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A frustrated parent hold up three fingers while her child holds her head in her hands.

When to Get Support for Problems at School

Families usually learn about school concerns when their child has one or more of the following happen:

Poor Grades

Grades are usually the first way that families discover a concern with school. When looking at grades, it’s important to think about trends. Is this a one-time issue? Or, is it a signal of an ongoing problem?

Reports of Challenging Behavior in School

Behavior reports from school are another way that families often learn about school concerns. While many families feel guilt or shame after receiving a report from school, these reports can be helpful for starting a conversation with your child.

Homework Struggles

Homework struggles are very common, but ongoing problems can disrupt family life. Children who are struggling with homework may take much longer than peers, be unable to complete homework by themselves or may struggle to keep track of assignments/turn assignments in on time.

Challenging Behavior at Home

Some challenging behaviors at home are easier to link to school concerns than others. Examples include homework refusal, low frustration tolerance for school tasks, and school refusal. Children may also be dysregulated after school or refuse to talk about school entirely.

Attendance Problems

Children who are struggling in school may have physical problems that impact attendance. Examples include not getting enough sleep/oversleeping and frequent stomach aches or headaches.

Personality Changes

When school concerns are not addressed, children may experience personality changes. Changes may include less interest in things they used to enjoy, moodiness, negative self-talk or worries/fears that prevent your child from enjoying regular activities.

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