Today's Tip for Families

04-06-2025

Work With the Teacher If Your Child is the Class Clown

It's great to have a sense of humor. But it's no laughing matter if a child constantly disrupts class with jokes and rude body sounds. If your child has begun playing the class clown, these steps can help prevent trouble and promote learning:

Try to put things in perspective. There's a big difference between occasional silliness and daily classroom antics.
Look for what's behind the clowning. Sometimes kids need attention or want to impress their classmates to become popular. Sometimes they use humor to cover up their insecurities and academic shortcomings. Making others laugh is the only way they feel good.
Work with the teacher. Together, try to identify when the problem behavior started and what might have triggered it. A child who acts up right after recess, for example, might need help settling down. The teacher might help by assigning your child a high-profile task like handing out worksheets.
See what your child thinks. Your student might not understand when it's OK to be silly and when it's not. Explain that there are times when acting clever is being disrespectful.
Establish clear guidelines. With the teacher, be specific with your child about what kind of behavior is not allowed. Suggest appropriate behaviors your child can do instead.
Set consequences that you and the teacher will enforce if your child breaks the rules.

Brought to you by:

Warren Independent School District