to the glare of competition in academic field. There are plenty places your child will shine in life. Do not force this upon. 

5. Parent has no time to focus: This may sound a little strange to you, but yes, if you as a parent lack interest or has no time to monitor and nurture your child's academic excellence, you child will not be motivated enough to perform. Admitting them in a tution class won't suffice. This does not mean that you create a constant parental pressure to perform, but to be inquisitive about how is your child's learning progress is and talking to your child every day and patiently listen to him/her talking about the classes he/she attends, things he/she learnt or even silly things like how another child kept giggling throughout the lesson. Give it an ear to keep them motivated to do well.

6. Child busy with many other activities: One child, when grows up, can take only one profession and one serious hobby or passion apart from his daily life schedule. In childhood, we must try various activities with children so that they can explore and choose their own path. But when you are deciding on admitting your child for an Olympiad course, please note that it is an extensive one. If your child is already engaged in many activities, he/she may not have the bandwidth to take up more. Other activities are not only taking away the mind-space but the physical stamina too. There is a limitation for each child and leveraging beyond that capacity may not be prudent. Even as a parent, you should reconsider admission because they can not learn after a complete day's schooling plus multiple activities because of tiredness. So, unless you are sure of Olympiad training being an important thing for you and not just another engagement procedure, do not indulge.

7. Parents do not consider this as a priority: Parents need to think through before deciding on the Olympiad training for their kids. Often parents decide basis the child's previous merit display or the current performance in school level and conclude that their children are very good. After admission, when they do not perform upto the mark because of (a) not been in practice since they did well in competitions a couple of years ago, or (b) not able to comprehend quickly that the talent pool is way beyond the school classroom ranks, start telling their children that "It's okay if you do not do well; we do not want you to win anything; it is just for little study; you may choose to opt out anytime; we will support you in your decision when you do not feel like joining classes or do homework or pay attention...." etc., then the whole purpose is defeated. It only creates a big disappointment in everyone and makes the child confused. The most dangerous part is, the parent still has a secret desire that their child will do great because they feel that their children are 'good' and tries to find out flaws in many other things like- the teacher, teaching method, content, institute and even can be the gloomy weather or sunset for that matter. It is a total mess and chaos all over. So, please be patient and expect the outcome to be fair. Most importantly, think whether you are ready. Your child's readiness is primarily in yours and then the teacher's hand. But are you ready for this? Do you really want this?

Hope the guide will deter parents thinking in those lines, either not to admit, or admit with a clear expectation in mind. There is never anything wrong with the child. It is just that every child is destined for something and it may not be the Olympiad Championship medals. So be it, let's treasure them the way they are!

Parents who can preach and practice the same thing, aligned to their child's emotion, partners in learning, equally focussed on the growth and enjoy the achievement as well as failures must only try to prepare their kids for competitive exams. Because only then it is not a pressure, but a pleasure.

Authored by homeClass #Blogposts

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