The expectations that children form when going back to school are different for every level of schooling. The kindergarteners expect to have fun and expect to be able to play at some point in the day and meet new friends. They also expect to see their parent after school has been let out for the day. The kindergarten student expects to be rewarded for raising their hand and for not talking in class when the teacher is talking. The teacher expects great things from children that listen.

As a child progresses in school they are certain to undergo a variety of changes. Their expectations might seem closely guarded if they are in a classroom with a teacher that they have never seen before. These students might expect to pass the grade without putting much effort in it and they are rudely surprised when their parents ask them what they expect to get from being lazy with their study habits.

These students might expect to join clubs that they are not qualified for. They might find out that the clubs are for a certain grade level and some require a certain grade point average to be maintained. When the child advances to another grade level then they might know what the expectations are and will certainly apply again for a slot on one of these teams.

Every child knows that parents will expect them to complete their homework on time or ahead of schedule. If they do not, then they can not expect to be able to go outside and play until dinner time or play any type of video game. The parent has probably told the children what they expected out of them during the school year and if those expectations are not met then the child has a lonely life ahead of them.

When students enter the high school level of studies, they know that there are many people that expect a lot out of them. The scholarship boards at many colleges expect the applicants to have high grade point averages and the students try to meet those expectations so that they will be awarded money that will allow them to go to college.

Parents expect the high school aged children to act responsibly when they drive the family automobile on a date. The parents expect the children to be in at curfew even if the high school student does not agree with the time that has been set by the parents. The parents will take away all of the niceties that the teenager has enjoyed for years if all of the expectations that have been set are not met. This includes keeping their grades above a certain level and keeping their room clean throughout the year.