Children who struggle in school often carry that worry and anxiety home. Along with bodily symptoms, you might observe behavioral changes. For instance, children becoming more introverted, less communicative, and performing poorly in school are other regular occurrences.
As a parent, you desire your child to be academically successful. Therefore, if your child is facing school challenges, you should keep a close eye on their academic and social environment. Even though each child is unique, there are some warning signs that your child may require assistance, including the following.
They refuse to discuss school issues
It may indicate that something is not right at school if your child suddenly shows no interest in telling you about what they are being taught in class or how their day went. This is particularly the case if they were previously open and talkative regularly.
It would be good if you did not disregard this warning sign, even though it’s important to respect your child’s privacy and avoid pressuring them to discuss things before they’re ready.
Try to become engaged in your child’s daily school activities to learn more about what is happening. You can schedule daily check-ins or sessions to review assignments or any paperwork that needs to be signed. By doing this, you’ll be able to spot potential problems and take early action.
They change their behavior or attitude unexpectedly
If your child used to have a good attitude about school but has since grown distant or hostile against it, you want to spring into action. For example, they might already be familiar with the topics covered in a certain course or be unable to express their confusion or disorientation.
Most likely, they are having problems with their classes or teachers or suffering academically. To identify the root of this alteration in behavior or attitude, it is crucial to investigate a little further.
They express boredom with school
When your child starts complaining about boredom with school, there may be a problem. It’s important to note that boredom could occasionally serve as a coping tactic. For example, when children cannot understand the subject, they completely disengage from it.
Other times, very talented kids could experience this boredom- even the brightest students may struggle academically if their curriculum does not challenge them. Moreover, children who don’t feel challenged by the subject they’re studying are much more likely to give up interest and stop making an effort with it.
Parents should look into the cause of their children’s complaints about being bored at school. It’s possible that altering their study methods or even the classroom ambiance will be an effective solution, so keep this in mind.
They constantly receive low grades
Failing grades is a typical sign that your child is experiencing difficulties. However, parents occasionally fail to inquire about or review school or homework. While an occasional bad grade might not be a major cause for alarm, a pattern of poor grades or a progress report full of them is a warning sign.
Most likely, your child has a learning issue or disability, which may necessitate the need for an individualized education program. Your child’s grades may improve with this solution, so feel free to consider it. Parents who believe their kid may have a learning disorder should speak with the child’s school and community doctors for extra testing and guidance.
They look distracted and disorganized
Classrooms can frequently be intimidating and distracting for children due to chatty classmates and disorganized workspaces.
Additionally, some children are more adversely affected by these external stimuli than others. Some children may opt out when academics or other pupils stress them out mentally, so you should ensure their distraction isn’t a hidden form of school worry. Discuss with your child what they’d need to be able to focus better if they’re having trouble because of distractions. You can also speak with the teacher to determine if there are any ways to lessen the stimuli.
However, it’s also likely that your child’s difficulties are related to organizational problems at school. Your child won’t be able to learn the content properly if they are spending too much time looking for their belongings or trying to maintain themselves organized at home or school. Speaking to their teacher about how to keep them organized will work well.
They spend too much time on school or homework
If your child spends all their free time working on schoolwork, they are losing out on having fun with friends or engaging in their favorite hobbies, which is a major red flag. You should be aware that some teachers may assign more homework than others.
It would be nice if you had a basic understanding of how much homework your child typically receives on any given day so that you can take appropriate action to support your child. However, delays could also signify that they don’t understand the subject. You can help them with their assignments, explaining specific areas in which they face challenges.
They get constant negative feedback from the teacher
It might be simple to discount whatever a teacher is saying regarding your child, particularly when what they say conflicts with what you already know is true about them. In general, teachers seize every chance to aid pupils in achieving academic success.
Although other pupils understand the content, a teacher can immediately tell if one kid isn’t. Pay notice if the teacher says your child is more difficult than other students. They will let you know if there is a decline in your child’s academic performance. Teachers frequently have a few ideas to support their students, so try to give the teacher the benefit of the doubt.
They misbehave in class
Sometimes misbehavior at school is your child’s attempt to distract others from the fact that they are having difficulty with their academics. Given that they are still growing and maturing and focusing on building crucial social skills, children frequently lack many of the abilities needed to speak up and explicitly state what they are having difficulty with.
They can act out in the interim if angry or irritated rather than seeking assistance. You want to refrain from blaming or yelling at them in this situation. Instead, encourage them to explain how they feel and why they misbehave in school. This way, they can be more open to letting you in on their struggles.
They exhibit poor sleeping and eating habits
Your child may be underperforming in school if they are having trouble sleeping, changing their eating habits, or complaining of discomfort. Most kids require 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function properly.
If your child isn’t getting enough sleep, something isn’t right. Most likely, the thoughts of failing in school can cause sleepless nights. Also, If your child isn’t eating more than normal, they can be depressed or sad if they realize they are not catching up with the lessons in their academics. Again, a conversation helps get the needed answer to these strange behaviors.
They Change their friends or activities
If your child has abruptly ceased engaging in a sport they love or has stopped spending time with particular friends, it could be a school problem. Investigate any problems your child may have had with their peers and try to assist in fixing them.
When your child is having school difficulties, your encouragement and support can go a long way toward helping them achieve academic success. Try to look for obstacles that might impede your child’s academic success.
Useful Resources (Child Helpline)
childlineindia.org
kidshelpphone.ca
childhelplineinternational.org
