Does your child or teen have trouble in school? Is it due to grades, relationships, or other reasons that you can’t pinpoint just yet?
Your child or teen struggling in school might be a sign for a larger problem brewing underneath. It’s normal for your child to experience a couple of off days here and there, but if a recurring behavioural pattern begins to present itself in your child or teen, you should try to get to the root of the problem as early as possible.
A great way to stay on top of your child’s needs is through letting them visit a licensed psychologist. You can seek professional help such as a registered adolescent psychologist online, or you can book a call with your local healthcare provider to start.
Here are some reasons why your child may not be doing his or her best in school.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Does your child have trouble accomplishing his homework? Do his or her teachers complain about how your kid never listens to them?
If so, get your child checked up for ADHD. While most children have shorter attention spans compared to adults, children with ADHD have an even harder time paying attention and finishing their required tasks than other children.
Three types of ADHD exist: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Inattentive symptoms largely include getting easily distracted, trouble organising, resistance to sustained mental effort, and losing items constantly. Hyperactive or impulsive symptoms include frequent fidgeting, running when inappropriate, impatient, and talking excessively.
It’s important to note that ADHD can also be misdiagnosed with other forms of mental issues that could arise from living in a difficult environment, like post traumatic stress disorder.
Bullying
Kids victimised by bullying often lead them facing significant consequences like feelings of isolation and humiliation.
This can be a confusing and mentally taxing situation for them to deal with – and each child’s reaction may vary. Even if they don’t explicitly tell you they’re experiencing forms of bullying, statistics show that 64% of kids experiencing bullying are suffering in silence.
Kids may play off bullying as kids simply messing with them, or drama in school, to prevent feelings of shame that comes with bullying. If your kid tells you they’ve been bullied, show that you’re proud of them for being brave. Work with your kid to overcome bullying while keeping your emotions in check.
Autism Related Disorders
Did you know autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 out of 54 children?
Doctors recommend having your child checked up for signs of autism, or any clinical condition as early as 18 to 24 months old. Early intervention can help prevent more mental illnesses from arising in the future. In addition to that, it also gives you an understanding of how to handle your child through their phases of development.
Autism is a developmental condition that can appear in children differently. It affects how they interact and communicate with their peers, their behaviours, and their learning abilities.
Common signs of autism in young children include the following:
- avoiding eye contact
- not responding to their name
- silent demeanor
- repeating the same phrases
- getting upset if they taste, smell, hear something foul
- repetitive movements
If you suspect your child to have autism, get them checked by a trained psychologist as soon as possible and give them the help they need.
Depression
Depression can greatly affect your child’s school performance. It normally presents itself with your child through a pervasive downcast mood throughout the day, disinterest in hobbies, friends, and family, low self esteem, and feelings of despair about the future. This can manifest in school and in their daily life too.
As parents, dealing with your child’s depression can be a finicky ordeal, but it’s possible. To prevent your child from spiraling into depression, encourage them to do physical and fun activities, praise them for good behaviour, and most importantly, gently nudge them towards visiting a licensed therapist to gain professional advice and a medical prescription to fight off their depression.
Separation Anxiety
Does your child get tearful, loud, and anxious when you drop them off at the school entrance?
Some children get hysterical when they lose sight of their parents, and these feelings can persist from toddlerhood to elementary. While this form of anxiety manifests from the strong bond you share with your children, this can also hamper the child’s ability to thrive in school.
Infants develop object permanence at 4 to 5 months, and they can feel separation anxiety during that time. Toddlers will tend to have a more loud outburst when separated, especially when hungry, sick, or tired. Preschoolers feel the same sense of anxiety, but they can plead and call for their parents to stay more forcefully.
There are ways to help your child grow out from separation anxiety. Creating good-by rituals, giving them full attention when they leave, being consistent, and generally spending time apart would naturally heal your child and calm their separation uneasiness.