Every concerned parent wants a good education for their child. This is understandable, considering that it gives a child more options in life and is the best investment any parent can make in their children’s future. However, keeping teens in school can be a matter beyond parents’ control while they are negotiating the difficult transition through middle and high school.

It is common knowledge that adolescence can be a stage when a child’s life is unduly stressful, owing to biological, social, and academic pressures. If your teen is experiencing a tough time because of biological changes and pressures, they may respond by acting out or misbehaving: showing defiance, violating rules, skipping class, exhibiting hostility, being disrespectful, etc. Negative behaviors at school are not to be taken lightly, especially if they can affect your child’s education and development.

Understanding Your Teen’s Behavioral Issues

It is true that a change in your teen’s attitude could simply be a passing phase. Do not, however, underestimate your child’s negative behaviors. They must not be discouraged from attending school. It can deprive them of the opportunity to build the foundation for their future.

When your teenager misbehaves, it is prudent to find out what is contributing to it. Parenting Teens says, “Struggling teens (and even those not struggling) tend to project their own personal smoke-screens for various reasons.” Rather than judge or label them, it is healthier to determine if their bad behavior is simply a smokescreen to conceal their real fears, worries, and insecurities. In other words, it may serve your child well if you take time to check whether there is more going on beneath their tough stance.

What Lies Beneath Their Behavioral Issues

The adolescent years form a very significant foundation for the life of an individual. However, the inevitable transformation during these years can make teens uncomfortable and confused. Most adolescents are vulnerable to peer pressure in their desire to fit in and to be popular. The vulnerability is even higher if your child is saddled with an emotional condition.

During this transition, it is easy for teens to be pulled toward negative and disruptive behaviors to mask their real motives. Since they lack fully developed skills to handle and resolve their issues, they may find relief in disguising their emotions. Unfortunately, they also lack the ability to see the repercussions of their brash decisions and actions, and the chance of further complicating their lives is great. Know that this is distressing for them as well, especially when they are labeled and people avoid them.

What You Can Do

It can be very challenging for you or for any parent to know what happens with your teen at school. All you get are reports or communications based on stories from witnesses, and maybe from your child. When milder misbehavior is not reported, you will have no inkling about the school challenges your adolescent faces. Often, you will only hear about them after your child’s issues have become more complicated.

To help your teen, stepping up and being proactive are important. Don’t wait until their condition has already taken a bad turn. There are things you can do to better guide your teenager. For instance, you can work on strengthening your relationship and staying connected with your child. If this is impossible because your relationship has gone sour or it has gotten too complicated by anxiety, depression, or another emotional condition, work with an experienced therapist. They can directly work with your teen and with you, so you know how to best support your adolescent child.

The Avenue to Professional Assistance

Don’t give up on your teen’s education, whatever the challenges or concerns. Apart from what it can give them in the future, knowledge is important in making rational and healthy decisions so they can better succeed in life. Knowledge can bring your adolescent wisdom as well as discernment, reflection, awareness, understanding, insight, and maturity.

As their desire to embrace independence grows stronger, if your teen’s behavior in school (and at home) makes it challenging for you to keep them in school, don’t wait for things to get worse. Do the best thing for your teen: call and request an appointment with Carolina Counseling Services – Sanford, NC. One of the independently contracted therapists can work with your child and with you to ensure their issues are resolved, so that they can be happy attending school and being a teen again.

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