No matter how great your child is, he or she will likely have a behavioral issue in school at some time or another. Acting out may be a sign of personal distress, family issues or simply not being disciplined at home. If you learn of your children having behavior problems at school, read on to learn what to do to help the situation.
Behavioral issues to look for
In order to correct behavior problems at school, it's important to spot and address them at home. Here are some common actions that may require attention at school and at home:
- Rough play can lead to injuries and hurt feelings between siblings, friends and classmates.
- Interrupting people starts at home with kids disrupting parents and other adults. This can then transfer to interrupting the teacher or other kids in class.
- Not listening is a way for kids to get attention while not following the rules. They may physically cover their ears and make silly noises or just block out whatever is going on.
- Having a bad attitude is also an at-home behavior that may transfer to the classroom. Kids with negative 'tudes may talk back to educators or even make fun of other students.
- Sharing issues may start between siblings as these are the people your kids are around the most. But, without consequences and discussion, children may become bullies at school by not sharing toys, snacks or overall being too selfish.
- Refusing to cooperate may show up in the form of not wanting to go to lunch, avoiding putting crayons away or deciding not to participate in classroom activities. This is common among elementary school kids as they test boundaries.
Don't let these bad habits thrive at home or they may become problems in class, too. Good behavior and proper values start within the family.
Kids who don't follow the rules at home will likely do the same at school.
Addressing bad behavior
The first place to handle bad behavior is at home. Have a set of rules your kids follow. This way when they misbehave you can point to the rules and note that they knew not to misbehave. Along with these guidelines, provide consequences based on the severity of infraction. Here are a few examples of rules and consequences:
- Put your shoes away - no dessert.
- Eat one afterschool snack - no TV.
- Do your homework - no friends over for the week.
Talk with your kids about why each rule is important. Doing your homework will lead to academic success, for example, so disobeying that rule will lead to not being able to have friends over. Kids who learn the importance of rules at home will be likely to follow them in the classroom.
You can also set disciplinary actions at home for misbehavior in school. Kids who get in trouble in class will likely face punishment of some sort in school, but reinforcing those regulations at home will emphasize their importance.