Parents evaluation of report card achievements should be process-oriented and not result-oriented.

Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Education academic staff Prof. Dr. Çağla Gür, reminding that the children will receive their report cards, added that it is important for the evaluations that the parents will make of their children's report card success, to be process-oriented and not result-oriented.

Advising that restrictive questions such as, “Who is to blame? Why is this child like this?” will not produce any results, Prof. Dr. Gür stated that solution-oriented questions such as “What could be the different alternatives? What else can we do? How can I have a better quality communication with my child?” should be asked.

Gür underlined that there are two different perceptions of success; functional and non-functional success, and continued, “For example, success that is indexed to expectations, such as top percentiles in examinations, top level career, top level salary, and owning a luxury car, are dysfunctional perceptions of success. Here, the more we achieve in situations, we more we constantly focus on higher levels”.

Stating that in order to be successful, certain sacrifices need to be made, Gür went on to say, “For example, in order to achieve a better grade, a plan can be made in relation to the length of time of playing a computer game”.

Gür expressed that success is not only result-oriented, but without being based on goals, is a functional perception of success, which is based on a lifestyle that is appropriate to the process and its values, and went on to elaborate, “For example, a mother who takes a break from her efforts of trying to be a supervisor at her work, in order to better support her children, in terms of her values, can be deemed as functionally successful”.

Explaining that a student developing their social relationships and showing importance to exhibiting competent behavior, in this way, is a functional success for them to be present in organizations, Gür stated that big success is made up of small steps and that completing small tasks is sometimes part of success.

Pointing to the negativities of having extremely high expectations or making strong judgements, Gür added that this situation will create anxiety in the child.

Gür advised that by getting to know the child, realistic expectations should be developed, and that an objective evaluation will give both the child and the parent the opportunity to produce alternative solutions, with their skills and facilities at hand.

Adding that it is necessary to be aware that everything will take time, Gür concluded, “Even if the child does not achieve what they desired, the investment made into the process is a contribution that will develop the child. During this process, good quality child-parent communication is important”.