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Bad grades are not the end: What kids need after a difficult school year
When summer report cards are handed out, many families experience mixed feelings. While some children look back on their achievements with pride, others would rather tuck their report card away in their backpack as quickly as possible. Poor grades often lead to disappointment, frustration, or worry – for children as well as their parents.
At this very moment, it is important not to view the report card as a final judgment on a child’s abilities. Rather, it can be an opportunity to take a closer look together and consider what kind of support might be helpful in the coming school year.
There is often more to poor grades than a lack of effort
Academic performance is rarely the result of effort alone. Learning difficulties, a lack of effective study strategies, concentration problems, a loss of motivation, or personal stress can also affect grades.
Added to this are the changes that many children and teenagers experience over the course of a school year: new friendships, conflicts, pressure to perform, or uncertainties about their own future.
That’s why it is important not to jump to conclusions, but rather to first try to understand what’s behind the difficulties.
Seek a conversation instead of making accusations
Even though disappointment is understandable, making accusations or comparing your child to others usually does not help much. Instead, the report card can be a good opportunity to start a conversation together.
Helpful questions might include:
- What did you do particularly well this school year?
- Which subjects or topics were difficult?
- When did you find studying particularly difficult?
- What would have given you more confidence or support?
Conversations like these often provide a more honest look at the actual challenges than simply looking at individual grades.
Looking ahead
After the initial reactions to the report card, it helps to shift the focus to the coming school year. This does not necessarily mean setting big academic goals right away.
Small, realistic changes are often more helpful. Perhaps a child needs more structure when studying, a different learning method, support in a specific subject, or simply more confidence in their own abilities.
Thinking together about what conditions might make learning easier is often more valuable than focusing exclusively on better grades.
Do not lose sight of strengths
When a report card is disappointing, a child’s positive qualities can quickly fade into the background. Yet children and teenagers possess many skills that cannot be measured by school grades.
Social skills, creativity, helpfulness, perseverance, and a sense of responsibility are important strengths that should also be recognized and valued.
A difficult school year therefore does not determine how successful or happy a child will be later in life.
Trust fosters growth
After a difficult school year, what children need most is the feeling that while their performance is taken seriously, their worth as a person does not depend on grades.
Children who feel understood and supported often develop more motivation than those who primarily experience criticism. Parents can play an important role here by showing trust, fostering growth, and working together to find solutions.
After all, a report card only captures a single moment – not a child’s entire future.
For further insights on this topic, we recommend our presentation “The report card was bad – Now what? Ways out of the crisis—Tips and insights for parents” on August 5, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Between academic pressure and self-discovery: How parents can support high school students
For many teenagers, the transition to high school marks the beginning of an exciting but also challenging phase of life. Academic demands increase, while at the same time friendships, leisure activities, first romantic relationships, and plans for the future become increasingly important. During this time, many parents notice that school seems to take a back seat and motivation to study wanes.
Yet there is often more to learning difficulties or a lack of motivation than mere reluctance. High school is not only an academic challenge but also a phase of personal development and self-discovery.
When other things suddenly become more important
During this phase of life, teenagers grapple intensely with their own identity. They want to become more independent, find their place among their friends, and gain their first experiences outside the family setting. At the same time, questions about their own future arise: What career is right for me? What do I want to do after school? Who do I actually want to be?
It is therefore completely normal for interests and priorities to change. School suddenly has to compete with many other issues that often seem more emotionally significant to teenagers than the next exam.
Demands are increasing – and with them, the pressure
While life outside of school is changing, academic demands are simultaneously becoming more challenging. Independent learning, long-term exam preparation, and a heavier workload require skills that many teenagers have yet to develop.
Some are experiencing for the first time that their previous learning strategies are no longer sufficient. Others feel pressured because they have high expectations of themselves or develop a fear of making mistakes and getting bad grades.
It’s not uncommon, therefore, for a decline in motivation to stem from feeling overwhelmed, insecurity, or worries about the future.
Why pressure often does not lead to success
When grades start to slip, parents understandably often react with concern. Discussions about study time, cell phone use, or leisure activities quickly arise. Restrictions like “Then you are not going out this weekend” or “Keep your cell phone turned off now” may have a short-term effect, but they rarely foster lasting motivation to learn.
Above all, teenagers in this phase need the opportunity to take responsibility for their own actions. In the long run, motivation is more likely to arise from a sense of self-efficacy and a sense of accomplishment than from pressure or control.
Show interest instead of controlling
It is often helpful to stay curious and seek out conversation. Instead of talking exclusively about grades or missed assignments, it can be helpful to ask:
- What are you finding particularly difficult in school right now?
- Which subjects do you still enjoy?
- Where would you like some support?
- What’s weighing on your mind right now?
Conversations like these often lead to a more honest exchange than discussions focused solely on academic performance.
Support instead of constant monitoring
Parents do not have to become study coaches. It is often more helpful to work together to set realistic goals and support teens in finding their own solutions. Small steps forward deserve just as much attention as good grades.
