What To Do With The Underachiever

Motivation is a very reliable predictor of a child's success in school. So many times underachievers can do the work, but they don't feel the work is meaningful or important or they are just so frustrated that they no longer try. The most common belief of the underachiever is that there is no control over what happens at school and the work is boring and repetitious. Most underachievers fail to take responsibility for their own behavior, so the blame is put on other people or outside forces.

Things to do:

The first step is changing the expectations of everyone involved. If your child has a history of failure and frustration, make sure the child experiences success so there is confidence to keep trying. Make sure that you and the teacher are on the same page and working toward the success and motivation of your child. Let the child know that you don't expect all "A's" overnight, but you do expect improvement.


Teach your children to have pride in their work. Don't accept sloppy and second rate homework from your child if you know they can do better. Reinforce the idea of checking over work before turning it in. Make sure the work is the best they can do and is always quality.


What you say to your children will affect the way they perceives themselves. Praise your child when it is deserved, but avoid over-kill. Too much or undeserved praise may cause intense pressure or unrealistic expectations and may soon become meaningless to the child. Always let your child know you love them and expect them to always to their best.