Bad report card: Are parents too tough?

ANN ARBOR-Before the new school year begins, here's a pop quiz for parents of middle-school children: What do you do when your child brings home a bad report card? - Lecture the child. Restrict her activities, such as participating in sports or clubs. Create a home environment that stimulates learning. Parents who want their middle school kids to succeed should opt for "C" because it could result in higher literacy and math achievement in high school, according to University of Michigan researchers. Taking a punitive approach such as giving a child a lecture, doling out punishment or restricting activities leads to lower achievement-a finding that challenges the widely held belief that harsh parental actions lead to higher academic achievement. "Punitive parenting strategies are likely ineffective in promoting achievement when it does not directly address the underlying problem that is causing academic underperformance," said study lead author Sandra Tang, a research fellow in the U-M Department of Psychology. When homes have environments that stimulate learning, as well as warm parent-child interactions, the kids perform better, the study shows.