5 ways to increase your teen’s academic perseverance

Teens who have doubts about or who are struggling in school are less likely to give up if they have someone they can talk to.

Listening includes empathizing with the other person and knowing how to reassure them without judgment. Here are a few important reminders you can share with your child:

• It’s normal to have doubts
• You respect their choices
• You will always be there for them
• Etc.

Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. If patience isn’t your teen’s strong suit, you’ll be happy to know that it can be learned over time. To help them practise this virtue, encourage them to do the following:

• Set realistic goals
• Divide tasks into baby steps
• Learn to breathe
• Etc.

It’s never too early to learn how to stay organized. To help your teen take control of their own education, you can show them how to organize their homework and improve their work methods. Try getting them to do the following:

• Learn how to prioritize
• Split their homework into smaller parts
• Use their agenda
• Use colour codes
• Etc.

It’s perfectly normal for teens to feel like life is a rollercoaster. When your teen loses motivation, offer them some encouragement. Here are a few things you can do:

• Remind them of their strengths
• Reflect on how far they’ve come
• Talk about their future
• Etc.

By helping your teen recognize their weaknesses, you’re also helping them understand themselves better. They can then try different strategies to overcome those weaknesses. Here are some examples of ways you can broach this topic:

• Talk to them
• Explore the problem they’re having
• Pinpoint the issue
• Determine when and how the issue started
• Look for solutions
• Make sure the solutions are within their abilities
• Etc.