I’m just not a maths person.” Many parents hear a sentence like this at the kitchen table, usually after a disappointing test. Sometimes it comes with a sigh. Sometimes it comes with a school bag dropped by the door and homework that has conveniently been “forgotten”.
At Kith, we hear versions of this from parents often, and behind most of them is a child whose confidence has taken a knock. That is why we think about private tutoring a little differently. It is not only about lifting marks. When it works well, it helps a child understand the work, believe they can do it and start to take ownership of their learning. In this guide, we explain how private tutoring and academic confidence are connected, how to spot when your child could use support, and what we consider when helping families find a tutor.
Why Confidence Matters as Much as Marks
A child who believes they cannot do something stops trying. When they stop trying, they fall further behind, and falling behind seems to prove what they already believed. It is a quiet cycle, and it can start with something small: a missed concept in Grade 3 fractions, a shaky grasp of grammar, a topic that was covered while your child was off sick.
In our experience, the child is rarely lacking ability. More often, there is a gap in the foundation they are being asked to build on. Confidence is what allows a child to put up a hand in class, attempt a hard problem and recover from a mistake without feeling defeated. Without it, even a bright child can start to hide.
Signs Your Child’s Confidence at School May Be Slipping
Every child has off days, but some patterns are worth paying attention to:
- Saying things like “I’m stupid”, “I can’t do this” or “there’s no point”
- Avoiding homework, or taking much longer than expected to get started
- Becoming tearful, anxious or irritable around tests and projects
- A sudden drop in marks in one subject, or reluctance to talk about school
- Not asking questions or putting up their hand in class
- Rushing through work to get it over with, or giving up when it gets difficult
If several of these sound familiar, it does not mean something is seriously wrong. It often means your child needs the right kind of support at the right moment.
How Private Tutoring Builds Academic Confidence
We believe private tutoring changes more than marks. When it is done well, it addresses the reasons confidence has slipped, not just the symptoms.
Finding and filling the gaps
A good tutor starts by working out where understanding breaks down. Sometimes the problem your child is struggling with today actually began two grades ago. Identifying those gaps and going back to fix them gives your child something solid to stand on.
Explaining things differently
In a busy classroom, there is not always time to explain a concept a second or third way. One-to-one,a tutor can try another approach, slow down, use a different example or let your child explain the problem back. Understanding the work, rather than memorising answers, is what lasts.
A safe space to ask and to get things wrong
Many children will not ask a question in class for fear of looking foolish. In a one-to-one session, they can ask the “silly” question, make a mistake and try again without an audience. That encouraging environment, where mistakes are part of learning, is often where confidence starts to return.
Small wins that add up
Confidence is built on evidence. When a child solves a problem they could not manage last week, that is proof they can do it. Good tutoring breaks challenging topics into clear, manageable steps so that a child experiences progress regularly, not just on report card day.
Study skills and exam preparation
Much of the anxiety around tests comes from not knowing how to prepare. Structured revision, practice questions and clear strategies for assessments help children feel ready rather than overwhelmed. The same applies to homework: a tutor can help your child learn how to plan, start and finish their work independently.
Growing independence
The real goal of tutoring is a child who can eventually solve problems on their own. A good tutor works towards becoming less necessary over time, and that shift from “I need help” to “I can work this out” is what we think of as true academic confidence.
Tutoring and Confidence in Practice: Two Family Scenarios
Picture a Grade 5 child in Waterfall who has started saying he is “stupid at maths”. Fractions never quite made sense, and the gap has widened ever since. A tutor who goes back to the earlier concepts, explains them step by step and celebrates small breakthroughs may notice a change before the marks do: a child who attempts the problem before asking for help.
Now consider a Grade 11 learner in Kyalami, capable but anxious about Physical Sciences exams. She does not need the content explained from scratch. She needs a clear revision structure, practice questions and the experience of working through them with someone calm. As her preparation becomes more organised, her nerves often settle too. These are different children with different needs, which is exactly why we match tutors carefully.
What We Consider When Matching a Tutor
When we help families find private tutoring support, we think about more than whether someone knows the subject. A tutor’s qualifications and subject strengths matter, and so do the grades they prefer teaching, their teaching approach and their availability. We match around your child’s grade, subjects and individual learning needs, because a tutor who is excellent with Grade 12 Mathematics may not be the right person for a Grade 3 child who needs patient help with reading.
We also look for people with at least a year of tutoring, teaching or academic mentoring experience who are confident teaching their chosen subjects at primary or high school level. Our tutors cover Grade R to Grade 12, and lessons may be in person, online or a combination, depending on yourfamily’s requirements and the tutor’s availability.
Safety and trust matter just as much. Our tutor checks can include identity, references, qualifications and a criminal record check and background verification. We also ask tutors to commit for at least six to twelve months or a full academic term, because children make better progress with a familiar face than with a rotating list of strangers.
Tutors are also given information about the learner, their goals, the lesson format, schedule and location before deciding whether to proceed, so both sides know what to expect. That is why we introduce families to people we believe will genuinely fit, rather than asking you to scroll through a long list.
Tutor or Au Pair: Where Does Homework Help Fit?
Many families ask us whether they need a tutor or an au pair. We see them as complementary. An
au pair can help build a calm homework routine, supporting reading, school projects and a productive afternoon. A private tutor gives focused, subject-specific academic support, such as catch-up work, exam preparation or help with a particular concept. If your child needs a settled afternoon routine and help in one challenging subject, the two can work well side by side.
Getting the Most Out of Private Tutoring
A few things make a real difference:
- Share the full picture. Recent tests, school reports and any feedback from your child’s teacher help a tutor understand where to begin.
- Agree on realistic goals. “Feel less afraid of maths” or “finish homework without tears” are valid goals alongside “improve from 55 to 65 per cent”.
- Praise effort, not just results. Children who are praised for persistence tend to be more willing to attempt difficult work. Notice the improvement in how they approach the task, not only what the marks say.
- Give it time. Confidence grows gradually. Look for small signs first, such as your child starting homework more willingly or asking a question they would previously have avoided.
- Keep talking. Stay in touch with your tutor and your child’s teacher so that everyone is working in the same direction.
We would also add one honest point. If you suspect something more is going on, such as a learning difficulty or an attention challenge, speak to your child’s teacher and consider an assessment by an appropriate professional. A tutor can support your child’s learning, but they are not a substitute for a proper diagnosis.
What Does Private Tutoring Cost?
At Kith, indicative pricing currently starts from R350 per hour. Costs depend on factors such as the subject, grade level, lesson duration and whether sessions are online or in person. When you weigh the cost, we would encourage you to think about the match as well as the hourly rate. A tutor who understands your child and keeps them engaged is worth far more than one who simply fills the hour.
Helping Your Child Believe in Themselves
At its best, private tutoring and academic confidence go hand in hand. Your child gets clearer explanations, a safe space to ask questions and the small wins that show them they can do it. Over time, you may notice that the biggest change is not in the marks, but in how your child talks about school.
If you are looking for private tutoring that builds your child’s academic confidence, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with Kith, tell us about your child’s grade, subjects and what they are finding difficult, and we will help you find a tutor who is the right fit for your family.
