With the school year kicking off, you'll soon have plenty of nights reminding your kids to finish their homework before playing games. But sometimes kids may need a little help from an outside source when it comes to homework. (Read: a tutor.)

Sara Patel of Gideon Math and Learning Center in Little Rock says that tutors are there to help make sure the learning gap doesn’t get any bigger.

“A lot of times, kids will have gaps in learning that have not been filled,” Patel said. “When it comes to learning new concepts, the gap snowballs until it’s almost impossible for them to catch up.”

That’s where a tutor comes in. Tutors can help when parents don’t have the time or patience to focus on the same concept. Plus, kids often listen better to people other than their parents.

“Sometimes, kids don’t want their parents to know how little they know,” says Patel.

Tutors are trained to teach in different ways and with different methods to help a child understand things in specially targeted ways that may not be taught in the classrooms.

There are some signs to look out for as your child starts the new school year, indicating he or she may need some extra help from a tutor. Patel says the first red flags should be how well your child is performing in school, his or her ability to finish homework and his or her frustration level.

At Gideon, children as young as four can start with supplemental learning, which prepares them to begin learning how to pronounce letters and how to use numbers.

“We don’t want to get to a point where the gap is too big,” Patel says. “We want them to have a head start.”

Cost for tutoring varies by location. Gideon offers eight tutoring sessions per month for $110.

Tutoring opportunities in the Little Rock Metro: 

Gideon Math and Learning Center
Little Rock:
Heights Center
2316 Durwood Road
(501) 747-1910

Bryant:
Bryant Plaza
23227 Interstate 30 South
(501) 607-4808

Mathnasium
Little Rock
12800 Chenal Parkway #15
(501) 376-6284

Sylvan Learning Center
Little Rock
11220 N Rodney Parham Road, Suite 1
(800) 338-2283

Huntington Learning Center
Little Rock
11525 Cantrell Road
(501) 223-2299

Kumon Math and Reading Center
North Little Rock
4810 West Commercial Drive, Suite B
(501) 812-5437