At the same time, teens need to feel that their parents have faith in them. Anyone who is expected to take on responsibility also needs the opportunity to gain their own experiences – and sometimes to learn from their mistakes.
Providing guidance and building trust
For many teens, high school is a time caught between the pressure to perform and the search for self-identity. That is precisely why they need adults who can offer guidance without trying to control everything.
It is not perfection, but rather trust, a willingness to talk, and a genuine interest in the challenges young people face that often create the best foundation for fostering motivation, independence, and academic success in the long term.
To coincide with the start of school after summer break, our August lecture series will focus on “School and Learning,” offering various events on learning motivation, academic challenges, and supporting children and teenagers in their daily school life.
When vacation mode ends: Routines for a relaxed start to the school year
For many children and families, summer vacation is a time to relax. Sleeping in, spontaneous outings, longer evenings, and fewer set schedules make everyday life much more relaxed for a few weeks. After all, that is what vacation is all about.
But the closer the start of school gets, the more often the question arises: How can the transition back to the school routine be as stress-free as possible?
Vacations are meant to be different
During vacation, many habits change automatically. Bedtimes shift, meals are eaten at different times, and fixed daily routines often take a back seat. This is completely normal and an important part of relaxation.
Children and teens need these periods to take a break from the school routine, gain new experiences, and recharge for the coming school year.
However, this makes it all the more important not to underestimate the challenge of getting back into the swing of things.
Why the start of school is often challenging
The transition from vacation mode back to the school routine means another adjustment for children and teens. Suddenly, the alarm clock goes off early again, the daily routine follows a set schedule, and concentration and motivation are once again in high demand.
On top of that, for many children, returning to school isn’t just about getting organized. They are often also preoccupied with questions like:
- Who will be in my class?
- Will I be able to meet the demands of the new school year?
- What will the new teachers be like?
- Will I see my friends regularly?
Such thoughts can spark excitement, but also uncertainty.
Gradually reestablishing routines
Many families do not try to get back into the school routine until the last weekend of summer break. This often makes the transition unnecessarily difficult.
It is more helpful to start reintroducing small routines a few days before school starts. These include, for example:
- Gradually adjusting bedtime and wake-up times
- Check school supplies together
- Discussing the schedule for the first week of school
- Planning appointments and activities for the coming weeks
Small changes help children and teens mentally prepare for the start of school.
Take their feelings seriously
Not every child starts the new school year with enthusiasm. Some look forward to seeing their friends, while others have mixed feelings about the start of school.
That’s why it can be helpful to talk openly about expectations, concerns, and wishes. Often, simply having the chance to voice their thoughts and be taken seriously is enough.
Parents do not have to find an immediate solution to every problem. Often, it is enough for children to realize that their feelings are being acknowledged.
A calm approach provides guidance
Especially during the first few days of school, not everything has to go perfectly right away. Children and teens need time to get back into their rhythm.
Parents can support this by modeling composure, having realistic expectations, and not focusing exclusively on performance or grades. A relaxed start often lays a better foundation for motivation and a willingness to learn than adding extra pressure.
Well-prepared for the new school year
The transition from summer break back to the school routine rarely happens overnight. Gradually reintroducing routines, creating space for conversation, and giving children time to adjust makes the start much easier.
If you would like more inspiration on establishing routines after school starts, you are cordially invited to attend our presentation “Back to the Daily Routine After Summer Break” on August 6, 2026, at 12 p.m.
DIY craft time | Ready for the start of school: 5 simple ideas for a great start
1. Create a back-to-school countdown together
Children often have a hard time grasping how many days are left in summer break. A countdown calendar they create themselves makes the start of school feel more tangible and builds anticipation for many children. Each day, they can color in, decorate with stickers, or cross out a box.
2. Prepare school supplies together
Packing pencil cases, labeling notebooks, or checking backpacks: When children are actively involved, they often look forward to the first day of school even more. At the same time, they can take responsibility for their own school supplies.
3. Create a “wishes and encouragement” note
Children can feel uncertain, especially when starting school, changing schools, or moving to a new class. Parents and children can work together to create little notes of encouragement:
- This is what I hope for in the new school year.
- I am looking forward to this.
- I am already really good at this.
- “This is what I would like to learn.”
The note can be placed in their room or in their backpack.
4. Plan the first week of school together
A large calendar or a sheet of paper is all you need to organize the first week of school clearly. When does school start? Are there any hobbies, plans with friends, or special events? Planning together provides structure and reduces uncertainty.
5. Create a small back-to-school tradition
It is not just the first day of school that should be special. The first day of school after vacation can also be marked by a little tradition:
- a favorite breakfast together
- a motivational note in the lunchbox
- a family photo to mark the start of school
- a short walk after the first day of school
Rituals like these provide a sense of security and often make the transition from vacation mode back to the school routine easier.
Small preparations with a big impact
The first day of school does not have to be perfect. Often, even small rituals, shared preparations, and a little anticipation are enough to help children start the new school year feeling relaxed and positive.