Do You Have a Difficult Child as a Student?

Is there a difficult child in your class?  Do you feel like nothing works with him? Does he just not listen to you? Does he not read, write or follow any of your instructions? Does he lack motivation? Do you feel like yelling at him? Do you actually yell at him? Have you tried everything possible but feel like it’s just not working?

Sounds familiar?

Finally, you decide that it is high time you let his parents know. You call the parents for a meeting and vent out all your frustrations to them. You truly hope that they will reprimand the child or take responsibility for him.

But….. Bang! There comes a response that feels like a slap on your face. The parents refuse to accept that there is anything wrong with their child. Instead, they point a finger at you- directly or indirectly. You are shocked and begin justifying your actions. You and the parents are now trapped in a loop of blame that is difficult to escape!

Sounds familiar again?

Well, what do you do in such a hopeless situation?

Avoid getting trapped. It’s as simple as that!

Assess your priorities.

Do you wish to make a difference in the child’s life? Do you respect the child? Do you wish to guide the child towards excellence?

In case you answered “yes” to all the questions, all you need to do is just relax! Relax in the true sense of the word. Heavens will not come down if the child does not progress in the coming days or months. Progress is not something that happens by magic. Give it time. Focus on the child’s strengths (Even the most so called “difficult” children have something good in them). See if you can contribute by working around his strengths. Maybe all he needs is a slightly different approach. Maybe all he needs is a little motivation, a little positive reinforcement or a little love. Try everything possible with a positive attitude and develop confidence in the child. When your confidence in him shines through, you will automatically motivate him to progress.

Often, parents are not open to receiving negative feedback about their “difficult” child and end up being defensive. When this happens, you lose a precious opportunity to make a difference in the child’s life. Remember, parents are not your enemies! Treat them as your allies. Team up with them and work together for the child. When parents realise that you accept their child and genuinely wish to work towards his development, they will be much more open to your suggestions and hold you in high regard as well. They will be more than willing to partner with you. Imagine what would happen if parents as well as teachers worked as a joint positive force in every child’s life.

Be the light that inspires change…Today..