February, 2008
What Can You
Do if Your Child is Skipping School?
Learn to
Handle Your Preteen’s Explosions of Anger
Create a Plan to
Keep Your Child Drug Free
A Word From the Director
What Can You Do
if Your Child is Skipping School?
Is your preteen
skipping school? It’s critical to solve the problem and get her back in
class. Attendance is too important an issue to ignore.
If your preteen has been missing too much school lately:
Start by talking to her teachers or
guidance counselor. Find out whether there’s something specific going on.
(For example, is she failing a class or being bullied?) If there’s no
definite problem, ask the school for help in dealing with her truancy.
Review the school policies and penalties regarding truant students. With
the school, work out an action plan.
Be straight with your preteen. Tell her
you won’t tolerate her truancy anymore. Let her know you’ve spoken with
her school and that you’re all committed to keeping her in class.
Let her
pay the price. If you’ve threatened to report your preteen to a truant
officer the next time she skips, you must follow through. If you’ve told
her you’ll spend the whole day at school walking her from class to class,
take time off work and do it. True, it’ll be awkward for everyone, but it
just may solve the problem.
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Learn to
Handle Your Preteen’s Explosions of Anger
Just when you thought your child
had outgrown tantrums, along comes puberty. Preteens are notorious for
their high emotions. Here are tips for handling your child’s angry
outbursts:
Stay in control. Overreacting to your child’s anger won’t help.
Leave your child alone to settle down, and come back when you’re both
calm.
Avoid harsh punishment. It’s tempting to yell, “You’re grounded for a
month!” when you’re upset. But discipline should be well thought out, not
chosen in anger.
Don’t give in. If you’ve made a good decision, stick to it. Show your
child that tantrums will not change your mind.
Offer choices. Giving your child a sense of power can reduce his
frustration. For example, “You can either finish your report before soccer
practice or after. It’s your decision.”
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Create
a Plan to Keep Your Child Drug Free
Your child may very likely be
confronted with illegal drugs or alcohol sometime in middle school. You
need to know what to do if she is. First and most important, it’s more
than a slogan that “parents are the anti-drug.” A child who feels secure
in your love and support, who knows you never hesitate to impose firm,
fair and consistent discipline and limits, already has the best protection
possible against becoming involved with alcohol or illegal drugs.
Other key points to know:
* Stick with your policy.
You don’t allow your child to drink, and that means never. It is confusing
and dangerous to say, for example, “Oh, maybe just one sip.” Or, “It’s
okay as long as no one is driving.”
* Know your child’s friends. Invite them to your home. Find opportunities
to meet their parents, too. Let them know that their kids are supervised
when they are at your home. Expect the same in return.
* Know the symptoms. Slurred speech, red eyes, a “vacant” look, laughing
at nothing - these can all indicate substance abuse.
* Never irritate a child who may be intoxicated. Say as calmly as you can
that you know what is going on. Hold off on more discussion until she’s
sober.
Visit our Drug Free Kids section
for more information.
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