Sometimes, the signs are obvious: underachieving grades and reports from your children’s teachers that they simply aren’t keeping up. But those aren’t the only signs. Here are three more, along with advice on what you can do to help.
Specifics can vary from a headache to a tummy ache to an inability to sleep. But, as the Children’s Health Council notes, physical symptoms can be a sign of something quite different: troubles in the classroom. With younger children, their worries that they’ll disappoint their parents can cause these feelings of malaise. For older children, they may know that their performance now can hurt their ability to do well in high school and beyond.
If your child seems to take an especially long time to complete assignments or frequently comes up with reasons why it can’t be completed, these can be signs that your child is frustrated by an inability to understand the material or isn’t sure how to study or manage time.
Whether your child openly complains about school or simply seems more frustrated or tearful than usual for no discernible reason, these are red flags. Your child might also act out with unacceptable behaviors at home and/or at school or not want to socialize with friends.
No matter what the signs are, if you suspect that your child is struggling at school, there’s a good chance that you’re right. Steps to take to find the underlying cause of the issue can include talking to your child’s teachers to get their perspectives, listening carefully while also advocating for your child.
Also gently talk to your child, letting them know that you’re here to help. Ask questions about their favorite subjects, Firefly Tutors suggests, which can naturally lead to asking about the least favorite ones and ones where your child may struggle.
Make sure that you’re up to date on your child’s physical at the doctor’s, including having a vision and hearing check. Your child may be having a hard time seeing the board or hearing instructions from the teachers.
Watch for signs of your child being bullied. These range from physical signs to lost or damaged belongings, Family Education notes, to fewer friendships, and changes in routines such as staying home from previously-enjoyed activities and clubs.
Taking these steps can help you to get at root causes of struggles at school with each one coming with its own solutions. Sometimes, though, intervention is needed, and the earlier this can happen, the better.
Besides providing enriching educational opportunities in our preschool and kindergarten programs, we conduct developmental assessments that can help parents to know if and when it makes sense to seek out extra help for their children. This provides parents support for their children in targeted ways for fulfilling results.
With locations across western Greater Cleveland, our state of Ohio-leading infant, toddler, preschool and afterschool offerings help motivate children to achieve and be their best, in the classroom and in life. Minimize those struggles for you and your child early in the school year, before struggles become full-on roadblocks to academic achievement. Enrollment is still open, visit a Horizon center near you to see the difference for yourself.