Advice on How to Help Your Child Start Studying Again
As a parent, you may face the fear that your child will decide to drop out of school. However, the most important thing is not to panic, to listen to them and, if they’ve already done so, to know there’s a way to help your child to start studying again.
Help your child start studying again, before they drop out
Communication
Good communication is the basis of any relationship, and even more so in the relationship between parents and children. Listen to your children’s motives and ask them questions that allow them to question whether dropping out of school is what they really want; let them reason for themselves.
Empathy
Don’t judge them; try to put yourself in their shoes at all times to try to understand how they feel. You won’t always share their point of view, but it’s about understanding. It’s empathy.
Take them seriously
At the slightest indication that your child is lacking in motivation, act quickly. Talk to their teacher so they can keep an eye on them at school and you at home.
On the other hand, you can also explain similar situations of friends or family who have left school and what their experience was in this regard. Seeing real cases always makes them think and offers them an alternative point of view to theirs and yours.
Alternatives
They may really want to drop out of school and be very clear about it, but you can offer alternatives to continue their development. From training courses and work experience, to experience abroad… always leave the door open for them to resume their studies at any time.
It’s possible to start studying again
If your child has dropped out of school and you’d like them to start studying again, then there are ways to encourage them to do it.
Encourage them
Without the right motivation there’s nothing you can do, and so there’s the challenge. If you try and force the issue, then you’ll drive them further away. It’s all about creating the desire in them, and letting them know that the possibility is there. It’s also important to let them know that you trust them.
Let’s talk about objectives
Your child may be thinking about starting to study again, but they may be overwhelmed by the number of options at their disposal. Reassure them by suggesting you have a talk in which you can set certain goals and take things step by step.
The first week may be spent just researching their options, what they want to do and the method that best suits their needs. This way, by taking things slowly, they’ll feel less anxious, and will feel your support at all times.
Clearing the air
Just as it’s important that they know their possibilities, it’s also important that you set limits. You must make it clear to them what the real options are, the means they have at their disposal, and bring them closer to how this fits in with the family. In this way they won’t fantasize about distant goals that have little to do with what they really want – ones that are just one more way of not achieving anything.
We can sometimes set complicated, almost impossible, goals, and sabotage our or our children’s capabilities. In this sense, if we’re talking about helping your children to start studying again, then you should be as sensible and realistic as possible.
You should be cautious and aspire to things they won’t be able to achieve. It’s not that they can’t achieve what they set out to do, but you need to restore their confidence by achieving small goals at a time.
A little outside help is always good
Another option is to approach counselors, social services, training centers, psychologists, and professionals to help you. They always listen better to a third party and even more so if they speak to you objectively. They’ll give you the tools, the information and the pros and cons to carry out your objectives.
It’s never too late to start studying again; even as adults we can do it. What’s important in the case of adolescents is that they feel supported, understood and valued. In this way, you’ll be able to prevent negative repercussions in their lives.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Fernández-Berrocal, P., & Extremera, N. (2001). La inteligencia emocional como una habilidad esencial en la escuela. OEI -Revista Iberoamericana de Educación.
- Fernández, M., Mena, L., & Riviere, J. (2011). Fracaso y abandono escolar en España. Obra Social Fundación “la Caixa.”
- Unicef. (2011). La Adolescencia. Una época de oportunidades. Madrid, Editorial: Estado Mundial de la Infancia.