Children Adjusting to School

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Categories: Child Custody

    Factors Affecting Children Adjusting to School

    Divorced parents with a duty to cooperate with one another about their children’s education and school experience may find that there are issues arising over children adjusting to school. Whether it is a new school year, classmates and teacher, or a new middle or high school, transition can be difficult.

    If your child’s school called you, would you talk to their other parent, and if so, how soon? Just because one parent is the primary daily caregiver does not mean that the other parent is not equally as important in their child’s life and education. The competition to get into good schools is tighter than ever and every step in your child’s school experience and records is important. If you have a positive co-parenting relationship with the other parent, it may be a good idea for both of you to participate in any conferences with the school and with the child. Showing solidarity and a lack of tolerance for negative behavior can make the right impact on a child. Keeping the communication lines open also allows for you and the other parent to keep up with your child’s behavior and demeanor when the other parent has their time with the child.

    Is the Problem Something at School or at Home?

    As parents it is easier to point the finger at another than at ourselves. When the school calls and says our child is having problems and not responding normally it is easy for us to assume the new teacher or kids in class are the problem. While sometimes it is someone else that is affecting your child, the someone else could be someone you did not expect.

    Imagine that you have been fortunate that co-parenting your child has been a positive experience, for the most part. Now your ex-spouse has a new significant other and recently your child has been getting into trouble at school or has changed direction in their attitude towards studying and homework. When the student who normally receives good reports from school is now failing to complete assignments and turn work in on time, might be making a cry for attention or more.

    Taking Care in Making Substantial Changes

    Where in many cases an adjustment problem at school can be about normal growth and maturity or a response to factors in or out of school, attention to the child’s needs can be what it takes to cure the adjustment problem. Be cautious about making serious changes to the routine of a child and their base of friends and culture. Of course, if there is a risk of harm to the child or a significant impairment to their ability to function and learn at school, there may good cause to make a change. Whenever possible, discussing these issues as adults with the other parent is helpful in solving problems or agreeing to make reasonable changes.

    In Wichita Falls area divorce and family law cases, attorney Richard T. Sutherland is focused on best interests of children and has worked in many capacities representing children’s best interests in court. If you need to make a custody change or are considering moving because of issues with children adjusting to school, you can call Richard T. Sutherland in Wichita Falls to discuss your rights and options. Call (940) 691-2100 or Contact Us through our website.

    Richard T. Sutherland represents people and families in Wichita County, Archer County, Baylor County, Clay County, Foard County, Hardeman County, Jack County, Montague County, Wise County, Young County and Wilbarger Counties in North Texas and has accepted cases in other areas West, North-Central and in South Texas.

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