Lack of motivation and underachieving are trends of today’s teen society. Most teens are not working up to their potential and lack the desire to continue school.
We have two scenarios that we frequently hear: the teen wants to quit school or the teen only goes to school to socialize.
Quitting high school is not an option for many — if not all. Today, many teens feel that getting a GED later on is an acceptable plan and use this as a way to get out of going to school.
-Is your teen smart, but failing in school?
-Is your teen skipping school?
-Is your smart teen now refusing to go to school?
-Is your teen starting to hang out with a less than desirable peer group?
-Is your teen isolating themselves in their bedroom? Maybe online most of the time?
Do they simply lack motivation for school in general?
GEDs have their place in the educational system for those who have special needs or requirements that prevent them from attending a regular high school. It is important for teens to understand that an education should be their priority to secure their future. It is easier to write this than to enforce it, but we can never give up on our children.
In some states, a teen can withdraw from school without a parent’s consent. The most common age is 16; however, it is advised to check with your local school district for your legal age.
Trying to convince a teen that they must finish school can be frustrating. In prior generations, parents worried about getting their kids into college; today, those with struggling teens worry about them finishing high school. Motivating teens today has become more challenging.
Many troubled teens are underachievers; although they are capable of doing the work, they lack the motivation to succeed. Parents worry about getting our children through high school– not to mention the competition to get into good colleges.
Teens who go to school for their social life are usually the underachievers and lack motivation for academics. These are students that can do the work and are highly intelligent, but have decided that their friends are more important.
In some situations, your teen may be struggling with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, stress or other factors that are preventing them from focusing on their academics.
An underachiever can also be the teen that doesn’t want to go to school. In some cases, they are distracted by emotional issues or are not challenged enough in their classes. There may also be some learning disabilities not diagnosed. It is wise to have your child tested to see if this could be holding them back academically.
Learn 4 ways to help motivate your teen.
Read: How to Help Your Teen Handle Peer Pressure.
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If you’ve exhausted your local resources and your teen is still struggling both academically and emotionally, learn more about how residential treatment could help your family. Contact us for more information.
