Problems at School: 5 Things Parents Can Do to Help Their Child Cope

School is a time when children learn, improve, and encounter a few roadblocks or bumps along the way. As children face academic, social, or emotional problems at school, parents can be an important source of comfort and support. Below are five ways that parents can actively help their children with school-related issues.

Maintain Open Lines of Communication

The basis for all help with school problems is open and honest communication. Encourage your child to verbalize their feelings and/or concerns without judgment or resolution. Kids often just need to be heard. Your job is to listen and empathize with the situation. This will help you to get to the bottom of the issue – whether your child is struggling with homework, teachers, or peers. By establishing a space where your child feels comfortable sharing their thoughts, you are more likely to get the whole picture, thus putting you in a better position to help.

Collaborate with Teachers and School Staff

If the issue is academic or behavioral at school, teachers and school staff can be highly useful allies. They observe your child in a different context than you do at home and have likely been made aware of things you have no knowledge of. Set up a meeting or phone call with your child’s teacher to share your concerns and ask for their advice. Teachers can provide you with specific strategies that match what they’re doing in class, which helps with consistency between home and school.

Help Develop Organizational Skills

Lack of organization is a key cause of many school problems. Here are some simple methods parents can use to help their children become more organized.

• Dedicated Study Space: Create a quiet, dedicated space for homework and studying.
• Consistent Routine: Establish a routine that sets aside specific times for schoolwork.
• Use Learning Aids: Encourage the use of a daytimer, week-at-a-glance, or digital app to record upcoming assignments and deadlines. You can also find the best custom essay writing service to help your student out with their assignments. This can help them ward off stress and burnout.
• Organization Training: Actively teach your child how to organize their materials and prioritize tasks.
• Check-ins: Check in with them regularly to keep them on target and help them stay the course. 

With these measures in place, you’ll help your child learn to cope with present school-related stress and adopt the organizational skills that are crucial for long-term success.

Encourage Positive Peer Interactions

Social problems are often a source of issues at school and can drain a child’s happiness and academic performance. Try to encourage your child to get involved in social activities, and this might mean supporting them to join clubs, sports teams, or other groups of kids with similar interests. You might be able to facilitate play dates or study support sessions to help build or enhance your child’s social network. If bullying is the issue, you will need to address this with your child and the school straightaway to try to ensure your child is comfortable and safe.

Teach Coping and Problem-Solving Skills

Helping your child develop coping and problem-solving skills can empower them to manage school challenges more effectively. Walk through different scenarios with them and help them think through different ways they might handle a situation. Also, teach a child various stress management techniques such as deep breathing, using a fidget spinner, taking a break, or getting up and moving around. These tools are incredibly helpful for kids as they begin to manage their own challenges independently.

Empowering Your Child Through Challenges

Working with your child to help them deal with school problems is not the same as “fixing” the issues for them. Instead, it’s about helping them learn how to best tackle challenges. Perhaps that means having your child call or text you multiple times a day to discuss how things are going or working with your child’s teachers to address issues. It may also mean helping your child develop organizational skills and learn how to have better social interactions. Whatever the issue is, it’s important to remember that, ultimately, the goal isn’t to take away all the potholes in your child’s school experience but rather to help them learn how to deal with those challenges. With patience and support, you can help your child transform school problems into opportunities for learning.