It’s hard for any parent to stand idly by and watch kids struggle. While you certainly want your kids to learn to handle social and academic problems on their own, and you definitely don’t want to be so overprotective that they cannot become self-sufficient, it’s also your duty to provide them with the knowledge and skills that will allow them to cope with any difficult situations they encounter. This means that while they’re living under your roof, it’s your duty to instill in them the lessons that will turn them into confident and capable young adults so that they’re ready to face the world when they move out. So when you see them struggling in school, whether because of academic difficulties or problems with their peers, you need to help them in any way you can. And here are a few options you might want to explore.
- Listen closely. As a parent, you probably think you know best, and as a result you might be tempted to offer your opinion without really taking the time to listen to the problems your kids are having. You should resist this urge and allow your kids to tell you everything before you start offering advice. This course of action will accomplish two things. For starters, it will show your kids that you respect them and that they can tell you anything without having to worry about being patronized. But it will also give them a chance to sort through their thoughts and feelings without interruption. From there you can ask questions that may help them to come up with a solution on their own.
