Protective Factor: Academic Achievement
The end of 2022 is quickly approaching and with that comes a dreaded occasion for some parents and children. The end of the semester and the dreaded report card. During my time spent as an educator I saw it time and time again. Many parents are shocked to find that their children are not performing as well in school as they think they should be, or perhaps they think the teacher isn’t teaching as well as they should be. Regardless, parents are now worried about what to do to help their children in school. Today, we are going to discuss specifically how academic achievement relates to substance use.
High Academic Achievement is listed as a Protective factor, which is a factor in a child’s life that makes them less likely to use substances. However, LOW academic achievement is also a risk factor so we are actually going to be addressing both a risk and protective factor in this blog.
When students do well in school they are less stressed, better connected with peers and teachers, and have happier parents. So of course, these things make them less likely to feel the need to use substances. Also, students who have high academic achievement probably have strong self-efficacy and believe in a bright future. These are also protective factors that prevent substance use. It’s easy to see why if a child is doing well in school they are less likely to use substances.
Let’s talk about the children who aren’t doing well in school though. We know that low academic achievement is a risk factor among youth for several reasons. Some students may believe that because they are failing a class or struggling it may mean they aren’t smart enough to have a bright future which can be a heavy burden when thinking about life after high school. Low academic achievement may also cause stress between students and their families, especially if parents are upset about the way students are performing, this could weaken the family bonds. We also have to consider that stress itself is a risk factor, and for some students school is stressful and hard.
I think it is pretty easy to see the reasons that academic achievement can have an effect on youth substance use, but I feel like the real question is what can we do about it? Let’s begin by discussing what can you do if your child is doing well in school and has high academic achievement. If you will recall from the family bonds blog, the way we strengthen family bonds is through opportunities, skills, and recognition. If your child is doing well they obviously have the skills so we want to make sure that you are recognizing them for their hard work and efforts. Even if you have high expectations let them know that you are proud of them for meeting those expectations and make sure their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. Also make sure to provide them with opportunities to continue to advance their skills, especially if school is something that comes easy to them. Are they ready to begin some college courses? Could you all read and discuss a book together? Are there other areas of life that interest them such as nature, government, or cooking? Encourage them to keep building skills and finding more opportunities for them to learn, this will strengthen their academic achievement in the future and help them be prepared for life on their own.
Now, for the more difficult situation to deal with. What can you do if your child is struggling in school or has low academic achievement? I think it is important to point out that all children are different and all situations are different so there is no one size fits all answer. I encourage you to start by doing 2 things. First, talk to your child. Ask them what is difficult or what they are struggling with. Is it a specific class, is it paying attention, are they struggling with something in their personal life that is affecting their school work? Next, talk to your child’s teacher. Ask questions. Why do they think your child is struggling in their class? Is it because they aren’t participating, are they sleeping in class? Do they suspect that your child might need additional help outside of class? Also, talk to other parents. Is this a class or subject that a lot of students are struggling in? After you have gathered all the information you can about why your child is struggling then it’s time to make a game plan. I would recommend sitting down with your child and discussing exactly what your expectation is for academic achievement and why you feel that way. Be reasonable. Is it probable or possible for your child to get an A in the class, or would you be okay as long as they earned a C? Is this class a foundational skill that’s going to affect their academic achievement in the future? Make a goal for your child. Then make a plan. One way to help your child is to set some rules and create a study schedule. Maybe they have to come straight home from school and study for 1 hour 3 nights a week before they can play video games. Maybe the schedule is staying at school to study in the library twice a week for 30 minutes after school. Do they need to cut back on their hours at work to accommodate more time for schoolwork? If sports are an issue, would it be best for your child to sit out a season while they focused on academics? Make a schedule that allows you to monitor. If you don’t get home until 5 from work it may not be setting your child up for success to expect them to study until you get home. Maybe it would be better for them to study from 5-6 in the kitchen with you while you cook dinner. There are so many factors that come into play, but make sure you are prioritizing the academic success, sharing expectations, and making a plan.
If your child is struggling with a certain class or subject, ask the teacher if the school offers any tutoring. You can also ask the teacher if they would be willing to do private tutoring, or if there is another teacher at the school who teaches the same class that might be willing to tutor your child. Remember, teachers are highly trained professionals and always the best choice to tutor your child. If the school does not offer tutoring and there is not a teacher available then you may want to reach our to your local library or a professional tutoring organization. These can also be a great resource, but can be pricey.
I also want to address one more problem that I saw frequently as an educator. Some kids just struggle with school. It doesn’t seem to matter what the subject is because they just struggle with all of them. This could be a variety of reasons, but if your child falls into this category here are some tips. Meet with your child’s teachers and make sure they don’t feel there may be some type of learning disability. If there is any question, then REQUEST YOUR CHILD BE TESTED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. It is the law that if a parent requests this, then the school has to follow through with the testing. Don’t let it scare you, just because your child is tested DOES NOT mean they have to go to special education classes. Even if they do qualify for special education you do have the right to refuse it for your child. I do HGIHLY encourage you to have them tested though because the testing process is a process in which your child does lots of different assessments and can often identify why your child is struggling in school. Also, remember that not all successful people love school, and there are many careers that your child could pursue without attending higher education. Would your child thrive in a trade school? Are they good at working with their hands as long as they don’t have to sit down and read a book? Find something that makes your child happy and encourage them to pursue a dream that doesn’t require them to continue school after high school. Remember, belief in a bright future is a protective factor, so help your child see that future and not become overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed in a traditional school setting.