Working Through Some Academic Setbacks with your Child

So, it’s September 2021. Some of our children are back to school finally after being virtual for 2020, and getting back into the swing of things has been in and of itself a little difficult.

While I’m sure some parents are so happy and grateful that schools are reopening, this without a doubt still comes with some struggles as well.

One of the major issues in the wake of COVID and virtual learning is children perhaps feeling as though they are a little lost, being academically behind, and/or scoring lower grades than they are used to.

This is challenging for everyone: teachers, parents, and especially the child. Not everyone thrived over virtual learning, and now they are returning to “business as usual” feeling as though they entirely skipped a year. It’s as if you popped your child in the grade above their age group and expect them to understand the work.

So, we know what the problem is… but what can we do about it?

Here are some tips on working through your kids’ academic setbacks in order to support their learning without making this situation stressful for the whole family.

• Make learning fun and not just a “school thing.” 

  • Encourage learning outside of the school setting.

  • Kids genuinely love to learn… they just don’t always love to learn when they think it’s for school. 

  • Learning does not need to be formal. Take them to the zoo, bake with them (this is math and reading!), or read an interactive book. Do a scavenger hunt. Get creative!

• Communicate with the school: 

  • If you feel your child needs the extra support in school, be open with them. 

  • Get ahead of schedule and say something early on in the school year, so that they have time to get the proper supports in place before the work picks up. 

  • If you have a child with disabilities, this only makes this tip all the more important.

• Teach your child to be their own advocate.

  • This is important in school but also just in life. This is a lesson they will apply later in life as well if they are encouraged to and realize it yields successful results. 

  • Teach your child to never be ashamed to speak up if they are struggling.

  • This is empowering to the child, and they need to understand that they will not get in trouble for expressing that they feel they need more help.

  • Even young children can do this; just tell them if they ever feel stuck in school to tell their teacher or you that they think they need more help, want a study buddy, or would like a tutor.  

If you need more information about how to properly support your child through their learning struggles during their return to school, do not be afraid to reach out and take parent coaching sessions with Amel Counseling.

If you feel as though your child is having a difficult time re-adjusting to their academic expectations in school, and it is affecting their mental health and behavior, find out more information and schedule a consultation for child therapy sessions here on this site.