More often than not, teenagers don’t want to talk to their parents about school, it’s always just ‘fine’ or ‘ok’, and their teachers might not give a lot away either. So, as a parent, you’re left in the dark about how your child is truly getting on at school, but there are some signs you can look out that could indicate how they’re truly doing. Below are five red flags to note and what you can do to help if your teen is struggling with school.
Teenage years are difficult enough as it is, with the mind and body going through so many changes. However, if you’re noticing a significant difference in their mood since the start of the school year, it could be a sign that they’re struggling. Gaps may have appeared in their learning, or they’re having a hard time keeping on top of their homework.
In any case, if they’re getting frustrated and lashing out more than usual, there’s a chance their confidence has been knocked. A professional online tutor with extensive teaching experience will be able to communicate with your child in a way that helps them feel calmer about school and help them close any learning gaps.
Taking that step up to GCSE level isn’t easy and it’s normal for students to spend a bit more time on their work as a result. However, if they’re stuck working on the same subject for hours and hours, then they might need a bit of extra help from online tutoring. Check in with them subtly by offering some snacks and see what their body language is like. If they’re hunched over their work and look quite deflated, they could be having a difficult time.
If they’re not happy at school and finding it hard, it can have a knock-on effect on your teen’s overall health and wellbeing. Negative thoughts can keep them up late with hardly any restful sleep. Helping them overcome their worries is essential as a good night’s sleep is essential to a child’s health.
As a parent, you’ll be able to recognise the signs if they’re not getting enough sleep. For example, if they look tired, they are falling asleep in class or at unusual times of the day, or they are more irritable than usual. In addition, at times of stress, appetite can be negatively impacted too. They might be skipping meals, leaving lots of food on their plate, or eating too much junk food. Under eating and overeating can both be red flags when it comes to health and wellbeing.
Hobbies and interests are essential to your teen’s wellbeing, it helps them create a healthy work/life balance. Therefore, if they’re pulling away from things, they enjoy like football practice or even just watching their favourite films and TV shows, it might be a sign that things aren’t going well at school.
When they’re not spending as much time with their friends and keeping to themselves more than usual, it may be that they’re going through something or have a lot of worries on their mind. There are related behaviours you can look out for relating to this. Some examples include lying in bed staring up at the ceiling or being stuck to their screens for hours at a time. It’s a good idea to check in and find out what’s going on.
It totally normal for you to worry when your teen is having a tough time at school, but there are things you can do to help them get back on track with their learning.
Have regular chats with them
Spending consistent time together and creating a safe space will make it easier for your child to open up about what’s bothering them. For a lot of problems there’s no quick fix but by asking your teen directly what you can do to help them, you might be surprised by how much they share with you. With a good amount of talking and encouragement, you can help them work out how to get on track.
Access academic support
Sometimes they might just need a bit of extra help with their learning. If teachers at school have mentioned about how your child is getting on in class, or you have seen them struggling with homework, it may be best to get them support earlier on. There are many professional GCSE tutors that can help your child catch up with their work and prepare for their exams without feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
If it’s a social problem
Teenagers want to fit in, and they find it really hard when they don’t. If they’re finding it difficult to make friends, see if they want to join a club that involves their hobbies or interests. It’s easier to meet new people who share common ground that way. If bullying is the problem, you should get in touch with the school.
If the problems your child is having at school are related to their work and struggling with certain subjects, then private tutoring could definitely be right for them. Tailored tutors with years of experience in teaching are on hand to offer one-to-one support for your child through this challenging point in their life and improve their understanding of topics they find hard to give them the best chance of being successful in their GCSE exams.
There are several ways that private tutoring can benefit your child from improving their academics to boosting their mental health by helping them feel more confident in their work and themselves. You can read more about how private tutoring can help your child here (link to how private tutoring helps students blog).
Our online subject specialist GCSE tutors can offer academic support from anywhere, so there’s no need to worry about finding a qualified professional teacher in your local area. Find the perfect tutor for your child and help them on the path to success in any and all GCSE subjects with My GCSE Tutor. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Disclaimer: My GCSE Tutor is a tuition company supporting students in preparation for their GCSE exams and as such is not authorised by, affiliated with, or otherwise connected with Qualifications Wales, The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (“Ofqual”) or the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (“CCEA”).