The academic year can be a struggle for any parent, now that the kids are back in school; it’s time to keep up with the ever growing list of to-dos. Boys Town Parenting is here to help with a guide for how to maintain throughout the school year. (boystown.org)
ACADEMICS AND HOMEWORK
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How can I work with my child's school to stay informed of their progress?
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How can I teach my child to deal with peer pressure?
Many times, even as early as kindergarten, kids struggle with peer concerns and they feel most comfortable coming to you as the parent. I break these issues into two concerns. One is a safety concern. If at any point your child feels unsafe then I think it's important to talk to your child about this and to encourage them to talk to the teacher. You should talk to the teacher as well. If the concerns are only peer conflicts then I would encourage your child to manage these concerns themselves and give them the skills that they would need for such as problem solving. Conflict is part of relationships and we want them to have this skill so as they get older they are able to manage these concerns.
What steps do I take if I think my child is being bullied?
First of all try not to panic and try not to get accusatory. Sometimes if kids start to have some problems academically, or they're getting really grouchy with you, the temptation is to get mad at the kid. All parents are tempted by that. I have been too. It's like, "Okay, what is your problem?" That would not be the way to approach it. You want to go to your child and real calmly just describe what you've seen happening like, "Gee, you were getting A's last year and I notice now you're getting some C's and D's. Can you tell me what's going on there?" Or, "You seem really sad, you don't call your friends anymore." or "You're staying home a lot more than you used to. Why don't you tell me what's going on?"
How can I prepare my children to make the transition from grade school to middle school or from middle school to high school, or to a new school?
Preparing for any academic transition, whether it's elementary to middle or middle to high, is going to rely on a child’s current comfort level and increasing that comfort level. You will need to help your child to know that this is what the routine is going to look like and this is what it's going be like in middle school. Maybe going to the school and walking through it and typically schools already do this.
How do I get my teenager more engaged with their schoolwork?
Have a conversation with their teacher, talk to their counselor, go to their extracurricular activities and talk to their friends. These would all be good ideas when it comes to getting your kids more engaged. Sometimes you can find out what a kid really likes in school when you find out what they really like outside of school. For example, my son really likes cars, like most boys, so I got him an educational mentor.
Should I help my child with their homework?
When it comes to helping your teenager with their homework, it depends on your definition of helping. Are you somewhere in the vicinity also reading a book, modeling the behavior of what you want your kid to do, or are you actually over there doing their homework? I tend to think the latter would not be what I would suggest for you to do as a parent. It's better for you to be in the vicinity, be on hand.
What do I do when my young child won't do his or her homework?
When children aren't completing their homework, the consequences could vary. If they're very young, I would suggest having them do a “redo.” If they didn't write a paper they were assigned for their first grade class, then have them write it again. Having them redo the assignment will mean they are missing time they could be watching television or playing with their friends.
How can I impress upon my child how important school is?
When it comes to making your kid feel like school is important, the first thing I tell every parent is to give their child a future view of where they're going. When kids know where they are going and what can help them to get there, then they can figure out what tools they need in their tool bag to get there.
How do I know when I'm placing too much pressure on my child?
How do you know when you're putting too much pressure on your child? They'll tell you. Kids will tell you in more ways than one, either by not wanting any advice at all from you or they'll tell you that you're putting too much pressure on them. The problem is that, lots of times, parents aren't always listening. So if you want to ease off of the pressure you're putting on your child, listen more and talk less.
How do I keep my gifted child interested in school?
If you have a gifted child and they're in school and they're bored, they can sometimes begin to display behaviors that seem very similar to a child who has a disorder. Sometimes it’s only because they're just bored with school and they've gotten through with their work, which may be the reason they begin to display different behaviors. If that's going on, talk to the teachers about challenging your child.
Back-To-School Tips for Parents
Bridget Barnes, Common Sense Parenting Cooridnator, discusses Back-To-School tips.
Pat Persaud: Hi there, welcome. I'm Pat Persaud. I hope your morning is off to a great start. Well we have some parenting tips for you today and here to help me with that is Bridget Barnes. She's the program coordinator for Common Sense Parenting. Welcome Bridget.
Bridget Barnes: Thank you.
Help! It’s Time for Homework…
School is back in full swing, and parents once again face the difficult task of getting their children to complete homework. You may have already heard some of these comments: “No, I don’t have any homework”; “I’ll get it done later”; and “I did my homework at school.” Perhaps you’ve even had a few arguments with your child over doing homework. Or, you may anxiously be waiting for a note or call from school to let you know your child has not been turning his or her assignments.
Good Communication Helps Children Succeed In School
During the school year, children spend half of their waking hours in class or involved in school-related activities. And while it’s obviously important for students to invest time in their education, it’s equally important that parents get involved, too. In fact, studies show that children do better in school when their parents are active participants in their education.
Helping Your ‘Underachieving’ Student Achieve Again
You know your child can do the work. In the good old days, parent-teacher conferences were pleasant. No one called you from school requesting your presence at a special meeting because your child was failing a class or disrupting the school day. Report cards were not something to be feared. "Down slips" never appeared in your mailbox.
Parent and school staff disagree on mode of discipline
My 7-year-old son is beginning to hate school. He is impulsive and as a result, often has to sit apart from his classmates. This consequence only intensifies his behavior. I have provided suggestions on how to handle his impulsiveness, but the school’s staff will only administer the school’s policy of separation. He is not trying to be defiant, and he is now feeling like he is being punished for who he is, not for what he is doing. He feels singled out. What are my options?
Daughter Being Bullied
My children and I just moved back to my hometown after being away for 14 years. My ex-husband, who was emotionally abusive to me and cheated on me with his current wife, has lived here since I moved away. He and his wife have twins who are the same age as my daughter. Our children attend the same school, but I have made certain that they will not be in the same classroom since my ex-husband’s wife has encouraged her twins to pick on my daughter. After only six days of school, my daughter has come home daily with bruises on her legs. She told me that kids are kicking and pinching her at recess. She does not know their names, so I went to the teacher to discuss the situation. I did not get a satisfactory response from her teacher, so I spoke to the other kindergarten teacher. She said that she has been reporting it, but no one has actually seen the behavior take place. I want the teachers and recess monitors to watch my daughter more closely at recess according to the school’s anti-bullying rules, but they are not very responsive. This makes me wonder just how seriously my daughter has to be hurt before they intervene. My daughter is considered to be high-functioning autistic. I want her to love school and fear she will come to hate it if she continues to be bullied. How should I handle this? How do I keep it from continuing – or worse – escalating? Who do I talk to next?
Seven Year-Old Socialite
My seven year-old son does very well with homework because we sit with him and do it together, but when he is at school his teacher says he’s too social and doesn’t finish his work. How can I help him excel at school?