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Is Your Child Struggling at School?
November 21, 2018
Is Your Child Struggling at School?
When a child begins to struggle with their school work, you need to get them the help they need as soon as possible. The longer it takes, the bigger the gap becomes, especially since the school learning continues forward and the school may not have noticed or not be able to fund the help needed.
How can you tell if your child is struggling? It’s not easy to spot as children aren’t always open about their school performance, especially if they do not feel good about it. Also keep in mind that children can have off days but watch for a pattern or regular issues, the earlier you find out what is behind the change the better.
Below are some signs to look for:
1) Your Child Suddenly Refuses to Discuss School
If your child ‘shuts down’ and doesn’t want to tell you about what they are learning in school, or how their school day went, it can be a signal that something is not right. This could be subject related so you can identify which subject they are struggling with.
2) Your Child Has a Sudden Major Change in Attitude About School
If your child suddenly becomes distant or angry towards school, you can bet there is an issue. Also watch for boredom. Many children will complain they are bored, when in actual fact they don’t understand what is being taught. Look deeper to find the cause.
3) Your Child Spends an Excessive Amount of Time on Homework
It is a big warning sign if your child is falling into a pattern of having little to no free time outside of school because they are spending their time on homework. Having said this, you need to know what volume of work the teachers give so you can recognise increased time spent.
4) They Begin Misbehaving at School
Sometimes misbehaviour at school is really your child’s way of trying to take attention off the fact they are struggling with their work. If your child is usually well behaved and suddenly begins to have behaviour problems at school, take a look not only at what is happening in their social world but also their academic work as well.
5) Your Child’s Teacher Expresses Concern
Sometimes it is easy to dismiss what a teacher is telling you about your child, especially if what the teacher is telling you is different to how your child has always been. Teachers usually have some suggestions in mind what they think might help. The teacher’s thoughts and ideas are information that you can put together with everything else you know about your child to know if they are struggling and some of the options available to help them.
6) Your Child Begins Having Trouble Sleeping or Eating
Problems sleeping or eating often result from worry. Your child may be having problems sleeping or eating if they know they aren’t keeping up with the class on their school work.
7) Your Child Receives Low Grades
This sign is an obvious one, yet sometimes children and school parents do not want to believe that it is a sign that the child is struggling with the material in school. Some parents feel that bad grades only mean that the child just doesn’t understand the importance of education in their lives yet and will somehow snap out of it and be successful once the child is a little older.
The support, encouragement, and advocacy you provide your child when they begin to struggle in school can make a huge difference in your child being able to get back on track.
The most important thing to remember is to get help as soon as possible. If the problems persist, reassure your child that everything will be ok and seek help. Organisations such as Elite Tuition Group are a great place to start. We have heard every problem and seen the struggles first hand. We can help reassure a child quickly and get them back on track.
Don’t worry on your own, call us on 0333 456 0368.
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