Any of these changes in your child may signal problems at school:

• Your child suddenly wants to watch a lot of television. Children who have difficulty at school may want to escape into the TV when they get home.
• Your child suddenly doesn’t want to go to school. It may just be a problem with a friend. It may be a problem with a teacher. But it’s always worth checking a little deeper.
• Your child starts to complain about things that make it hard to learn. When children realize they’re in trouble, they often start to look for someone else to blame. And children who don’t accept the responsibility for their problems in school won’t be able to resolve them.
• Your child starts saying things like, “I never thought I’d be good in school.” This is a defense system your child sets up so failure doesn’t hurt. If you hear these comments, ask why he feels he can’t succeed.

If you see any of these signs, be sure to ask your child’s teacher for a conference.

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