Raising teens is challenging, especially with rise of technology and social media influencers. Many young people believe that within a few clicks they can be the next YouTuber or (dare I say) Kim Kardashian. 

The emphasis on education seems to have taken a backseat to what teens are viewing on their social platforms with the majority of their time.

Reality is, with the increase of screen-time, teens are dealing with depression and anxiety (doubling since 2019), and if left unattended, this can pile up into other major mental health issues that force them to drop out.

-Does your teen tell you they don’t need school?
-Do they tell you what they are learning is stupid or dumb?
-Do they tell you what they are learning they will never need for their future?
-Do they say they have no friends at school or maybe the teachers are mean?
-Do they say their classes are too hard or too easy?

5 Reasons teens want to drop out of school

Since the pandemic and the increase in remote learning, more parents have had challenges with keeping their teenager not only enrolled in school, but interested and involved in school. Online school and online learning has been extremely difficult for many teenagers. The lack of socialization and face-to-face communication with not only their friends, but with teachers has created young people to become more isolated — and hooked to social media.

1. Loss of interest 

Teens can loss interest in academics for many reasons, especially over the past several years when they have been unable to participate in extra-curriculum, join school clubs, sports and attend events.

Maybe your teen has a passion in the arts or for acting? The lure of fame and money has become stronger (again) as social media greatly influences our young people. They have a belief that an education is not important.

Entitlement. In some wealthier households, teens believe they don’t have to complete their studies, since they will always be taken care of — financially. 

2. Bullying and cyberbullying

If your teen is a victim of bullying or cyberbullying, this can be a very serious concern. It means they feel unsafe in their school environment. 

Bullying occurs for many reasons and it goes beyond the one isolated instance of harassment either because of teachers’ inability to control, or problems arising from the teen’s own personality or learning abilities.

Cyberbullying is very destructive for a teen’s mental health. If your child is a target of online bullying or possibly a sexting scandal, it’s important you get involved as soon as possible.

3. Substance abuse

Is your teen smoking pot regularly? Not able to get up in the morning for school? It may have started out as vaping and has now escalated to smoking THC.

A lot of teenagers leave school and studies due to drug addiction and substance abuse. Alcohol addiction is also another reason that explains why teenagers drop out of school and college.

4. Special disorders

Is your teen struggling academically? Many learning differences go undiagnosed and it can leave your child with challenges in school — to the point that they want to give-up or drop-out. Teenagers can develop certain disorders like dyslexia or ADHD — if they are suffering from these conditions, it makes it harder to focus on their studies.

In some cases, the underlying problem may go undetected both by the teachers and parents, and the teens may face criticism for their poor performance at school. A lack of empathy and inability to cope with increasing academic pressure may make them opt out of school.

5. Home and family life

There are no perfect families, however teens that belong to households that are experiencing extreme discord, possibly family violence, maybe a contentious divorce and/or abuse — makes it hard for the teen to focus on their studies.

Sadly, sexual abuse has also been another factor — whether it’s abuse at home or otherwise that has caused young people to drop out of school.

With all these above reasons, it’s important to encourage and motivate your teen or young adult to finish their education. There are many reasons why teenagers drop out and college students quit, but there are many better reasons for they to finish.

Whether your teen wants to go to college or to a trade school, helping them understand that you want them to happy and successful in whatever their goals are is imperative. Quitting is never an option — not all teens need or want to go to an Ivy League school, we always like to remind parents — “What did you pay your electrician or plumber the last time he visited your home? Or your HVAC? Even if they want to attend cosmetology school — these are all careers they can succeed with.”

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Are you struggling with your difficult teen or young adult wanting to drop out of high school? Maybe out of college? Maybe they need life skills or social skills? Have you exhausted your local resources? Contact us to learn more about how behavior modification programs could help.

The post Does Your Teen Want to Drop Out of School? first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Years ago, generations earlier, school was never an option. We were expected to finish high school without even a consideration of dropping out or quitting. We all had road bumps, rough spots, as teens do — however dropping out simply wasn’t an option. Kids that left school to get a GED were typically facing legal issues.

Today more and more young people are not only thinking about leaving high school, they are avoiding school (skipping classes in higher numbers than prior generations) and don’t seem to value the importance of education.

