How To Help Children And Youth That Are Underachieving

There are many kinds of underachieving. Not being able to meet a set of standards can be the result of expectations that are too high or unrealistic. Another type of underacheiving involves not being interested in achieving what adults want. Some children or youth like to learn only what they are interested in. It can appear to be rebellion. Children & youth are often expected to learn, behave, conform regardless of their type of intelligence or learning style. Without help, adults with underachieving children or youth have a difficult task. Rebellion or defeat can occur with too much pressure and expectations. Other challenges can happen with too little expectation. Yet others can happen when what is to be learned or done simply does not fit with the child or youth’s uniqueness. Without help, underacheiving can lead to low self-esteem, refusal to attempt success, loss of skills needed for adult life. It can be due to or complicated by a combination of factors: genetic considerations; family patterns; family communication patterns; prolonged stress; physical or emotional discomfort caused by unhealed accidents, traumas and abuses of all kinds; unique learning styles; lack of appropriate instruction and practice; nutritional imbalances; exposure to environmental pollutants. Often children & youth can become so frightened of failure that they avoid trying anything new.