| So many parents complain that their children | | | | to school is their job, getting good grades |
| don't listen to them. They can talk until | | | | is important for their future and that the |
| they are "blue in the face" and yet the child | | | | teacher deserves respect. These same children |
| still does the same behavior that the parent | | | | will also be more willing to complete their |
| is trying to change. | | | | homework and they understand that there will |
| | | | be consequences for misbehaving. |
| Children actually listen and hear more than | | | | |
| we give them credit for. How many times has | | | | If parents have a negative attitude about the |
| your child asked specific questions about a | | | | school and/or teacher, very often their |
| phone conversation you just finished? | | | | children will show the opposite behavior: |
| Although they look like they are plugged into | | | | misbehaving in class, disrespecting the |
| their game and distracted, very often they | | | | teacher or other classmates, or not turning |
| are listening to the adult conversations | | | | in assignments or projects. Sometimes these |
| around them. | | | | children can be punished or reprimanded for |
| | | | bad behavior and they won't care. |
| If this is true, then parents need to be more | | | | |
| careful about the language and attitudes they | | | | Sometimes a parent's one-sided conversation |
| convey to their children when they think the | | | | can be misunderstood by the child. If you |
| kids are not listening. Young children | | | | tell a friend on the telephone that little |
| especially are very impressionable and eager | | | | Suzy is failing math and that's all she |
| to believe what parents tell them or to mimic | | | | hears, she may not understand how to work |
| how their own parents act. | | | | harder to raise her grade. All she hears is |
| | | | that she's failing, which can often lower her |
| One of the common subjects that parents have | | | | self-esteem and diminish her excitement about |
| definite opinions about is school. Some | | | | going to school. |
| parents like their child's teacher, others | | | | |
| will despise the teacher. Some parents agree | | | | Obviously, these are some generalizations and |
| with the school's philosophy and rules while | | | | not every parent or child will fall into |
| other parents will rebel. No matter what | | | | these two categories. There could also be |
| category you fall into, chances are your | | | | other reasons for why a child's grades start |
| child is watching you and adapting YOUR | | | | to fall. But looking at your own beliefs and |
| opinions and actions about school as their | | | | comments about the school is a good place to |
| own. | | | | start and having a conversation with your |
| | | | child about the importance of doing well in |
| When parents have a positive attitude about | | | | school can benefit the whole family. |
| school, their children understand that going | | | | |