Is your child having behavioural problems at school?

If you are having difficulty with your child’s behaviour at school, you can sometimes be at a loss of what to do about it.  After all what can you do from a distance if you are not in the class?  It is vital that the teacher knows how to use effective strategies of managing behaviour in the class, but you do have the power to make a difference if you work with the teacher.  As the teacher can not single out one child to give special attention or rewards to this is where you come in.  While you can’t make a contribution in the class you can when they are at home.

 If for instance the teacher says to you,” Your little Charlie won’t listen to a word I say and is always pushing the other children,” Here is a general overview aimed at younger children but you can adapt it to make it sound like you not patronising older children.

 1 Make an appointment to see your child’s teacher in private without your child at a mutually convenient time.

2. When you see the teacher, ask them what they see the problem as being.  Let’s say it’s that Charlie won’t listen and pushes the other children.

3. Ask the teacher to work on one problem at a time with you; you might like to ask her which one and we can use listening to the teacher because this can affect all ages.  It would also be a good idea to ask her if she can see any other reasons for the behaviour especially if it is out of character, or they may be having difficulties with their work.

4. Tell the teacher that you will give Charlie some rules about listening and that you will show him how to do this when he is at home, by taking turns when others are talking and waiting for them to finish and expected him to listen to you at home

5. Ask the teacher to tell you each day how he has got on, particularly any improvements no matter how slight.  Remember to ask how it will be convenient to do this.  She might use a home school diary or say that you can see her at the end of class on certain days or daily or even ring in.

6. Ask the teacher if there is anything else that they would like you to do?  They may have some other suggestions and they may discuss how they use discipline.

7. After the meeting talk to your child and explain some rules about listening in class.  Make this positive and point out something that they are doing well, such as the teacher says that you are really good at drawing.  You could say that the teacher would like you to sit and listen some more and how great it would be to show the teacher just how good you are at sitting and listening.  

8. Use some form of praise and rewards system to encourage this good behaviour, i.e. sticker charts.  When you get a positive response from the teacher that your child has listened more, you can give lots of verbal praise and perhaps a reward such as a trip to the park on the way home or a sticker to show how pleased you are.

9.  As you see improvements and the teacher says that the problem is solved or very much better, you can talk again with the teacher about any other issues.

 If you have found this information helpful and you would like more information on age appropriate discipline and other useful tips.  Please go to http://www.childbehaviourdirect.com/1511.html