Parents may decide to ground low-performing students or restrict privileges, hoping that the restrictions will compel the student to wake up and work harder on academics. If the parent understands what activities and privileges mean the most to the student, that tactic may work. For some children, however, the restrictions may make the student more resistant to school, and he may decide to perform even worse.
Grounding a student may prove to be particularly ineffective unless the parent is prepared to be grounded as well, especially as it applies to a younger student. Unless the parent is willing to remain vigilant and track the student at all times during the grounding period, the child may find ways to get around it. This may prove especially true if the grounding lasts longer than a week or so. Indeed, some parents will become weary of overseeing and enforcing the grounding and let up because it may restrict the parent's activities as much or more than the student's.
The school may require that students involved in extracurricular activities maintain a passing grade in all subjects to participate. Students with bad grades may face extracurricular suspension. If the activities are important to the student, she may decide it's time to buckle down and bring the grades up or give up the activity.
The school may offer tutoring and study helps to the student if her activities affect the school standings. This may help if part of the reason for the poor grades stems from the student's inability to understand the material or because the material needs to be taught using different methods.
Ask your student why his grades are bad. If the student isn't completing homework, help your student set aside a time and a place to work on homework until it is complete. You may suggest a location with few distractions. The student might surrender a cell phone, computer games and other distractions during homework time.
If your student believes the teacher contributes to the problem, meet with the student and teacher. Explore how the teacher may work with the student to improve grades or whether your student may need a different teacher.
Consider hiring a tutor if the student doesn't comprehend the work. Some extra help may pay for itself in a short amount of time.
As a parent, you may see the long-term consequences of a pattern of bad grades affecting college, employment and earning power. These long-term consequences may not affect your child who thinks more in the immediate, especially if the child has more than a few years before college.