Parenting Tip: Encouraging Kids to Do Their School Work

Dear parents,

Are you struggling to get your child to improve his or her grades, to turn in work or do work at all? If so, you are not alone! I, myself, struggled with my oldest as she loved toodling and doing everything else aside from her school work. I often get calls from parents who have come to the end of their rope - they have tried all they know and their kids are still struggling. As a teacher and parent, here are suggestions that are proven to work - they will require scrifice.

Let's take a look at some options that will help you.

1. Pray, pray, pray...for you, your child, your child's teachers and administrators, and friends.

2. Ensure you are building trust with your child - trust will lead your child to open up and let you know what is going on in their life. Build trust by having conversations and supporting your child.

3. Review underlying issues: is your child having emotional, social or academic difficulty? Does your child have undiagnosed conditions?

4. Schedule a meeting with all of your child's teachers to gain a deeper understanding. Ask the teachers what they are seeing and what they suggest. Ask the teachers what support is available at the school that can help your child.

5. Request a meeting with the school counselor - the school counselor may have additional ideas to support your child.

6. It doesn't matter how old your child is, your child is still just a child and needs you - even in middle and high school. Your child's frontal lobe - part of the brain - isn't fully developed until early 20's and for males it's even later - this is the part of the brain that allows you to think logically.

7. Avoid yelling, shaming, critizing and do this instead:

8. Sacrifice your time for your child.

   1. Your child may need you to monitor upcoming homework - something I would suggest saying is - let's work on your grades together - let's keep an eye on what test and assignments are coming up.

   2. Sit with your child while your child does the homework.

   3. Watch your child work and work with your child - be patient and kind - if you critize or yell, it will have the opposite affect. Sitting with your child will allow you to see if your child has an academic or more of an emotional/behavior need.

   4. If you find your child is struggling with content you don't understand, either teach yourself so you can teach your child, or find your child help such as tutoring. You can do this by contacting the teacher to see if he/she can recommend a tutor or to see if there is help in this area at the school.

   5. Monitor all upcoming tests either by going online and checking dates, or emailing the teacher to alert you when upcoming test are. You can also buy a planner, and have each teacher sign off each day after your child records homework and upcoming tests.

   6. If your child is overwhelmed, keep encouraging him/her. At times, I have offered my children turn taking for reading if it was dense reading material. I recommend you do the same.

   7. Sit and study with your child daily until you see the grades improve. I know it's a huge sacrifice because I have done it myself, but I guarantee you it will help - you have to be actively engaged with your child during this time.

   8. For tests, help your child make note cards and then quiz your child.

   9. Ensure your child does not have access to electronics before completing all coursework/homework that you have looked over and checked off.

   *Celebrate the small wins! Any improvement should be celebrated.

© 2024 MARION PEREZ. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.