What to Do When Your Child is Failing School
Nothing is more stressful than finding out that your kid has failed school. Despite learning something, it feels like a year’s worth of effort and time wasted. And the shame accompanying the incident is even more difficult to handle. But, if the year hasn’t come to an end, there’s still time. You can do a lot to help your child. Read more to know exactly what!
Understand Why Your Child is Failing
According to a reputable Math tutor, the first thing any parent should do is identify the root of the problem. What is causing your child to fail at school?
If you know what is troubling your child, you can find ways to solve it and get your child back on track before the academic session ends. Here are a few common reasons why kids fail school:
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Difficult Studies
Mathematical concepts and physics theories become difficult with time. It’s impossible to deny this fact. And this is not because the school wants your child to fail (trust us, they haven’t bewitched the curriculum so that no child passes!).
It’s because every child has a different pace of learning. Some kids are born with high intellect, while some improve it as they grow up. The latter has to adopt a growth mindset and work consistently to compete with naturally intelligent ones.
So, it’s okay if your child finds the studies too challenging. With a little assistance, he will improve too, and perform better.
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Lack of Motivation & Confidence
Some children simply don’t have the motivation and willpower to study anything at school. They will engage in daydreaming and zoning out. At times, they would forget their learning supplies and make excuses to go out of class.
Meanwhile, some children are willing to study. But when confusion strikes them, they don’t have enough confidence to consider their query valid and ask it. They’re afraid to look dumb and wrong in front of their teachers.
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Personal Issues
Disturbing home conditions and peer pressure are some other reasons why a child might fail school. These events deviate the attention of the child from studies to internal conflicts. He feels anxious, stressed, and distressed.
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Underlying Mental Health Concerns
Mental health issues are becoming increasingly common today. These include depression, anxiety, and even ADHD. Since these problems don’t have physical symptoms, it’s hard to diagnose them. Poor academic performance can be a consequence of these issues.
Discuss the Matter With Your Child
The second step in understanding your child’s problems is to discuss the matter with him directly. Remember that a doctor isn’t able to provide a diagnosis unless the patient tells him the symptoms and issues.
So, to make your analysis correct, speak to your child and listen to what he thinks is the problem. But be a little careful in how you ask the questions. Don’t ask why questions, instead ask what questions.
The why questions invite your child to make excuses and give incorrect explanations for their behavior. And there’s nothing to blame them for. Chances are that they don’t understand why this is happening to them either.
Get In Touch With School Teachers
Once you’ve discussed this with the child, contact the school teachers and staff privately. It’s best if the matter is completely hidden from your child or his peers. Otherwise, he might feel embarrassed by the whole affair.
Investigate the problem further with the teachers. Ask them about the child’s behavior and actions. Does he miss classes on purpose? Are his friends being a bad influence?
Find Suitable Solutions
By now, you should have a clear picture of the cause behind your child failing school. It’s time to find a suitable solution. A few suggestions include:
- Seek external support – if your child is struggling with difficult subjects, enroll him in a tuition academy. These extra classes will give your child the individual attention and help needed.
- Adopt a positive attitude towards studies – children behave how we teach them to behave. If your child is slacking on studies because it makes him appear cool or he thinks they are unnecessary, it’s better to fix your attitude first. Show your kid how academics are useful in daily life like math is important for finance management.
- Encourage the effort – teach your child that things can change with the right efforts and approach. Not everyone is born intelligent, but there is always room for growth.
- Explore new strategies for learning – speak with teachers about ways to implement ways to help your child overcome obstacles and monitor their academic progress.
- Consult a medical professional – if none of the problems seem to justify the failing grades, visit an expert to check for mental health concerns.
Be Gentle, Be Patient!
Last but most importantly, be gentle and patient with your child. Failing school is not the end of the world. Instead of pressurizing your child to do better, help them figure out the problem and fix it together.
