If your child is struggling in school or could use enrichment, you may have considered hiring a private tutor. While tutors can provide wonderful support, hiring one is often expensive, and the time spent with your child is limited. In place of a tutor, supplementing your child's education yourself may just the solution you're looking for.

Assess the Need

Does your child struggle with reading or have trouble remembering math facts? Maybe she needs extra support with the school curriculum or could benefit from additional challenges of trying more advanced reading material or more sophisticated math work.

Parents can play important roles in addressing their child's academic needs. Start by choosing one or two subject areas on which to concentrate. A focused approach to tutoring will help your child grasp the concepts you've chosen to highlight. Cramming too many different concepts into your lessons may leave your child feeling overwhelmed, and the topic coverage will be spotty.

Engage the Teacher

Meet with your child's teacher and determine what she sees as your child's unique learning style. Is your child a strong visual or auditory learner? Perhaps he learns best by doing. Do songs and catchy mnemonics help him internalize a concept? Or, perhaps a lot of review and repetition suits his style. The feedback will help you capitalize on your child's learning style as you supplement his education.

Connect with the Curriculum

If your child is struggling in a specific subject area, ask for a copy of the curriculum, benchmarks, and concepts your child is expected to master by the end of the school year. If enrichment is what you're looking for, ask if you can have access to the benchmarks from the next grade level to use as a guide. You may also wish to ask the teacher for additional activities or worksheets that complement what's being taught in school. Giving your child a double dose of daily concepts learned in class each day can really make a difference.