Home > I Need Help > My Child is in Trouble At School
“The school just called and I’m on my way to pick up my daughter. Last semester her grades started suffering and I caught her cutting class. Now, they’re telling me that she’s been texting threats to one of her classmates! How am I supposed to deal with this … I can’t babysit her—she’s 16 years old!”
As adults we can see the value of succeeding in school. How do we translate that to our kids?
Things to Keep in Mind:
If you haven’t already, consider talking with the school’s guidance counselor or assistant principal to try to understand what they’re seeing during the school day. Find out if they have any specific recommendations.
If the problem is isolated to a specific class, talk to that teacher to learn more about the issues and whether some academic help or tutoring is merited.
Recognize that possibility that your child may have engaged in a behavior that is completely out of character—even the best kids can make mistakes.
Maintain open communication with the faculty and staff of the school so that you can consistently work as a team in helping your child succeed.
How Lifeline Can Help:
Responsible Thinking Classes– Join a class with other parents who are dealing with similar issues. Together you’ll learn about the thought patterns that may be tripping your family up—and more importantly, how to combat them.
Other Resources:
40 Developmental Assets – Commitment to Learning (including action steps to build this asset):
