Why does a bright boy like Abhishek perform so poorly at school? How can we identify an underachiever?
Checklist
A quick look at this checklist may help you understand your child better. An underachiever may qualify for most of the points given here.
*Is your child able to express himself when it comes to speaking but is unable to achieve the same result when he gets down to writing?
*Does he perform brilliantly on some tests but not on others?
*Does he have wonderful ideas but bad spelling and illegible handwriting?
*Is he able to comprehend and retain facts but unable to comprehend concepts that follow a sequence?
*Does he have difficulty completing easy assignments but exhibits ease when it comes to more difficult ones?
*Is he overly self critical, has a low self-esteem and an attitude towards perfectionism?
*Is he uncomfortable in a group and has a problem interacting with his peers?
*Does he have a low attention span?
*Does he have a negative attitude towards school?
*Does he dislike routine drills and practice?
*Does he set unrealistic high goals for himself?
Reasons
The reasons for underachievement are many. Perhaps it would be helpful to highlight a few.
All children should set goals. These goals should be realistic and not too difficult to achieve. Goals give them a sense of direction and a purpose. An underachiever sets goals that are almost impossible to reach. This does seem to lead to underachievement. Children gifted in certain areas need to set goals earlier than normal children to avoid underachievement.
An underachiever does not feel challenged by the work he does at school. This often leads him or her to disrupt the class often, thus provoking a negative response from his peers and teachers.
Because he is unable to live up to his own expectations and those of his parents he suffers from a low self esteem and develops a pessimistic attitude.
This underachievement leads to stress and frustration and the cycle is repeated again.
What can parents do to pull a child out of the cycle of underachievement? Read on ...
Helping late bloomers
Identify your child's strengths.
Teach your child by using his strengths.
Do not dwell on your child's weaknesses.
Do not compare him to other children.
Ensure that his learning experiences use oral, visual and written strategies.
Involve him in challenging assignments.
Set realistic goals that you know he will be able to achieve.
Be there as a support when he cannot meet his expectations.
Do not negatively criticise your child. Use constructive criticism instead.
Teach him problem solving skills, to look at every problem as an opportunity to accomplish something.
Use the techniques of meditation to reduce frustration.
Involve him in team sports to help him interact with his peers.
Always try to maintain a positive attitude. Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Thomas Alva Edison and Winston Churchill were all underachievers who bloomed later. Don't let early under achievement, discourage you or your child. Some children begin to do well only in high school when the emphasis is less on reading, writing, and arithmetic. Some achieve in college and university when they have the freedom to pursue the subject of their choice and others peak at the workplace where they discover hidden talents and abilities.
Treasure your child's individuality and provide him with the support he craves to fulfil his dreams.
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