What to Tell Your Teen About the Benefits of Getting Good Grades (2024)

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Talking Points for Parents to Encourage Good Grades

ByAmy Morin, LCSW

Updated on August 07, 2020

Fact checked byAdah Chung

The need to get good grades is a common topic of conversation among teenagers and their parents. Do your talks involve threats or encouragement? There's a big difference and one may actually be a better approach than the other.

When talking to your teenabout grades, it may be tempting to discuss the dangers of bad grades. But scare tactics like, "You'll never get into college," or "You won't get a good job," aren't likely to be effective.

Instead, you can talk about the benefits of getting good grades. By giving real-life examples, you can providemotivation for your teen to study hardtoday. Thereare five benefits you can use to jump-start your conversation with your teen.

Good Grades Can Lead to Scholarships

What to Tell Your Teen About the Benefits of Getting Good Grades (1)

Colleges and scholarship committees will review yourteen's transcripts. Better grades, higher test scores, and involvement in a variety of activities can help your teen get more money for college.

Talk to your teen about the realities of student loans. Discuss how academic scholarships can help cover the costs. Explain how student debt can negatively impact your teen's future, well into his 30s.

Unfortunately, the reality is that many college graduates can't accept their dream jobs because they can't afford to do so. Instead, they have to take jobs that will help them afford their monthly college loan bills.

Good Grades Lead to Fun Opportunities

Students who get good grades are given opportunities at high schools through programs like the National Honor Society. Talk about various events that your student may be able to participate in if she gets good grades.

Your school's guidance counselor may be able to provide your teen with information on academic achievement and the opportunities that come with good grades as well. Sometimes, hearing from someone other than you can help reinforce your message.

Encourage your teen to start a conversation with her guidance counselor.

Good Grades Open the Door to Future Opportunities

If your teen strives to do well in anything set before her, she'll have more career opportunities. And yet, many teens just don't see the need to do well in school.

Sometimes they say things like, "I'm going to get into sales. I won't ever need geometry," or "I'm going in the military. They don't care about my grades." Make it clear that even if those things are true, there may be times when your teen's grades do matter.

For instance,she may want to go to college someday or apply for a job where her transcripts will be reviewed. Make it clear that it's important to keep as many opportunities open as possible.

Good Grades May Improve Social Life

Students who care about their grades will earn the respect of their teachers and their peers. However, many teens worry that good grades will cause them to be viewed as a "nerd."

Talk to your teen about successful people who did well academically in high school. Make it clear that people with good grades as a teen often go on to do great things in the future.

Encourage your teen to spend time with friends who care about their grades as well. It'll be tough for your teen to stay on track if none of his friends do their homework.

Good Grades Can Boost Confidence

Sometimes, teens are afraid to try hard because they're afraid of failure. Make sure your teen is willing to give it his best academically. The better he does, themore confident he'll become.

When your teen sees that his effort leads to better grades, he'll be more motivated to keep up the good work. It can also prepare him for the responsibilities of adulthood.

A Word From Verywell

As a parent, you know that the benefits of good grades and a high GPA extend beyond the high school environment. Your teen may not realize these things and informing them of these points may be the motivation he needs. If nothing else, a conversation that's positive is certainly better than an argument that leaves everyone feeling disappointed and angry.

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2 Sources

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Rentzsch K, Schütz A, Schröder-AbéM. Being LabeledNerd: Factors That Influence the Social Acceptance of High-Achieving Students. J Exp Educ. 2011;79(2):143-168. doi:10.1080/00220970903292900

  2. Michou A, Vansteenkiste M, Mouratidis A, Lens W. Enriching the hierarchical model of achievement motivation: Autonomous and controlling reasons underlying achievement goals. Br J Educ Psychol. 2014;84:650-666. doi:10.1111/bjep.12055

What to Tell Your Teen About the Benefits of Getting Good Grades (2)

By Amy Morin, LCSW
Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, an international bestselling author of books on mental strength and host of The Verywell Mind Podcast. She delivered one of the most popular TEDx talks of all time.

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What to Tell Your Teen About the Benefits of Getting Good Grades (2024)

FAQs

How does getting good grades benefit you? ›

Good grades grant entrance to elite academic colleges. Academic success at a top university guarantees a well-paying, highly respected job. Well-paying jobs grant the necessary outcomes of success, including a big house, exotic vacations, societal status, large bank accounts, and many more luxuries of life.

