My 8 year old does well in school (good grades) but has a horrible attitude when my husband & I try to help?

Question

We are having her do a few practice workbooks and when we go over something she missed, she sighs and has a terrible attitude...what to do? She rarely does these workbooks, we just started yesterday & she only did a few pages, which she enjoys. But when it comes time to explain to her what she missed, she gives attitude & an "I do not care" attitude. Help! I am not looking forward to the teenage years!!!

Answer 1

sounds like you are putting way yoo much pressure on her - a few pages  phew

Answer 2

she's at the age where she wants to do it herself. i mean maybe she feels like your only focusing on the things that she missed. She probabli feels like your not giving her enough praise for all the good work she does. When it comes time to explain say good try but let me show u a cool way to do iit or something. Tell her you get thungs wrong too and u get realli pissed when ppl try an help lolz

Answer 3

Maybe she feels that her perceived achievements are threatened if she shows the need for help.

Young teens often display these tendencies as they come to terms with development.

At 8 years old, it seems she probably is just being defiant for other reasons.

Good Luck

Here is some info on attitude:

http://www.thesolutionwebsite.com/health...

http://www.thesolutionwebsite.com/attitu...

Answer 4

She is doing workbooks over the summer?????

I can understand why she is being nasty if it is the summer.

If she gets good grades why are you pushing her to work over the summer?

Answer 5

if she likes being pushed, good for you!  but if she gets her attitude when the correction time comes, you have a rotten sport.  i know i might be mean, but when she doesnt want to go over her missed ones, she is being stubborn, and she needs punished.  show her whos boss!

hope i helped! =)

Answer 6

Maybe she feels criticized or as though she is not hearing enough positive comments versus correction.  

I would try not going over what she missed and simply praising the good work that she has done.  You could ask her, "Do you want to review the ones you missed?"  If she says "no", I wouldn't push it, but try to keep it as a fun activity.

When the workbook is over, I would give her a very good reward.  You could then ask her if she wants to go through the book to correct the ones she missed for a "second level" reward thats even better.  If she does, I would then give the reward and put a big sticker on the cover of the workbook as well as put in a place of honor like over the fireplace or on a prominent shelf to celebrate her accomplishment.

Answer 7

It could be how you explain the questions she missed.  If you are having her do the workbooks now that school is out, this could also cause resentment on her part.  Let her be a child and enjoy summer childhood.  If you are really concerned about helping with the "homework" (which practice workbooks are not), talk to her teacher about how to help.

Answer 8

Tell her that missing something isnt a big deal and you are going over it to be sure she understands everything.  Tell her to ask questions if needed and take the help so she can learn more.

Answer 9

why is she doing school work in the summer if she already gets good grades? besides that, why don't you try just checking them wrong and give it back to her and tell her to correct them. do not offer "help" she obviously wants to be independant. let her figure it out for herself . and anyway, you can't do EVERYTHING for her. i'd back off if i were you before her tantrums become a fixed and chronic behavior. kids need to feel like they are respected by adults and other kids to improve their self esteem. don't talk to her like she's a baby or what she percieves as that. no lectures!