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Six Child Profiles (and How to Tutor Them)

Recognising common child types in 7+ prep — and how tutoring can adapt to each one.

The Shy / Quiet Child

Parent view: Doesn’t always speak up in class, struggles in group discussions, answers at home can be one-word.

Tutoring view: Build confidence with small wins, structured speaking frames, safe role plays. Practise giving one clear sentence instead of overwhelming them.

The Boisterous / Energetic Child

Parent view: Talks a lot, may interrupt, high energy, sometimes rushes through tasks.

Tutoring view: Channel energy into structured turn-taking, listening games, and timed challenges. Teach a pause-before-answer habit and reward constructive contributions.

The Perfectionist / Anxious Child

Parent view: Worries about getting things wrong, slow to finish, can become upset if an answer isn’t perfect.

Tutoring view: Normalise mistakes, celebrate effort, and give time-boxed tasks to practise “good enough”. Show how examiners value process over perfect answers.

The High-Flier (Quick Learner)

Parent view: Picks things up fast, sometimes bored in class, can appear over-confident.

Tutoring view: Stretch with lateral challenges and puzzles, encourage “explain your thinking” tasks. Coach humility, resilience, and the skill of listening to others.

The Steady Worker

Parent view: Consistent, diligent, may lack spark but keeps going.

Tutoring view: Encourage risk-taking in creative work, praise independent ideas. Build fluency and speed without losing accuracy.

The Reluctant Learner

Parent view: Avoids homework, says “I don’t like Maths/English”, may resist reading.

Tutoring view: Start with interests (stories, games, practical activities), build momentum through praise. Use low-pressure diagnostic tasks to uncover gaps.

Why profiles matter

Every child has a profile — shy, energetic, perfectionist, or steady. My role is to adapt sessions so their natural strengths shine and their challenges don’t become barriers.