Your Questions About School Success, Answered

How do you help your child do well in school—without constant stress or conflict? In this Q&A edition of the Thriving Kids Podcast, Dr. Dave Anderson answers your top questions about supporting kids’ academic success. He covers how to support teens when peers aren’t motivated, what to do when school doesn’t fit your child’s learning style, setting boundaries that stick for disruptive behavior, handling drop-off anxiety, balancing activities without burnout, keeping kids focused when they’re not interested, building organizational skills, what to do when kids say they “hate school,” and how to talk about grades without piling on pressure. Have a question for Dr. Dave? Email podcast@childmind.org What you’ll learn • Using motivational interviewing to help teens set their own academic goals • How to collaborate with teachers on realistic supports for neurodivergent learners • Daily report card systems that improve classroom behavior • Drop-off rituals and coping strategies for separation anxiety • A developmental checklist for balancing school, activities, and downtime • Practical focus hacks: participation checklists and active note-taking • Visual cues and positive reinforcement to build independence in organization • When to narrow school complaints and focus on “islands” of support • Shifting the conversation from grades to effort and process