My Child Is Struggling at School: Who Can Help Outside the Classroom?

When School Alone Isn’t Enough

You’ve tried everything the school has to offer—extra help from teachers, meetings with the learning support team, even adjusting homework routines at home. But your child is still stressed, still falling behind, still coming home with that all-too-familiar look of defeat in their eyes.

If you’re here, reading these words, it’s because you’re not ready to give up. And neither are we.

When a child between the ages of 6 and 12 struggles consistently at school, it can be crushing for everyone involved. But the good news is that help doesn’t have to end at the school gate. Many parents aren’t aware of the wide range of support options available beyond the classroom walls—resources that can reignite your child’s love for learning and relieve some of the pressure you may be carrying alone.

First, Let’s Acknowledge the Emotional Weight

One of the hardest things to accept as a parent is that traditional school doesn’t always meet the needs of every child. Some kids learn better in motion, some need more time, some are battling reading difficulties or anxiety—but the classroom can’t always bend to fit every learning profile.

We explored this in this article about what to do when school doesn’t meet your child’s needs. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s a powerful place to begin.

Who's Out There Beyond the School Walls?

You’re not alone, and thankfully, your child isn’t without backup. Many types of support can make a profound difference—not just academically, but emotionally as well. Here are some key people and resources that could become important allies for your child’s journey.

1. Educational Therapists and Learning Coaches

These are not just tutors. They’re specialists trained to understand how children with learning difficulties think, process, and learn differently. They create tailored strategies for each child, often working on executive functioning skills like time management, focus, and self-confidence—not just homework help.

If your child has dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning differences, this form of support can change everything. Educational therapists often work in private practice and may coordinate with schools for consistent support. A good starting point is to ask your child’s pediatrician or psychologist for a referral.

2. Child Psychologists and Play Therapists

Sometimes the struggle isn’t academic at all—it’s emotional. Maybe your child feels like they don’t belong at school, or they're dealing with performance-related anxiety. In this personal story from a fellow parent, you’ll see how powerful emotional support can be.

Therapists who specialize in children (using talk therapy, art, or play) can help your child develop tools to cope with stress, build resilience, and begin to believe in themselves again.

3. Peer Support and Learning Pods

Kids often thrive when they learn in smaller, safe environments where their voice is heard and their pace is honored. Some communities have started spontaneous learning pods—small, informal groups where kids share academic time with a focus on curiosity and collaboration over competition.

Whether it’s a weekend science club, a weekly coding group, or just two families pooling resources for shared math support, these micro-groups can offer a sense of belonging that’s sometimes missing at school. They also dissolve the stigma of “needing help”—every kid just feels like part of the team.

Building a Bridge Between School and Home

One of the most effective things you can do is to create a consistent bridge between what happens at school and what’s reinforced at home. But we get it—you’re already stretched. Between work, dinner, and trying to breathe, it’s hard to find energy for an hour-long study session.

That’s where subtle tools can act like extra hands on deck. For example, if your child learns better through listening, especially when you're driving to soccer practice or walking to the store, some apps can transform their written lessons into custom-made audio. One even turns lessons into engaging audio adventures, letting your child become the hero of their own story—complete with their first name and plot turns linked to their subjects.

In moments when your child loses confidence, having their learning reframed as an interactive experience can be transformative. Not only does it gently rebuild their self-esteem, but it also reminds them that learning doesn’t have to be dry or defeating. A great example of this approach is shared in this story of how one parent transformed lessons into sound adventures.

Let Curiosity Lead (Even When It's Hard)

In all this talk of support—therapists, learning assistants, tools—we can’t forget about something deeply human: curiosity. A child doesn’t need to be at the top of the class to be a lifelong learner. In fact, chasing grades too aggressively can drain the joy out of learning entirely.

As we shared in this reflection on why curiosity beats grades, the magic begins to return when we stop asking "What score did you get?" and start wondering aloud, "What caught your attention today?"

Tapping into your child’s interests—even if it’s dinosaurs, Minecraft, or animal habitats—can pull them back into connection with learning in powerful ways. And from there, everything gets a little easier.

Weaving Together a Safety Net

Helping your child doesn’t require a total life overhaul or a dozen new appointments. It might begin with one afternoon with a tutor, one conversation with a specialist, or one audio story—something as small as hearing their name woven into a math challenge that makes them laugh. Little steps matter.

And yes, there are moments when it will still feel like too much. But you’re not failing. You’re navigating a complicated system with heart, compassion, and persistence. That matters more than any worksheet ever will.

Your child doesn’t need to be the best in their class—they need to feel seen, supported, and safe. And with just the right tools and people, even beyond the school walls, that’s entirely possible.

For more ways to put your child in the center of their learning journey—without the pressure—this guide may help: How to Make Your Child the Hero of Their Learning Journey.