How open dialogue can keep your child in school ?

If your child is at risk of dropping out of school, taking immediate action is a proven way to turn things around—but choosing the right moment is key! Here are a few conditions worth waiting for:

• No one is in a hurry
• Everyone is calm
• No siblings are present
• Etc.

An open-ended question is one that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.

If you have the right attitude, asking clear, open-ended questions will generally elicit honest answers. Examples: “How do you feel about school?”

Try to be attentive, understanding, and calm. Ideally, you should speak in the first person to avoid making your child feel judged or attacked. You could say something like, “I’m worried about you. I want to understand how you’re feeling.”

Have your fears been confirmed? The ball is in your court! By helping your child identify the obstacles to their success and reminding them of everything they enjoy about school, you can help them find reasons to stick with it. Here are a few examples:

• Your child has good relationships with their teachers
• They have lots of friends
• They enjoy extracurricular activities
• They receive high marks in math
• They’ve significantly improved in French
• Etc.

Be careful not to take over the conversation. Your child needs to come up with a few positives, too. The goal is to prevent them from completely rejecting the school system. By focusing on the more interesting aspects of school, you’ll help your child find the strength they need to overcome this difficult period.

Life isn’t always a smooth ride. We all feel discouraged at one time or another. But when the going gets tough, it’s important to persevere. Your child needs to learn how to pick themselves up and keep going. You could say,

• “I understand that you’re going through a difficult time and feel like giving up, but you’re so close to the finish line. Think about your dreams and remember that you need a high school diploma to achieve them.”

Talk about the difficulties you encountered in school and how you overcame them. Your experiences may reassure your child and help them feel less alone. They’ll realize that others, including their own parents, have had to surmount similar obstacles to get where they are today.

In elementary school especially, it’s important to establish a homework routine with your child. Your involvement will make the experience much more enjoyable and send a clear message to your child: school matters!

Of course, things change once your child starts high school: they’re more independent. But you can still remind them that you’re available if they need help and that they can count on your support.

Instead of stressing the downsides of dropping out of school, explain the advantages of having a diploma. Pointing out the positives should help motivate your child. Below are a couple of examples:

• Studies have shown that young people who don’t finish high school have more difficulty finding work. Getting your diploma will give you access to a wider range of jobs.
• Can you imagine being trapped in a terrible job because you didn’t graduate from high school? You’d find your days extremely long and difficult. Spending your entire life doing something you hate is a lot worse than spending a few more years in school. It’s worth the work!

By helping your child set goals, you’ll give them new reasons to stay in school. Here are some things you can do to get the ball rolling:

• Ask your child what their dream job is
• Help them research the position that interests them
• Help them find a post-secondary program that will allow them to reach their goal
• Schedule a meeting with the school guidance counsellor to talk about their future
• Etc.

While your efforts and involvement are key, it’s also important that you communicate regularly with your child’s school. By keeping the staff informed about the situation, they can also watch over your child and make sure they stay on track. Teaming up with the school is a winning strategy for your child’s success.