Sitting beside a frustrated child at the kitchen table is hard. These five habits keep you helpful without taking the pencil out of their hand.
Ask before you explain
“What does the question want you to find?” is often enough to get them moving again. Explaining too early teaches them to wait for you.
Work a similar problem, not the same one
Change the numbers and solve that version together. Then let them try the real question alone.
Praise the method, not the answer
A neat, logical attempt with one slip deserves more credit than a lucky right answer.
Know when to stop
Twenty focused minutes beats an hour of tears. Note where they got stuck and send it to their tutor or teacher.