No parent wants to hear their teen wants to drop out of high school, but it is something that about 1 in every 10 people do. This is troubling for parents because statistically speaking, kids who do not graduate from high school are limited in their job potential and make less money than those who do graduate. This is disheartening for a parent, and can cause an emotional reaction that may not be best for either of you.

First it’s important to determine why your teen wants to leave school. 

5 Possible Reasons Teens Choose to Drop Out of School:

1. Mental health. Teens deal with depression and anxiety, and if not addressed, this can pile up into other major mental health issues that force them to drop out.

2. Boredom. Some teens are simply bored and lose interest in academics. In some situations, teens may want to quit their studies to pursue their passion for art or acting. The lure of fame and fortune become attractive as popular social media influencers greatly impact teenagers. Maybe rich kids don’t feel like they need to attend school.

3. Substance abuse. There are teenagers that leave school and studies due to drug addiction and substance abuse. Alcohol addiction is also another reason that explains why teenagers drop out of school.

4. Bullying (cyberbullying) and harassment is a growing concern.  Your teen might be a target (victim) of bullying at school or even online, leaving them with a sense of humiliation and embarrassment. Many young people are too ashamed to even tell their parents when they are being harassed at school. This can eventually lead to your teen begging to leave the school.

5. Problems at home can be sometimes cause your teen difficulties to focus on their studies or want to continue with school. They’re worried about their parents or siblings (maybe a pending divorce, family violence, or other troubles in the house) that is causing them to feel withdrawn.

Preventing Your Teen From Dropping Out of School

There are some things to consider if your teenager wants to drop out of high school–here are some tips so you both know where to start the discussion.

Communication is key, let’s start with finding out why they want to leave school.

1. In reviewing the list above, it is important to discuss the reasoning behind your teenager’s decision to quite high school. Are they being bullied (do they feel threatened), or do they find their courses overwhelming and feel like there is no point to going.

If they are struggling with their classes, you can suggest a tutor or possibly changing courses. Let your teen know you are on their side. If bullying is the issue, it’s likely they won’t want you to get involved. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t on some level — such as getting your child the emotional support they need as well as making sure the school is aware of this situation. Suggest to your teen that you are open to changing schools rather than dropping out.

2. Keep in mind your teen believes they are almost an adult and can make wise decisions for themselves. It’s important to have a respectful conversation with them — not to belittle them or react with anger and rage about this thought of dropping out of school. Talk to them calmly about the risk of dropping out as far as their future earnings and the doors that will close to them in the future.

Ask your teen what they want for their future, whether it’s a car, house or to take nice vacations. Talk with them about limits they will have with low paying jobs. Base the numbers factually; not scare tactics are necessary when showing your teenager how much he will have to dole out for monthly expenses.

If your teen argues he’s not college material, you can help them understand that trade schools also require high school diplomas. Trade schools should also be encouraged by all parents of teenagers that are interested in these jobs. Think about what you paid your electrician or HVAC professional the last time he came to your home?

3. Reach out to your teen’s school. Schedule a meeting with teachers and school administrators. Determine if any accommodations need to be made to foster your teen’s learning experience. While problems at home can be a part of the choice to drop out, more times than not there is a problem at school that is the driving cause of this choice.

4. Getting your teen help. If you realize your teen is struggling with signs of depression, withdrawn, addicted to their devices, becoming isolated from their friends – or other signs of mental health issues, it’s likely time to see a professional. Getting your teen help early can help prevent the thoughts of quitting school. Like with many adults, when struggling with sadness, you don’t want to get out of bed. If your teen is using drugs or drinking, it may be time to consider residential therapy.

5. The last resort is considering alternative school settings. The school environment could be contributing to your teen’s trouble. If other methods fail, you may have to look into enrolling your teen in a charter school, alternative school, magnet school, career academy, general educational development (GED) program or some other setting that is more conducive to their success. As we all know — education is key for their future.

Remember, your are your teen’s advocate.

Also read:

What is the Goal of Residential Treatment?

Where can I send my troubled teenager?

5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

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If you’re struggling with your teen and you’ve exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can benefit your family. Contact us for more information.

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The post How to Prevent Your Teen From Dropping Out of School first appeared on Help Your Teens.