How to Discipline a Teen for Bad Grades

Comprehension and Understanding

• There are many reasons your teen might have poor grades. The first thing to do is to find out if he understands the subject. If this is the issue, extra help may be necessary. Consider a tutor or talk to the teacher about some one-on-one time during study hall. Often parents don't know the subject their children are struggling with enough to help, but if you do, this is a great time to bond with your child over his homework. Be patient as you share your experience with him, and avoid doing it for him. Remember that he will never learn it if he does not do the work. Look for ways to use the things he loves to teach the subjects he is struggling with.

Sudden Change

• If your teen normally gets good grades and he begins to slide across all subject areas, consider what might be causing this change. Perhaps there has been an event in his social life that is distracting him in school. Maybe he is not sleeping well at night. If he has a part-time job, it might be taking too much time away from his studies. It is also important to look for signs of depression. Kids Health says that as many as 1 in 8 teens suffer from some form of depression. Suddenly slipping grades is one of those signs, as well as sad or angry moods lasting longer than a few weeks and intense feelings of worthlessness or guilt. If your child shows other symptoms of depression in any form, talk to a medical professional to find him help.

Ongoing Struggle

• Many children have ongoing struggles with certain subjects. As they move from one grade to another, those subjects become more difficult to learn, which could be another reason your child has bad grades. Finding the reason for this ongoing struggle may be the only way to help him. Many parents and teens are embarrassed by learning difficulties, but the National Center for Learning Disabilities says that the earlier you pinpoint the issue and get help, the more quickly your child will become successful in school.

Lack of Goals and Expectations

• Some teens suffer through bad grades because they lack expectations and goals for the future. A child who loves sports may not understand that failing to apply himself academically can prevent him from playing with his team. Very few teens understand how the grade they receive in American Literature can make or break their chances to get into the college of their choice. Sometimes you can alleviate this with a heartfelt conversation. Be calm and understanding of the struggles facing the teen. WebMD recommends that parents develop a contract with teens for things like keeping grades steady. If you have a contract, your expectations should be clear and also the consequences of failing to meet those expectations. However, your teen might need to learn the hard way that bad grades have consequences. Making him miss a game because his grades did not improve or suspending his car privileges because he did not meet the agreed-to expectations might be the only way to make him fully understand what it means to work hard to improve at something.

Positive Reinforcement

• Most parents could create a list a few pages thick of the behaviors and attitudes that drive them nuts about their children. However, it is important for parents to remember amidst all those frustrating actions that there are also many positive ones. When your teen is struggling with grades, find those positive attributes and commend him for them. It is often difficult to slow down long enough to consider them and even more challenging to find the right moment to let your child know that you see what he is doing. However, this seemingly small act can have a huge impact on your teen's motivation in school.