What Teachers Wish Parents Knew: 19 Truths About Kids in School

Teachers spend more waking hours with children than almost anyone else outside the home. They see the patterns, the behaviors, and the consequences of parenting choices play out in real time. And increasingly, they’re sounding the alarm: what happens at home doesn’t stay at home—it shows up in the classroom, and it shapes a child’s future.

Here are 19 things teachers say kids are saying and doing in school that parents need to know, why they matter, and how prevention begins at home.

1. Kids Need to Be Told “No”

Boundaries build resilience. When children never hear “no,” they struggle with authority, self-control, and frustration tolerance. At school, this translates into defiance and entitlement. In life, it becomes difficulty with jobs, relationships, and responsibility. Prevention starts with parents setting limits early.

2. When a Teacher Says Your Child Needs Extra Support—Listen

Teachers aren’t inventing concerns. They see your child in comparison to dozens of peers daily. Ignoring their advice delays intervention, which can widen academic and emotional gaps. Early support prevents long-term struggles.

3. Allow Kids to Experience Failure

Failure is a teacher in itself. When parents bail children out, they rob them of problem-solving skills. At school, this creates helplessness. In adulthood, it fosters avoidance and lack of resilience. Prevention means letting kids stumble and learn.

4. Quit Handing Devices to Calm Kids Down

Screens numb emotions but don’t teach regulation. Human contact—comfort, conversation, presence—builds coping skills. In school, device-dependent kids struggle with focus and empathy. In life, they risk addiction and isolation. Prevention is relational, not digital.

5. Believe What Teachers Say

Teachers don’t gain anything by “picking on” your child. Dismissing their concerns undermines trust and leaves issues unresolved. Prevention means partnering with educators, not fighting them.

6. Inflated Grades Don’t Help

A false sense of achievement sets kids up for failure later. When grades are padded, students don’t learn accountability. Prevention means valuing growth over perfection.

7. Education Begins at Home

Teachers can’t replace parenting. Reading, discipline, manners, and curiosity start in the living room. Prevention is proactive parenting, not outsourcing responsibility.

8. Accept Advice from School Psychologists

These professionals are trained to spot developmental and emotional needs. Rejecting their input delays help. Prevention means humility and openness to expertise.

9. You Can’t Be Besties with Your Kid

Friendship is optional; parenting is mandatory. Kids need authority, not a buddy. Prevention means prioritizing guidance over popularity.

10. Don’t Expect Teachers to Handle Parenting Duties

Teachers teach academics. Hygiene, discipline, and respect are parental responsibilities. Prevention means sending children to school ready to learn, not expecting teachers to raise them.

11. Classes Aren’t Entertainment

Learning requires focus, not constant stimulation. When parents expect teachers to “keep kids entertained,” they undermine the seriousness of education. Prevention means teaching patience and attention at home.

12. Address Bullying Immediately

Even in kindergarten, bullying is serious. Ignoring it normalizes cruelty. Prevention means confronting harmful behavior early before it escalates.

13. Your Child Isn’t “Special”—They’re Unique

Every child is different, but none are entitled to exceptions that harm others. Prevention means teaching humility and respect for differences.

14. Stop Posting Tantrums Online

Sharing videos of kids being “sassy” glamorizes disrespect. At school, this emboldens poor behavior. In life, it damages reputations. Prevention means modeling dignity, not exploitation.

15. Don’t Complain About Teachers in Front of Kids

This erodes respect for authority. Children mirror parental attitudes. Prevention means modeling respect, even in disagreement.

16. Elementary School Matters

Foundations are laid early. Treating elementary years as “just play” undermines future success. Prevention means valuing every stage of education.

17. Treat Teachers as Professionals

They are trained experts, not babysitters. Respecting their role models professionalism for kids. Prevention means reinforcing authority and collaboration.

18. Be On Time

Late drop-offs and pickups disrupt learning and send the message that school isn’t important. Prevention means teaching responsibility through punctuality.

19. Don’t Encourage Aggressive “Standing Up for Themselves”

Teaching kids to fight back physically or abusively escalates conflict. Prevention means teaching assertiveness with respect, not aggression.

Final Word: Prevention Starts at Home

Every one of these points connects back to prevention. The habits, boundaries, and respect children learn at home determine how they behave in school—and how they succeed in life. Teachers aren’t asking for perfection; they’re asking for partnership. Parents who listen, set limits, and model respect give their children the greatest gift: the ability to thrive.

For more information, help, and resources, please visit www.steeredstraight.org or call (856) 691-6676

Our mission is to steer youth straight toward making sound, rational decisions through a learning experience that provides a message of reality to help them make positive, informed choices.