The new school term has begun and I am already dreading the fact that after work I will have to deal with helping my eight-year-old son with his homework. I get home tired and really wish my son was a more independent learner. What should I do? Solange, Gisozi Dear Solange, thank you for sharing your concern especially because many parents today find themselves in a similar situation. There are different ways in which you can nurture your child to be inquisitive, self reliant and a confident learner. To do this you need to start by feeding children’s curiosity as they grow older by encouraging reading for pleasure or pursuing interests outside of school. You can engage your child more by asking questions like, "Why did you like that book?” or "What did you do at school today?”In an effort to train your child to be an independent learner, you need to maintain the difficult balance between helping children with their homework and doing the work for them. You should consider making a rule that the child must attempt to solve a problem independently two or three times before asking for help. The ability to build on concepts mastered earlier is essential to becoming a self-reliant learner. When children begin to view learning as absorption of concepts instead of memorisation, they gain the confidence and the ability to tackle new academic challenges on their own. Constant encouragement is essential to developing confidence in learning, but the key is to praise your child’s effort rather than his or her personality or achievement.Instead of saying, ‘You’re a smart boy,’ try saying, ‘You worked so hard to figure out that problem,’ Remember that not all moments of achievement are clearly defined. Demonstrating consistent effort or an understanding of concepts is just as worthy of celebration as receiving a high test grade.send your parenting questions to education@newtimes.co.rw