I’m not a parent, but I feel confident in saying that no parent ever wants his or her child to have a bad day at school. That being said, bad days do happen – to everyone – from time to time. So how can you help your child through the worst day of school ever? I’ve done my research and come up with a few hopefully helpful suggestions.

5 Tips for Helping your Child After the Worst Day of School Ever

 1. Let Them Be.

One of the best things you can do for your children after bad days is to simply let them feel their emotions, whether they be anger, sadness, frustration, etc. All of these emotions are normal, and children will learn and benefit from feeling them entirely.

2. Listen.

It can be easy when others are upset to try to jump in and save the day with any number of comments or suggestions, but it is amazing what a listening ear can do for someone who has had a bad day. Let your child tell you about what happened and how he or she feels about it. It is nice to know that someone who cares is willing to listen, and it allows the child to get all of his or her feelings out in the open.

3. Be Understanding.

It can make someone feel so much better just to know that his or her feelings are heard and understood. Instead of blaming outside causes for your child’s bad day (which can make the child feel worse), try saying something along the lines of, “I see that you are upset, and I’m sorry you feel that way.”

4. Make a Plan.

Sometimes bad days are just bad days. It seems that every little thing goes wrong, which in turn affects your attitude and how you proceed; however, in some cases, very specific things might have led to the bad day. Once you know why your child is upset, make a plan together about any parts of the day that might be addressed with a simple solution. Did your child forget his or her homework? How can he or she make sure that doesn’t happen again? Did your son or daughter have a fight with his or her best friend? What ideas does your child have for resolving that conflict? Remember, though, that this is your child’s problem – not yours – and you should remain in the position of listening and understanding, rather than trying to solve it for him or her.

5. Be Flexible.

No matter how tight a ship you run, remember that every so often it is ok to bend the rules and flex the schedule a little bit. Sometimes, for instance, something small like ice cream is just the thing to help with a bad day! Or perhaps your child could do with a little more one-on-one time with mom or dad before bed time.

Whatever you decide, know that you are the person your children look to for comfort in most situations. Let them know that they are heard, understood, and loved!

What do you think? Does your child have bad days at school? How have you helped your child through days like this? Do you agree with these ideas? We would love to hear from you in the comments! 

Author: Emily Karth, Writer and Teacher at A Grade Ahead.