By now, the fall semester is underway at
your child’s school. The kids are coming home with (and complaining
about) homework nearly every day and they may be getting nervous about
the report cards that will be out soon.
If parents and their children are communicating regularly and honestly,
grades should not be a big surprise. And after all, it’s the effort
that truly counts. Still, for parents whose children are failing in
class, it can be a stressful time. You may need help identifying the
reason for bad grades and advice on dealing with the problems.
"The earlier you address problems in school, the better," says
Rochelle Harris, PhD, child psychologist, The Children’s Mercy
Hospital. "There can be any number of reasons that children fail at
school. No matter the cause, the problem should not be ignored. Chances
are it will not go away after the report cards are handed out."
Holding a child back a grade doesn’t necessarily improve academic
performance in the long term and in most cases should be reserved for
the children who are additionally socially immature.
School failure can have a wide range of causes. The first thing to do
is have the child tested to rule out learning disabilities.
Professional assessment of learning problems can be requested through
the public school system. An objective evaluation can clarify a
situation by describing a child’s abilities and weaknesses. An
individualized plan to help the child can then be devised.
If a learning disability is ruled out, the child may be failing as a
result of a lack of motivation, the single most common reason for
school failure. A decrease in motivation can be caused by a variety of
medical or psychological factors, including emotional trauma, such as
loss of a loved one; a move to a new school; an inability to relate to
and make friends and peers; an attention deficit disorder; clinical
depression; or a serious medical illness.
Parents should operate under the assumption that most children should
be able to do satisfactory work at an appropriate grade level. A child
who is failing should serve as a red flag that something is wrong.
One way to help your children is to be interested in what they are
studying in school and to demonstrate to them how important homework
is. Don’t demand unrealistic performance; don’t expect your children to
always be on the honor rolls. Let your children know you appreciate
their efforts and continue to support them.
Some ways to entice enthusiasm for education at home are:
