Parenting: Your Child in Trouble at School?

Parents typically want what is best for their child. They want their children to do well and be successful. Nobody wants to hear from the teacher that their child is struggling or having problems at school. If you get the news that your child is having a problem at school, how you react and handle the problem makes a big difference. Your reaction can determine if the problem gets resolved quickly or turns into a bigger problem.

Defensiveness

It is natural to want to defend your children. Nobody wants to hear anything other than good news about their children. Who wants to hear that their child is bullying other kids in the class? Nobody wants to believe that their child is not doing well in school. Teachers don't tell parents that their children are having trouble understanding the material, or difficulty getting along with others, or even behavior problems to be mean or pick on the child. Teachers don't share this information to get the child in trouble.

It can sometimes seem like the teacher is saying that your child's problems are your fault. Most of the time, that is not the point of the conversation. The teacher is telling you about the problems so that first, you are aware of them. It is common for children to avoid telling their parents about trouble at school. The teacher is typically telling you about your kid's troubles assuming that you are unaware of them. The second goal is to allow the two of you to work together to solve the problem.

Education is a partnership

Credit: Stefanie Cragun

Copyright: Stefanie Cragun