By Stacy DeBroff
As parents, we encourage our kids and support them in their schoolwork and extracurricular activities. However, sometimes no matter how much kids enjoy the activity, they conflict with teachers, coaches, or instructors. Instead of letting your child get frustrated or quitting what he loves, use these strategies to help solve the problem. A problem coach or teacher should not be a reason for a child to become disaffected with school or his or her favorite activity.
• If your child is having a problem, encourage her, if she’s mature enough, to directly approach her teacher, rather than having you jump in as the first recourse to fix things.
• If your child dreads going to practices or games, has been coming home from lessons unhappy, or has talked about dropping out, consider the following strategies:
• Talk to your child and try to determine what the actual problem seems to be from her perspective. Realize that she may be reluctant to open up. She may fear your reaction or what might happen if you decide to talk to the instructor based on what she has said.
• Attend some practices to observe what’s going on first hand.
• If you feel a need to talk things over with your child’s coach, ask for an appointment at a convenient time. Never have a serious conversation right before or after a game when there are too many emotions, distractions, and children needing the coach’s attention.
• Approach your child’s coach or teacher with a focus on problem solving and cooperation rather than confrontation. Before telling the coach what you think, ask the coach for his view of the issue or situation. You may be surprised to find yourselves in agreement.
• If the issue involves a decision the instructor made, start by saying that you respect his decision but want to understand more clearly the rationale behind it. Avoid coming across as accusatory. Give the instructor a chance to correct a misunderstanding.
• If, despite these collaborative efforts, the problem still cannot be resolved, you may need to go to the program’s director or administrator. You also may need to move your child to a different team, school, or league.
» No Comments
There are no comments up to now.
» Post Comment
Only registered users can write a comment.
Please login or register.
