Upping Consistent Attendance for Your Students: A Home Guide

Behind the scenes, many families are grappling with their child’s attendance issues, and aren’t quite sure how to solve them.

Whether it’s illness, lack of interest, anxiety, or bullying, one thing is clear – absenteeism is a challenge that demands our immediate attention.

If you are a home adult worried about your child’s attendance, read on for five strategies to navigate your child towards a brighter future, starting today.

Read on to learn more about what it means, and the tools you can use to combat it.

In 2022, 1 in 3 students missed 10 or more days of school in a school year, making them chronically absent. Chronic absence causes issues wth academic success and social wellbeing, and increases the probability of entering the criminal justice system.

Understand the Root Causes

To tackle attendance issues, it’s crucial to identify the underlying causes.

Is it health-related, like chronic illnesses or anxiety? Is your child facing bullying or social challenges at school? Maybe they’re struggling to engage in their studies, and don’t know how to overcome it.

Talk to your child and their teachers to get to the heart of the issue. By understanding what’s at the core of the attendance problem, you can start working on the solution.

Create a Positive Evening and Morning Routine

Establishing a structured morning routine can work wonders.

Make sure your child gets enough sleep, and sets an early bedtime to wake up refreshed. A nourishing breakfast can kickstart their day with energy, while involving them in picking out their outfit or preparing lunch can motivate their participation. Ensure the morning atmosphere is positive and stress-free, making your child eager to go to school.

Finally, make sure that there aren’t any unknown distractors (like cell-phone usage or video games) keeping them up at night.

Trust us on this one– we’ve seen clever ways that some students manage to access technology. Even after turning in their digital devices before bed!

Communicate with Teachers

Teachers can be your greatest allies in tackling attendance issues.

Maintain open lines of communication with them through a communication platform like ClassTag. Share your concerns, but also ask for their insights. Together, you can create a plan to support your child. In lots of cases, your child’s teacher knows what’s going on because they’ve seen it with other students.

They can provide you with resources, or even tailor assignments to your child’s needs to help them catch up on missed work. They can help plan with parents that aren’t able to be at home to check-in due to work schedules.

Set Realistic Goals and Rewards

Create achievable goals for your child’s attendance.

Make them a part of the process, so they feel invested. Celebrate small victories, like a week of consistent attendance, with rewards, which can be as simple as a special treat or a proud family update.

This positive reinforcement encourages them to maintain good attendance habits.

Seek professional help if needed to help improve your child’s attendance.

Seek Professional Help if Needed

If attendance issues persist, don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance.

Ten days of absence in a school year is considered to be Chronic Absenteeism. Once a student becomes chronically absent (at any age), they are at high risk for long-term academic and social wellbeing challenges.

To avoid reaching this point, contact school counselors, psychologists, and teachers. They can offer valuable support, insights, and strategies to overcome specific issues your child might be facing.

Take The First Steps

As a home adult, it can be difficult to ensure your child attends school on your own.

Instead, reach out in a message to your child’s teacher to create the support and structure your child needs for a successful academic journey.

ClassTag’s parent portal is the perfect spot to develop an attendance plan with your school and work together as a team on solutions to become the support system your child needs. Start a conversation today and make sure chronic absenteeism never stands in the way of your child’s future.

Don’t use ClassTag at your school? Click here to recommend it to your school’s admin.