The last day of school before the summer vacations – for most students a reason to look forward to many carefree weeks. But on the day before the vacations, there are still report cards – and they don’t make for smiling faces everywhere. After all, no student wants to bring bad grades home with them. If the report doesn’t turn out as expected, it doesn’t just cause stress for the offspring. Parents, too, are often disappointed with their children’s performance at school. Many parents have already found themselves in this situation. But what is the best course of action?
Scolding, bans and accusations can discourage and demotivate the child. It is therefore advisable to remain calm. It helps to talk about it first. For this purpose, the child should be offered a safe framework for discussion in which the child feels comfortable. After all, the child is probably also sad and frustrated. A reason for bad grades can also be bullying or grief. This is a good time to ask the child about this. Comfort and encouragement are better advisors at this moment.
It is important to find out where the problem lies and where mistakes occur. The child should be involved in this process, because it is the child who should understand where the mistakes are in order to be able to work on them. Usually the child knows best where mistakes occur.
Motivation really gets the child’s process rolling. Parents and children should set small, foreseeable and achievable goals together. Success acts as a real motivation booster. To support motivation, it is important to praise the child. Praise increases self-confidence and is especially important during the learning process. So, if perhaps the problem is in cooperation, boosting self-confidence could lead to the child coming forward more.
Tutoring can definitely be considered. However, it is important here to compare tutoring offers and match them in terms of the child’s individual needs.
Sometimes the impression can arise that grades have been given unfairly. If you suspect this, you should talk to the teacher. The teacher is obliged to provide precise information about the composition of the grades. If the suspicion persists, it is helpful to contact other teaching staff.
Sometimes children and adolescents find it difficult to talk about this with their closest caregivers for fear of disappointing them. This is where an independent person can be helpful. Once the matter has been cleared up, the blockage is usually not so great.