As parents, you very well know that discouragement is a real struggle in life and nobody is exempt from this. No matter how young your child is, they can also undergo discouragement, especially with their studies. As your partner in nurturing academic excellence in Illinois, we advocate for children who have high hopes on their academic experiences. With this, we would like to share these recommendations on how you can uplift your discouraged child.
- Know Their Reasons
Your child can be discouraged by a lot of reasons while they’re in school. They could have been bullied. They could have experienced confusion about their lessons. They may have experienced separation anxiety. Strive to get to the root of the reason why they’re discouraged so that you can find a way to help them resolve the issue. - Nurture Open Communication
For many busy parents, attaining a quality time of communication with your children can be truly a struggle. But nurture a culture of open communication so that your child knows that they can tell you whatever is in their hearts. When they feel discouraged about their studies, they can openly share it with you so that you can work towards overcoming the issue. - Be Sensitive
As a Christian based school, we recognize that every child also needs to be respected of their feelings. When they’re sad, frustrated, or discouraged, they need to be validated that their emotions are real and accepted. When they feel like they’re not ready to talk about what they’re going through, allow them some time to be by themselves but at the same time, remind them that you’ll be ready to listen when they’re ready to also share. - Stay on the Positive
Whether your child talks about their discouragement or not, the words you say in response to their actions can still influence them to either talk about it or shut up altogether. It’s vital that you stay positive about the whole situation even if they have reacted in a way that doesn’t conform to your preferences. By staying positive, you can be able to speak positive words about the situation so that they can also lighten up. - Help Them See the Bigger Picture
When your child goes through a discouraging situation, you can also invite them to see things in the wider perspective. You can cite examples of real people or celebrities who have gone through something similar and overcome victoriously. When your child sees that others have also gone through something they’ve been through, they can feel motivated to keep going.
In our non profit organization in Chicago, Illinois, we have seen how poverty has been a common reason for African children to get discouraged in school. With our programs at My Excellency, we’re building them a bridge to walk over their discouragements so that they can win through poverty. If you would like to partner in this advocacy, your donations, sponsorships, and volunteerism are gladly welcomed.