What are the benefits of paying kids for good grades? ›

Benefits of Paying for Good Grades
  • Provides an incentive. While some kids naturally love to earn, some might need a little extra push. ...
  • Highlights the importance of education. ...
  • Might save money in the future. ...
  • Encourages responsibility.
Apr 12, 2023

What do you say when your child gets good grades? ›

Start off by praising the positive. Congratulate your child not only on A's but also on getting better grades in subjects they have difficulty with. Ask them which grade they are proudest of and why. Involve them in discussions about their successes and challenge them to explain how they got a good grade.

Why is it important for kids to get good grades? ›

Forbes Magazine cites several studies that show that good grades in high school can correlate to higher-paying jobs. Grades will help determine whether your child will go to college, where they will go, and whether they will receive scholarships. Psychologically grades are also important.

Why are grades really important? ›

If your grades are lacking, you likely won't be able to take many AP or college-level courses in 9th through 12th grade. And if you are trying to get into a competitive college, lower grades and a lack of high-level courses could very well impact your chances of getting that acceptance letter.

What are the benefits of academic success? ›

By pursuing academic excellence, individuals expand their critical thinking skills, benefit from valuable information, and cultivate a mind of constant knowledge acquisition. It empowers individuals to overcome challenges, opens doors to future opportunities, and equips them with the tools required for success.

Should parents reward kids for good grades? ›

'A reward that acknowledges a great effort is more effective than one that is prom ised upfront for getting an A. Appreciation is always a better motivator than control : Encouraging a child to do his or her best is enough.

Are kids with better grades more successful? ›

There is no single answer to the question of whether a student who gets better grades in school will be more successful in life. There are many factors that contribute to success, and grades are just one of them. That said, there is some evidence to suggest that good grades can be a predictor of future success.

What percent of parents pay their kids for good grades? ›

According to a study on children and money conducted by the American Institute of CPAs, nearly half of all U.S. parents (48 percent) rewarded their kids financially for good grades. The average for an A, among those who paid their kids, was $16.60.

How do you praise a child for achievement? ›

Give Specific Praise

Don't leave them to fill in the blanks; be specific about the action you're praising instead of generalizing the situation. Instead of “Good work on your homework!” you might say “I'm so impressed by how you kept trying on this question until you figured it out!” Be specific also with emotions.

What should I write for good grades? ›

Here are some more affirmations:
  • "I am well-prepared and confident for my exams; success is my natural state."
  • "Every question I encounter is an opportunity to showcase my knowledge."
  • "I am capable of excelling in my exams, and I will achieve the grades I desire."

How do you say you deserve a better grade? ›

Start by calmly expressing your concerns about the grade, and go through with them point by point. Try to keep the discussion focused by framing what you say in terms of The question/rubric asked for … and then explain how your answer/paper met those requirements.

Do good grades boost confidence? ›

On the other hand, good grades boost people's self-confidence and make them feel better about themselves. People who have high self-esteem may more likely have more success in school, may be better with social relationships, and may have good health mentally and physically.

Do grades really matter in life? ›

So, once again, do good grades matter to one's future career? And unsurprisingly, the answer is, YES. Empirical studies as well as common logic actually shows this correlation.

Do bad grades affect your future? ›

Grades don't get you a successful career buy they help you get more opportunities then those who have low grades. Similarly, if you have low grades then it doesn't mean you will fail in life, it's just that you will get fewer opportunities as compared to those who have good grades.

Why should we pay students to go to school? ›

Incentivizing students could allow them to put more effort into attending school and to care more about their studies, at least for long enough that they can complete their degree.

Should schools reward students for good grades? ›

YES. Rewarding good grades can serve as an extra incentive for students to study longer and try harder. In offering rewards, however, it's important for teachers, parents, and administrators to set clear goals and stress the importance of learning—not just of passing tests and earning money.

Should parents reward children with money? ›

Children naturally want to learn and discover new things. Curiosity and thirst for knowledge motivate more than financial incentives. Money for good grades rewards only measurable rather than praiseworthy achievements. The impact of monetary gifts quickly wears off.

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