9 Reasons Children Underachieve

by Dawn L. Billings, Author and Architect of Primary Colors Personality and CAPABLES

Underachieving students can be recognized by the noticeable gap between their potential and their actual performance in school.

Often, underachieving children do not have any identifiable physical or learning disabilities; their academic results are significantly below what they are capable of achieving. There isn't a typical profile for an underachiever. Some just manage to pass, while others might get an A on one test and fail another. Some are good students whose grades suddenly decline.

In her article "Motivating the Underachiever – How to Motivate Teenagers, Students," Judy Shepps Battle explains, “It is during middle school--sixth to eighth grade-that a pattern of underachievement consistently emerges in both academic and non-academic areas. Not only do report cards reflect poor grades, but a youth may show extremes of behavior ranging from withdrawal to defiance.” Although middle school is often when underachievement becomes undeniable, I believe the pattern starts much earlier.

Child development experts suggest that parents should address underachievement early on to prevent their child from adopting and identifying with the underachieving label. However, understanding the root causes of underachievement can be challenging. Let's explore some potential reasons why children might underachieve:

• 1. Fear of failing – Underachievers can be perfectionists who tie their self-worth to their output. Perfectionists often fear failure, which is why they attempt to do everything perfectly, potentially leading to incomplete or never turned in assignments.
  

• 2. Sibling competition – Children strive to establish their own identity within the family. If a child has a highly successful sibling, they might adopt the role of the underachiever.
  

• 3. Passive-aggressive power plays – Some children quickly learn how to push their parents' buttons. Underachievement can be a passive-aggressive way to retaliate against parents whose expectations seem too high, or simply to make their parents anxious.
  

• 4. Late bloomers – Some children mature more slowly than others. These children may take longer to realize that doing well in school is important to them.
  

• 5. Need for coaching – Some children require guidance and additional attention from parents, teachers, mentors, or tutors to build confidence in their abilities in certain subjects.
  

• 6. Family crisis – Underachieving children might be dealing with stress at home, such as a family crisis like a parent's job loss, divorce, or a death in the family. Teachers should always be aware of what might be happening at home.
  

• 7. Bullying at school – School can be a source of significant stress. If a child is bullied or ridiculed, they may try to become invisible and lose motivation to excel academically, participate in class, or draw attention to themselves.
  

• 8. Apathy doesn't fall far from the tree – If parents are completely apathetic, their children are likely to adopt a similar attitude and not care either.
  

• 9. No dream to inspire them – I believe that without a dream for their future, children do not understand the "why" behind achievement. Dreams inspire children from an early age to do their best and strive for excellence. They have a future goal that guides their current efforts. If I want to reach the Emerald City to meet the Wizard to help me get home and someone says, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” I know what to do to achieve my goal. Without a dream or desire to reach an end goal, why would I follow the Yellow Brick Road? The same applies to our children.