Why is my Child Smart but Struggling in School?

Bethany Yu
Jul 2
3 min read

It's a question many parents quietly ask themselves: "My child is bright, so why are they still struggling in school?"

This concern becomes especially common in Singapore once children enter upper primary. Academic expectations skyrocket, and even capable learners may start falling behind in core areas like language, composition, or math problem-solving. Many of these children are articulate, curious, and highly observant, yet their schoolwork doesn’t reflect that.

The reason often lies beneath the surface. Not in motivation or effort, but in how the child learns.

That’s where Educational Therapy becomes pivotal.

What Makes a Child “Smart but Struggling”?

These children often:

Speak well and ask sharp questions
Show strong reasoning in day-to-day life
Display deep focus when interested in a topic

But at the same time, they may:

Struggle with writing or organising ideas
Miss key steps in assignments or lose track mid-task
Take longer to complete homework
Forget instructions easily or avoid written tasks
Appear distracted or overwhelmed in class

Parents are left wondering if their child is “not trying hard enough,” but the truth is: many of these challenges are linked to something deeper and very common.

Executive Functions: The Missing Link

What many of these children have in common is difficulty with executive functioning. These are the brain-based skills that help us:

Get started on a task
Stay focused
Manage time and materials
Hold information in working memory
Adjust and check work

Executive Functions | Total Communication | Singapore

When executive skills are underdeveloped, it doesn’t affect intelligence but it does impact how a child performs in a school environment, especially in Singapore’s fast-paced curriculum.

What Educational Therapy Does Differently

Educational Therapy is not tuition. It’s not about drilling for the next test.

It’s about building the learning foundations that make school easier to manage and less frustrating.

Therapists focus on how the child learns, not just what they’re missing. Sessions often include:

Strategies to strengthen working memory
Support with planning and sequencing written tasks
Tools for comprehension and summarising
Visual organisers for idea mapping
Self-monitoring techniques for independence

At Total Communication, our educational therapists personalise every session based on a child’s unique learning profile, while working closely with parents and where possible, schools for aligned support.

When to Consider Educational Therapy

Educational Therapy might help if your child:

Understands concepts verbally but struggles to write them
Avoids homework or takes a long time to complete it
Loses track during multi-step tasks
Seems inconsistent in academic performance
Gets frustrated or anxious around learning

These signs are not about laziness or lack of motivation. They’re signals that your child might need different tools ones that build confidence and control over how they learn.

What You Can Do

You know your child best. If something doesn’t feel right, even if they seem “fine on paper,” it’s okay to pause and explore.

A conversation with an educational therapist can help clarify whether your child is simply learning in a different way and how to support them before small frustrations grow into bigger learning gaps.

At Total Communication, our goal is to understand what’s getting in the way and help your child work with their brain, not against it.

No pressure. No assumptions. Just support, if and when you’re ready.

Learn more about Educational Therapy and how it can support your child’s learning journey in Singapore.

We’re here if you’d like to explore that path.