Maybe you’re a bit concerned that your child is going through a rough patch at school. They might have made comments that left you worrying that they’re dealing with bullying. Perhaps their grades have been dropping steadily for a while now.

Their teacher might have even gotten in touch with you about behavioral concerns. You don’t want to let your child flounder. Even if you’re not quite sure how to fix the situation, you want to get involved and support your child as best as you can in order to help them succeed.

Here are a few steps you can take to help your child if you suspect that they’re facing challenges at school.

Listen Closely

First, it’s important to talk to your child about what they’re dealing with. Even if your child is young, give them the chance to express their feelings in their own words. Your child might be eager to share what they’re struggling with and get it off of their chest.

On the other hand, you may also have to be patient. Your child may not want to open up right away. Listen closely when they talk about school in other contexts. You might learn some details about the issue.

Get in Touch With Their Teacher

Your teacher can give you crucial insights into what your child is struggling with in school. If your child has several teachers for different academic subjects, it’s a good idea to reach out to anyone who teaches a class that your child has been struggling in.

Your child’s teachers can let you know if your child should be evaluated for a learning disability or neurodivergence. They may have a third-party perspective that you might not have picked up on. Some of their insights or recommendations might be surprising, but they see a side of your child at school that you may not.

Create a Plan

After you’ve talked with your child and their teachers, it’s time to think about what needs to change for your child at school, and how you can specifically help. Depending on your child’s age, you may have to provide them with lots of support during this time.

This might mean creating a homework schedule and sitting down with your child each night to ensure it gets done, or connecting with a therapist who can give your child more intensive support. Your “action plan” will be unique to your child.

Check in with Your Child

Once you’ve worked with your child’s teachers and a guidance counselor (if appropriate) to create an action plan for your child, it’s important to check in with your child to see how they’re doing.

Make sure to look at their grades regularly and ask your child how they’re feeling about the changes they’re making in school.

Celebrate Small Progress

Remember, progress isn’t all or nothing. Maybe your child is still occasionally chatty in class, but their teacher says that they have been much calmer lately. Or perhaps your child’s grades haven’t improved in all of their classes, yet they’ve definitely seen a boost in a couple of subjects.

Don’t let “perfect” become the enemy of “good.” Let your child know that you’re proud of the steps they’ve taken to improve in school. You may want to give your child small rewards for their progress, like planning a fun outing or going out to dinner at their favorite restaurant.

—

Are you struggling to support your child through challenges at school? A therapist can give you the guidance you need. Reach out to us to learn more about our children therapy options.