No Cheating!

Busted!

It's the call few parents expect: Your child has been accused of cheating. How do you handle it?

Don't panic
At this age, cheating is usually a minor infraction, experts say. Chances are, your child did so on the spur of the moment when an easy opportunity presented itself.

Get to the root
Is your child under too much grade pressure? Is she struggling with the work? Is she insecure about her own abilities or caving to pressure from other students?

Discuss the issue
A first offense offers the perfect opening to talk about the pros and cons of cheating: Yes, it's a quick way to get a good grade. But if you don't really learn the work now, you'll have even more trouble in high school and college.

Set consequences
Make it clear that cheating won't be tolerated and will be met with specific consequences, both at home and at school. If your child's school has an honor code, repeated offenses could lead to a failing grade, a suspension, or even expulsion.