Teachers have a tough job, and sometimes parents can make it tougher without meaning to or realising it.
You may think you’re acting in your child’s best interest, but you might be working against the things schools or educators are trying to do. Here are some things your child’s teacher wishes you would stop doing, not just for their sake, but for the sake of your child.
1. Treating them like the enemy
Teachers aren’t out to get your kid. They’re trying to help them learn and grow. When you come in being confrontational over every little thing, it makes it hard for them to do their job. Try approaching them as a partner in your child’s education, not as an adversary. You’re both on the same team, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.
2. Doing your kid’s homework for them
Source: Unsplash Look, we get it. You want your kid to do well. But when you’re the one building the volcano or writing the essay, you’re not helping. Teachers can tell when it’s your work, not your kid’s. It doesn’t teach your child anything except that they don’t have to do the hard stuff themselves. Let them struggle a bit — that’s how they learn.
3. Making excuses for bad behaviour
If your kid’s acting up in class, don’t rush to explain it away. “He’s just bored because he’s so smart” or “She’s going through a phase” doesn’t help anyone. Instead, work with the teacher to address the behaviour. Your kid needs to learn that actions have consequences, no matter what’s causing them.
4. Undermining their authority
When you tell your kid “That teacher doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” you’re making their job way harder. Even if you disagree with something, handle it privately with the teacher. Showing your kid that it’s okay to disrespect teachers sets them up for problems down the road.
5. Expecting instant responses to emails
Source: Unsplash Teachers have a lot on their plate. They’re not ignoring you, but they can’t always reply to your email within minutes. Give them a reasonable amount of time to respond before you start firing off follow-ups or complaining to the principal. They’ve got a classroom full of kids to manage, after all.
6. Sending your kid to school sick
We know you’ve got work, and it’s tough to find childcare. But sending your sniffling, feverish kid to school isn’t fair to anyone. They can’t learn when they’re miserable, and they’re just going to get other kids (and the teacher) sick. Keep them home until they’re better.
7. Scheduling holidays during school time
Those cheap off-season rates are tempting, but pulling your kid out of school for a holiday causes problems. Teachers have to help them catch up, which takes time away from other students. If you must travel during the school year, work with the teacher in advance to minimise the impact.
8. Arguing about grades without talking to your kid first
If your child gets a bad grade, talk to them before you email the teacher. Often, kids know exactly why they did poorly — they didn’t study, or they didn’t turn in an assignment. Getting the full story from your kid first can save everyone a lot of time and frustration.
9. Ignoring communications from school
Those newsletters, emails, and permission slips aren’t just for fun. Teachers and schools send them because the information is important. When you ignore them, it creates extra work for everyone. Take a few minutes to read through school communications — it’ll make things smoother for everyone.
10. Expecting teachers to parent your child
Teachers are there to educate, not to teach basic manners or life skills. If your kid can’t tie their shoes, use utensils properly, or say please and thank you, that’s not the teacher’s job to fix. Those basics need to come from home.
11. Comparing your child to other kids
Every kid develops differently. When you ask why your child isn’t reading at the same level as their classmate, you’re putting unfair pressure on both your kid and the teacher. Focus on your child’s individual progress instead of how they measure up to others.
12. Skipping parent-teacher conferences
These meetings are important for understanding your child’s progress and any challenges they’re facing. When you skip them, you miss out on valuable information and the chance to work with the teacher to support your kid. Make the time — your child’s education is worth it.
13. Badmouthing the teacher in front of your kid
If you’ve got issues with the teacher, handle them privately. Trash-talking them in front of your kid undermines their authority and makes it harder for your child to learn. Kids pick up on your attitude, so keep it respectful, even if you’re frustrated.
14. Expecting special treatment
Your kid is special to you, but in a classroom of 20–30 students, the teacher can’t cater to everyone’s individual demands. Asking for constant exceptions or special accommodations without a real need puts unnecessary stress on the teacher and can disrupt the whole class.
