Another school year is upon us. And with it, comes the added stress of coping with school-related troubles. Problems like bullying, poor grades, and social drama take center stage after a summer of relative calm. It is bad enough when your child is having difficulties but parents can’t help but to feel their children’s pain. Their worries become our reasons for distress. Some school problems may seem inevitable but wouldn’t it be great if we could prevent them from happening in the first place? Here are some suggestions:

Talk to Your Kids About School

All kids dread the question, “How was school today?” But, you may not know what is going on if you don’t ask. Your child may be a chatterbox and give you tons of information but that is not the case for most parents. You don’t want to be overbearing but it doesn’t hurt to try and talk to them and find out how things are going. Making it feel normal to talk about school can only be a good thing.

What Can I Do To Help?

It is a simple question, but very effective. Hopefully, if you have established a good rapport with your child, they will let you know if they need any assistance. You may be your child’s main disciplinarian but you are also their greatest cheerleader. Make sure they know you are on their side. It can’t hurt to ask.

Be Involved

There are several opportunities to be involved in your child’s school life. For example, join the PTA or volunteer to help with activities. When you are involved with school events, you get a feel for what is going on and get the inside scoop. The more you know, the more you can help your child. Besides, kids like to know you are taking an interest in their lives.

Have Relationships With Your Children’s Friends And Their Parents

Your children’s friends and their parents frequently hear and see things about your child that you do not. Not only can they can provide you with valuable information but they may offer a different viewpoint. I am not saying you should call them up and interrogate them but you can pick up helpful knowledge simply by talking to them at social or school events.

Use School Apps

Most schools have embraced technology. They post almost everything you need to know about your child’s education through an app ( e.g., Canvas, Parentvue) or online. You can look up their class schedule, their homework assignments, grades, attendance, etc. Communication from teachers and administrators is also provided regularly and they are easily contacted through e-mail. It is easy to know almost everything about your child’s academic progress if you take the time to look.

Employ Structure

School is a very structured place but life outside of school is usually not. Children do well with structure and it is a good idea to help them organize their time when they aren’t in school. For example, institute a regular after-school routine where time is partitioned for homework, extracurriculars, meals, screens, and socializing. Although you won’t be able to maintain a routine every day, creating a basic framework will help them with expectations.

Organize For Five Minutes A Day

Speaking of organization, have your child take a few minutes each day to organize their schoolwork. That means put their papers in the right places and make sure their bookbag doesn’t resemble a crow’s nest. It will save them from hours of frustration (and poor academic performance) in the future. A little organization goes a long way.

Encourage Them To Ask Teachers For Help

Students are often intimidated by their teachers so they don’t ask for help when they need it. However, as adults, we know that teachers love to lend a hand and frequently offer times before, during, and after school just for that purpose. It is also a good way for kids to get to know their teachers, which might help them get on their good side. Therefore, if your child needs additional support, gently push them to go to their teacher and ask for it. If that doesn’t work, you can contact the teacher directly. Teachers can be your greatest ally when problems creep up in school. Just make sure to be respectful. Teachers have a hard enough job as it is.

Utilize School Counselors

Counselors are an underutilized school resource. Every student is assigned a counselor but many never make use of their services. Not only do counselors assist in academic planning but they can also help students problem-solve. What’s more, many counselors conduct therapeutic groups for students struggling with certain aspects of school and can be a strong advocate for student well-being. Counselors want to help students succeed. Allow them to do their job.

Emphasize Healthy Behaviors

As the parent, you set the tone for what happens at home. You want to create an environment that will help your child be the best they can be. This may include making healthy meals and trying to ensure your child gets enough sleep. Also, try not to overschedule your kid. They need time to do their work and relax, not stress out because there aren’t enough hours in a day.

Reward

Whether an adult or child, we want to be acknowledged for a job well done. Rewarding your child is one of the primary ways parents promote positive behavior. This doesn’t mean you give them money or gifts if they do well in school. In fact, praising your child is probably more valuable to them. When giving rewards, it is important to reward their effort, not the outcome. This is because you want to reinforce their behavior and the outcome is not always related to effort. On the flip side, punishing your child may be necessary at times but you want to try and keep the home environment as positive as possible. Children do their best when they operate from a position of love and support.

You aren’t going to prevent all school problems from occurring. It is impossible. But if you take some preventative actions, you can stave off most difficulties before they cause significant distress. By staying involved and helping them access their resources, you can help your children thrive at school rather than simply survive. Isn’t that what parenting is all about?