How Families Affects Kids Performance - Essay Example

Research Paper The way families reacts in homes greatly influences how a kid performs in school. In the early stage of life, family is the basic support but it can be the reason behind stress and depression too. Children are greatly affected if there are conflicts in their family. Researchers have found out that those children who have problem in their families have difficulty in focusing and cooperating in school and have a high level of anxiety. If the parent starts fighting and arguing the children may experience emotional conditions like depression. If there are conflicts between their parents, they may have anti-social behavior. Every family has problems but it depends on the parents how they handle the situation. Education is same for every social status whether they are rich or poor; and schools provide same educational benefits to everyone. However the number of years of schooling completed depends upon ones family background. A research was conducted in children who had difficulty in their academic education and intellectual potential. In this research family situation was given preference since family problems affect the performance of children in the class. Family problems may be due to other reason. Divorce is one of the reasons affect the performance of the children in many ways. Let’s take divorce as an example of how family conflicts affect children learning. A martial conflict between parents causes fighting and dissolution in families and this ultimately leads to separation and divorce. These divorces can affect the performance of children in many ways as children cannot concrete on their studies they may not complete assignments given to them. Some children may feel so embarrassed and ashamed about their parent’s divorce that they avoid sharing their issues with their friends. In such conditions they should express their feeling to someone who listens to them attentively such as a counselor. However some children may blame themselves for this misfortune as they maybe the reason behind their parents fight. The fact that they have to choose between the two parents develops anxiety and depression among these children. They have to move from one parent’s house to other and this poor custody arrangement prevents them from functioning well in school. Another consequence of divorce is that children may develop fear that their parents may leave them too. These problems may create stress and he or she may face problem in studies. These children also face finance problems due to custody arrangement since the single parent has to raise the family. Moreover, a single parent cannot give proper attention to the children as he or she needs to work and raise the family at the same time. In cases when there is fight going on between the parents that include violence, it can be unfavorable for the child’s learning process. This problem related to divorce can affect the children psychologically. These kids commonly suffer through anxiety, stress, and depression and speech defects. The children who are 2 to 5 years old have problems such as difficult sleeping; develop phobias, grief, sadness, loneliness, etc. These problems distract them from school and they cannot focus on their studies. They may also engage in substance abuse, theft, sex or violence. It is most important among divorced parents that they communicate with their children in a positive manner as this will create a friendly relationship between the two. In this case if the teachers are aware of the family situations of the children they should give strength and support to the children. The high school dropout rate is twice in children with divorced parents. Studies show that these children score less than children with parents who are married. These children think that their family is more important than their school life and they need to fix their parents’ marriage by bringing them together again. A Research was done by Morris, Rodrigues and Duncan that showed how a difference in income affects the achievements of children. It was found that an increase in the income of $1000 annually can increase the achievement of a child by 6 percent. Deficient Parents Parents having problems such as disabling illness or mental illness are called deficient parents. In such cases the children take responsibilities of the family from a younger age. Such children ignore their needs and problems and take care of their parent. Their childhood is robbed as they are still young and so they cannot take care of their parents and this develops a sense of guilt in them. Due to these responsibilities they cannot concentrate on their studies. Controlling Parents These parents are quite dominating and take most of the decisions of their children. These parents think that if their children become independent they will leave them. The children of such controlling parents become powerless and feel offended. When these children become adults they have difficulty in making decision since they are dependent on their parents. Such children also face difficulty in the school as they cannot choose the field in which they have to pursue their career. Alcoholic Parents Alcoholic parents are quite unpredictable as at one time they may act strict and at other times they may act differently altogether. They don’t remember the promises they make with their children. These children do not seek anybody’s help as they keep their problem to themselves. Such children become depressed, frustrated and insecure and cannot concentrate on their education. Their parent’s decisions change time to time. Such parents are unsteady and cannot take decision regarding their children’s lives. Abusive Parents Such parents criticize their children on their capabilities, intelligence, looks or values. Abuse can be physical, sexual or verbal. These parents often beat their children which often result in physical injuries like bruises, cuts, burns or even fractures caused by punching, kicking, beating, biting, etc. This urge to strike their child is quite frequent and it meets the parent’s emotional needs as they think that by doing this they are making their children disciplined and are helping them. This often develops intense terror in these children and they feel angry. These abused children do not easily trust anyone and do not even feel safe with people around them. Sexual abuse is an example of abuse done to child for the adult’s pleasure. There is no justification that it can benefit the child in any way. Any kind of physical contact that is done in concealment is not appropriate. However, hugging and kissing a child as a sign of affection is adequate. This abuse can happen to girls and boys both and it can be done by either women or men. A person who does such an act crosses all the boundaries of race, religion, educational and socioeconomics. It is the adult who is responsible for this abuse, not the child. Such sexually abused children may feel shameful, frightened and worthless. They may face difficulties with relationship and sexuality in the future. Such children do not feel safe with strangers and they often have trust issues. Their parent’s attitude towards them often makes them feel that there is something wrong with them and they have difficulty in expressing their feelings and they often don’t like to go to school and face other people. All this affects their education in a highly negative way. They get distracted from studies and feel sad, anxious, depressed, lonely and insecure. However, family conflicts are not the only reason behind the a child’s poor performance. Other risk factors include poverty, troubled peers and living in a high crime neighborhood (Divorce and Children, 2014). Reference Divorce and Children. (2014). Retrieved JANUARY 2, 2015, from Merck Manuals: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/childrens_health_issues/social_issues_affecting_children_and_their_families/divorce_and_children.html Read More