Classroom Behavior: Avoiding Detention

It is sometimes a challenge for tweens and teens to maintain appropriate classroom behavior. As social circles evolve and kids search for a place to fit in, acting out in class may be a sign that they need your guidance. Adolescents undergo major changes, both physically and socially, and taking the time to ensure that your child is comfortable in his own skin can improve his classroom behavior, and help keep him out of detention and on the right academic track.

Encouraging Appropriate Classroom Behavior

All kids have behavioral problems at one point or another, and those problems that present in the early teenage years can be especially difficult for parents to understand. For this reason, it is crucial that you talk to your child to find out what is truly behind his behavior.

• Talk it out. As soon as you find out that your child has been misbehaving in class you must determine what exactly happened. Opening the lines of communication can be difficult with kids this age, but it is important if you wish to understand why he is acting out. Once you understand what happened, you may be able to help your child come up with some solutions. For example, if your child acted out because the other kids were picking on him, you can tackle the larger issue and correct the behavior.
• Consult with the teacher. After hearing your child's side of the story, talk with his teacher. Explain exactly what your child has discussed with you and see if there is a solution that can be implemented.
• Introduce healthier solutions. Being bullied, having a difficult time keeping up with the curriculum, or feeling down are not excuses for acting out in class. Appropriate behavior should be not only expected but enforced, meaning that you need to talk with your children about healthier ways to air their grievances than acting out.

Sometimes it can be easy for parents to resolve an issue and simply move on to the next. But when it comes to behavioral problems, parents have to be consistent and always enforce expectations. When you show your child that you aren't trying to judge or simply dole out punishment, he will be more receptive to your ideas. As an added bonus, talking to and supporting your child will increase the level of trust between you