Harsher, stricter parental guidance for children leads and motivates students to achieve higher academic success, right? Well maybe not! A new report from researchers at the University of Michigan show parents many times flunk at helping their middle-school aged children bring home better report cards. They focus on restricting non-school activities with hopes of enforcing higher learning.
Research shows that it is better to create an integrated home environment that stimulates education — a warm learning environment that is supported by parent-child interaction. The researchers suggest you regularly talk to your children about academic topics, provide relevant toys and books, and offer a variety in their paths to learning.
The Journal of Family Psychology stated in their report:
Punitive parenting strategies are likely ineffective in promoting achievement when it does not directly address the underlying problem that is causing academic underperformance.
Punishing and lecturing do not provide children with concrete skills or strategies for improving their grades.
Ask the question: is my student having a problem with learning or a problem with behaving?
Another study found that behavior problems mostly set up academic problems, not vice versa. So while punitive parenting may not be the best model for improving academics, it might prove worthwhile in correcting behavior problems that often lead to poor report cards.