Talk to a Child About a Bad Grade

Your son or daughter may have come home from school with their report cards, and you see a bad mark.

This article will teach you how to establish trust with your child so they won't fear you for bad marks, while still learning how to get a good mark.

Steps

 * 1)  Explain the problem to the child how they would understand it. Tell them that without good marks, many people won't be interested in hiring them for a job when they grow up.
 * 2) Avoid negativity. It's fine to be upset with your child, but calling him a "failure" or commenting on his "stupidity" will only cause a decrease in self esteem. Degrading remarks can hurt more than you know. Let the child know that they've gotten a bad grade, but that doesn't mean they're bad kids! It just means they have to work a little harder.
 * 3) Issue a punishment, if you feel necessary. Make sure it is not too extreme however. Taking away phone, TV, or computer privileges away is always an option.
 * 4) Reward them when they get good marks. This can encourage the same sort of grades in the future. Verbal praise can sometimes mean more than a purchased reward- remember to consider that! A milkshake from a favorite diner and a "Wow! I'm so proud of you!" will get the job done right.
 * 5) Always remember: every child is different. If your child is utterly trying his best, and yet can only get out a C average, accept this. Some children do not excel in certain areas.

Tips

 * If the poor grades are becoming frequent, look into extra help sessions, tutoring, and other possibilities for assistance. Talk to the teacher, and get some advice from them. If these don't seem to be working either, something may be troubling your child outside of academic aspects. Approach the child and discuss this with them, if possible.
 * After your child brings home the test, be sure to review what he got wrong. That way, he's less likely to make those same mistakes again. Identify what he doesn't seem to be getting, and encourage him to practice these aspects more frequently.
 * Offer study help, if your child is falling behind, or is just getting confused. Even if they say no, they'll probably appreciate and respect your efforts.

Warnings

 * Don't yell. Yelling never accomplishes anything. Children gain no insight from winding, "scream" lectures. Most likely, the child will tune you out, or become resentful of you.

Related

 * How to Get a Child to Talk About School