School has been in full-swing for a while and…ready or not…the report cards will be coming home soon! Do you remember how nervous you were? Did you run home and joyfully hand it to your parents or did you want to feed it to the neighbor's dog? The anxiety caused by a piece of paper can be overwhelming, but it is not the paper that your child is worried about…..it is your reaction to it!

Here are some tips on what you can help ease the anxiety at home:

• Know when the report card is coming home. This may sound like a silly reminder, but the weeks really go by quickly and it is easy to lose track of time. Write a note on your calendar to remind both you and your child when the report cards are coming out.
• Keep an eye on your child's progress at school. Many schools offer parents on-line access to their child's academic progress, attendance and discipline records. Check the site regularly and speak to you child and their teacher if you see they are struggling in any areas.
• Be involved in your child's learning. Take time to discuss what your child is learning at school and look through their backpacks and folders daily. Graded papers that are sent home can provide some insight as to what they may need help with.
• Communicate concerns with your child's teacher. The teacher will appreciate your discussing issues regarding your child before the end of the grading period. This will make parent-teacher conferences go smoothly.
• Celebrate the effort put into the grade they receive. If you know they have put forth their best effort for their grades, focus on their hard work!
• Do not compare your child's grades with other children, including siblings. This may cause strife in relationships at school and at home. Be realistic about your child's abilities and uniqueness.

Make your child's education a team effort to foster a love of learning that will last a lifetime!

For more parenting tips visit the Family Files blog!

This blog originally was originally posted on October 22, 2015